The customer and the challenge

No leak can stand a chance

Leaksafe is a UK-based company providing water leak detection and prevention systems for all types of residential and commercial buildings. They work with property owners, developers, facilities managers and construction companies to detect water leaks or burst pipes and immediately shut the water off. They not only help customers prevent property damage but also minimise water waste to enhance sustainability. That’s why they’ve become a leader in leak detection and a supplier of choice for insurers in the UK.

It all starts with a drop of water

Leaks can take place anywhere water is running in pipework or appliances – kitchens, bathrooms and cylinder cupboards are all potential hazard sources. While a burst pipe is immediately evident, other types of leaks can remain invisible and go undetected for months. If property managers become aware of the problem only when water has already got into the fabric of the building, they usually have to deal with extensive damage. And it’s not a unique scenario: at any one time, 1 in 300 homes in the UK are at the risk of suffering a significant water leak.

Early detection is the best protection

Last year, the insurance industry paid out almost a billion pounds for water leak damage. So, many insurers are insisting that property owners should take the necessary steps to mitigate the risks. If a leak isn’t detected in time, it may lead to increasing insurance premiums or excesses. If this problem escalates, the owner may not be entitled to be insured against water leaks. Leaksafe’s mission is to identify and stop any escape of water right after the first drop. As we share their passion for technology and innovation, we were glad to help them design and deploy IoT-enabled leak detection solutions. With Vodafone Business Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) connectivity, they can put an end to small leaks before they turn into a flood.

How we helped them

Winning the race against water and time

Burst pipes are easy to notice but most insurance claims come from low-level leaks which slowly seek into the fabric of buildings. Many leak detection products can detect if there’s a leak in the property, but the owner has to call a specialist to trace it. And that’s why NB-IoT is a game changer – Leaksafe can determine the moment a leak starts and its exact location. NB-IoT allows them to give property managers that precise information so that they can isolate and repair the pipes before the incident leads to significant damage. As NB-IoT doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi, they can have peace of mind that no leaks remain undetected due to connectivity issues.

No more hidden leaks

Owners and property managers need to be prepared to deal with leaks. NB-IoT ensures that they can always keep an eye on their properties no matter where they are. If a Leaksafe NB-IoT device e.g., WaterComm is installed under the kitchen sink and gets wet, it immediately sends a message to Leaksafe’s data platform using Vodafone Business NB-IoT. The owner or property manager gets an alert via SMS, email or an app and can take a look at the issue in real time using the client dashboard. NB-IoT not only helps customers protect valuable assets against leaks but also reduce insurance premiums as insurers reward their policyholders for proactively managing escape of water risks.

Making every water drop count

“Vodafone is a great brand – it’s reliable, robust and has great capability. That’s simply why we chose them,” affirms Andy Welch, Senior Business Development Manager at Leaksafe. Our best-in-class connectivity helped Leaksafe create a win-win solution for landlords and insurers while it also supported them in growing their business. Leaksafe is planning to continue its NB-IoT journey with Vodafone Business to incorporate IoT into all their products and provide their clients with the most efficient leak detection solutions possible. They’ll also use NB-IoT to help their customers become more sustainable by monitoring and reducing their water usage.