I had to seal around the bathtub after it sprung a leak. I only found out when the ceiling below started showing a damp patch. When I checked behind the bathtub, it was very wet and floorboards rotten, from what I could see faraway. Doubtless this leak had been happening for a while. Aren't the small leaks the most dangerous ones after all?
That made me think - maybe having a humidity sensor behind the bathtub would be useful to detect these small leaks? Sounds high tech and over the top but it doesn't have to be. There are lots of these gels that absorb humidity. Shape one in a long thin strip, embed two bare copper wires inside and stick it to the wall, just under the seal before installing the bathtub. One end of the two wires is left open-ended, the other end connected to a small battery.
When water runs down, the gel absorbs it and its resistance decreases, allowing electricity to flow from one wire to the next, only where water has been absorbed. The flow of current sets off an alarm, whether visual, audio, by sms, wi-fi, email or whatnot.
Pros
- It's even possible to indicate where the leak is occurring if the alert is sophisticated enough. Else when you look behind the bathtub, you would see that the gel has changed colour.
- Because it is a strip, it can detect all along its length continuously. It is also flexible to bend around corners.
- The strip sensor could be sold independently of the battery device, each having different specs.
- Strip could detect things other than water if there is an appropriate gel for that, for instance gas leak detection, though not sure in which application you'd need a linear sensor like this.
- Battery device versions could include solar-rechargeable, connected to house wi-fi, mains-powered, remote controlled, sensitivity adjustment, etc..
- Strip could be cut to any length since one end of the circuit stays open-ended.
Cons
- Could be too sensitive to humidity or condensation, especially in a bathroom environment.
- Glue will have to hold for years if required and not impede absorption of water from the surface it's stuck to.
Applications
- Detection of small leaks in hidden, critical areas: roof voids, basements, cars, warehouses, etc...
- Could be designed to detect other liquids and gases if resistance of the gel could be made to vary with these other fluids.
Price
Basic version should be less than a quid. 1 small battery + resistor + gel + cable + LED. I saw this gel to absorb humidity in the poundshop and it was a big bag. The sensor could come without battery, thus reducing its cost further.
What do you guys think? Realistic?
That made me think - maybe having a humidity sensor behind the bathtub would be useful to detect these small leaks? Sounds high tech and over the top but it doesn't have to be. There are lots of these gels that absorb humidity. Shape one in a long thin strip, embed two bare copper wires inside and stick it to the wall, just under the seal before installing the bathtub. One end of the two wires is left open-ended, the other end connected to a small battery.
When water runs down, the gel absorbs it and its resistance decreases, allowing electricity to flow from one wire to the next, only where water has been absorbed. The flow of current sets off an alarm, whether visual, audio, by sms, wi-fi, email or whatnot.
Pros
- It's even possible to indicate where the leak is occurring if the alert is sophisticated enough. Else when you look behind the bathtub, you would see that the gel has changed colour.
- Because it is a strip, it can detect all along its length continuously. It is also flexible to bend around corners.
- The strip sensor could be sold independently of the battery device, each having different specs.
- Strip could detect things other than water if there is an appropriate gel for that, for instance gas leak detection, though not sure in which application you'd need a linear sensor like this.
- Battery device versions could include solar-rechargeable, connected to house wi-fi, mains-powered, remote controlled, sensitivity adjustment, etc..
- Strip could be cut to any length since one end of the circuit stays open-ended.
Cons
- Could be too sensitive to humidity or condensation, especially in a bathroom environment.
- Glue will have to hold for years if required and not impede absorption of water from the surface it's stuck to.
Applications
- Detection of small leaks in hidden, critical areas: roof voids, basements, cars, warehouses, etc...
- Could be designed to detect other liquids and gases if resistance of the gel could be made to vary with these other fluids.
Price
Basic version should be less than a quid. 1 small battery + resistor + gel + cable + LED. I saw this gel to absorb humidity in the poundshop and it was a big bag. The sensor could come without battery, thus reducing its cost further.
What do you guys think? Realistic?
