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> We schedule the dishwasher An old dishwasher repairman once told me you shouldn't run the dishwasher when you're not home, because sometimes the valve sticks

> We schedule the dishwasher An old dishwasher repairman once told me you shouldn't run the dishwasher when you're not home, because sometimes the valve sticks open and floods the kitchen (which he had seen).

doubled112 4y ago
I try not to leave mine unattended either. My dishwasher will unload water onto the floor if you put items in the wrong place. A friend's dishwasher will unload enough water to fill a 24" planter on certain cycles, under conditions he's not figured out yet. They're terrible. I'm not asking for a lot. Clean dishes, water stays in. At least they have WiFi now /s. Priorities!
nixgeek 4y ago
Having seen the effects of floods from appliances and plumbing, deploying sensors for water leaks is very high on my list of recommended “smarts” for home owners. Sinks. Toilets. Dishwashers. Washing machines. Being aware of leaks and catching them early can save >$10000 (or a significant insurance claim). Just being home isn’t necessarily enough - you’re working from an office upstairs, are you going to notice a leak? Or will it leak for 3 hours until you notice, at which point it’s equivalent to running it when you’re out of the home?
- Arrath 4y ago
  For real. A co-worker went home last week to find water pouring out of his front door. Cause? The toilet feed line had failed sometime during the day. His entire apartment was ankle deep or more. I could see some form of sensors plus a solenoid driven valve on the water main being infinitely valuable to help limit the extent of the damage in such a case.
  - h2odragon 4y ago
    whole house cutoff valve right near floor level with a float valve arrangement. if the float rises the valve shuts off. simple. analog. all that's required is that the valve be able to actuate after N+ years of disuse, which is actually a tall order.
    - Arrath 4y ago
      Not nearly complicated enough. Why not interior cameras (infrared?) that watch for signs of water encroachment/flooding or a certain % of the floor area to be a temperature that implies its water. > all that's required is that the valve be able to actuate after N+ years of disuse, which is actually a tall order. Too true. Regular tests and preventative maintenance tend not to happen in too many households. I too am guilty of this, I would say that I find the seal in the shut-off valve for toilets to be dried and leaky a majority of the time I've gone to turn off the water to replace components inside the tank.
isitmadeofglass 4y ago
I had an ex that pulled out all electrical plugs on literally everything, TV, washer, router, lamps etc etc. It was infuriating and a constant argument, because yes, sometime there can be an electrical fire while your gone, but the probability is extremely low. Same goes for the dishwasher and washer, while it can happen, it has never in my lifetime happened to me or anyone I know of, and if It did, that’s why we have insurance to cover those flukes instead of going to annoying lengths and extra costs our entire lifetime. Now from a repairman’s perspective it ends up feeling different, because even if the change is one in 10 million washes, he might still be going out to tons of such situation so from his perspective it happens “often enough” but in reality you should’t structure your life around it. You might however if you know your running very old equipment of if you know you wouldn’t be ensured if an accident happened or such of cause, but for us, being able to run our washer and dishwasher on solar for the next 40 years greatly outweighs the fact that we may once have to deal with a leakage, though in all likelihood we won’t.

doubled112 4y ago

I try not to leave mine unattended either. My dishwasher will unload water onto the floor if you put items in the wrong place. A friend's dishwasher will unload enough water to fill a 24" planter on certain cycles, under conditions he's not figured out yet. They're terrible. I'm not asking for a lot. Clean dishes, water stays in. At least they have WiFi now /s. Priorities!

nixgeek 4y ago

Having seen the effects of floods from appliances and plumbing, deploying sensors for water leaks is very high on my list of recommended “smarts” for home owners. Sinks. Toilets. Dishwashers. Washing machines. Being aware of leaks and catching them early can save >$10000 (or a significant insurance claim). Just being home isn’t necessarily enough - you’re working from an office upstairs, are you going to notice a leak? Or will it leak for 3 hours until you notice, at which point it’s equivalent to running it when you’re out of the home?

Arrath 4y ago
For real. A co-worker went home last week to find water pouring out of his front door. Cause? The toilet feed line had failed sometime during the day. His entire apartment was ankle deep or more. I could see some form of sensors plus a solenoid driven valve on the water main being infinitely valuable to help limit the extent of the damage in such a case.
- h2odragon 4y ago
  whole house cutoff valve right near floor level with a float valve arrangement. if the float rises the valve shuts off. simple. analog. all that's required is that the valve be able to actuate after N+ years of disuse, which is actually a tall order.
  - Arrath 4y ago
    Not nearly complicated enough. Why not interior cameras (infrared?) that watch for signs of water encroachment/flooding or a certain % of the floor area to be a temperature that implies its water. > all that's required is that the valve be able to actuate after N+ years of disuse, which is actually a tall order. Too true. Regular tests and preventative maintenance tend not to happen in too many households. I too am guilty of this, I would say that I find the seal in the shut-off valve for toilets to be dried and leaky a majority of the time I've gone to turn off the water to replace components inside the tank.

isitmadeofglass 4y ago

I had an ex that pulled out all electrical plugs on literally everything, TV, washer, router, lamps etc etc. It was infuriating and a constant argument, because yes, sometime there can be an electrical fire while your gone, but the probability is extremely low. Same goes for the dishwasher and washer, while it can happen, it has never in my lifetime happened to me or anyone I know of, and if It did, that’s why we have insurance to cover those flukes instead of going to annoying lengths and extra costs our entire lifetime. Now from a repairman’s perspective it ends up feeling different, because even if the change is one in 10 million washes, he might still be going out to tons of such situation so from his perspective it happens “often enough” but in reality you should’t structure your life around it. You might however if you know your running very old equipment of if you know you wouldn’t be ensured if an accident happened or such of cause, but for us, being able to run our washer and dishwasher on solar for the next 40 years greatly outweighs the fact that we may once have to deal with a leakage, though in all likelihood we won’t.