Leak detection for empty properties
Watch the units nobody is in.
An empty property is where a leak does the most damage, running for days or weeks with no one to notice. AQUAIOT watches voids, vacant units and unoccupied buildings for moisture and flow, then closes the supply automatically the moment something starts.
Live monitoring. Automatic shut-off.
38Sensors OK
2Caution
1Isolated
Live zones
Plant room – moistureDryOK
Riser 3 – flow14.8 L/minIsolated
Roof tank – temp4.2°CFreeze risk
Incoming main – flowNormalOK
A void leak runs for weeks.With no one on site a leak in a vacant unit runs until an inspection, a viewing or the unit below floods, by which point the damage is deep.
Empty units are rarely visited.Voids drop off the rounds, so the buildings most exposed to a slow leak are exactly the ones nobody is checking.
Cold and empty is a burst waiting.An unheated void lets exposed pipework freeze and crack, then flood on the thaw, with no occupant to raise the heat or sound the alarm.
The loss lands on the costliest claim.Escape of water is the costliest UK property claim, and an unwatched void carries far more of that risk than an occupied unit does.
The AQUAIOT SolutionRequest a Consultation
Detection built for the unoccupied building
A leak in an occupied unit is usually caught within hours. In a void it runs until a viewing, an inspection or the tenant below complains, which can be weeks. AQUAIOT closes that gap. Moisture sensors sit where water collects, flow analytics flag any draw at all in a building that should be using none, and an auto-isolation valve closes the supply on the first trigger. In an empty unit, any flow is suspicious, so the logic is simple and the response is fast.
Any flow is a red flag. In a void the building should be drawing nothing, so flow analytics treat any continuous draw as suspicious and trigger isolation without waiting for a flood.
Shut-off with no one on site. An auto-isolation valve closes the supply on a moisture or flow trigger and escalates remotely, so a leak is stopped even when nobody visits for weeks.
Freeze cover for cold, empty units. Temperature sensors on exposed pipework flag a freeze in an unheated void, the classic cause of a burst that floods a vacant building over winter.
Live leak status
Auto-isolation valve closed – Riser 3
Abnormal flow detected 03:14. Supply isolated, team notified.
Abnormal flow detected 03:14. Supply isolated, team notified.
How It Works
Three steps from first drop to evidence
Step 01
Detect
AQUAIOT moisture, flow and freeze sensors are deployed at the points water escapes. Every reading is timestamped and logged to the cloud over secure cellular or LoRaWAN telemetry.
Step 02
Alert and isolate
When moisture is sensed or flow goes abnormal, AQUAIOT raises an immediate alert by SMS, email and app, and closes the auto-isolation valve so water is stopped before damage spreads.
Step 03
Record
Every reading, alert and isolation event is captured in exportable, timestamped logs that integrate with CAFM and BMS, so evidence for insurers is ready on demand.
Capabilities
Everything a leak detection programme needs
Purpose-built for estates, facilities and risk teams protecting buildings against escape of water across single or multiple sites.
Moisture sensing at the risk points
Point, rope and tray sensors detect water at first contact under appliances, in plant rooms, risers and tank rooms, before it spreads.
Inline flow analytics
Continuous flow monitoring on the incoming main learns normal use and flags the slow weep or continuous draw a manual check never sees.
Freeze protection
Temperature monitoring on exposed and loft pipework warns before a freeze leads to a burst, so action can be taken in time.
Automatic shut-off
Auto-isolation valves close the supply the moment a moisture or abnormal-flow threshold is crossed, with manual remote override for the duty holder.
Multi-channel alerts with escalation
SMS, email and app alerts with role-based routing, so the right person responds day or night, on a single site or across a portfolio.
Open integration, no lock-in
Connects to BMS, CAFM and SCADA via RS485/Modbus or REST API, with audit-ready exportable records for insurers and owners.
Evidence & Assurance
Evidence your insurers and auditors expect.
Any-flow triggering in voids Insurer-recognised auto shut-off Freeze sensing on exposed pipework Audit-ready event logs
Book a Demo
No commitment. Talk to our engineering team.
Questions & Answers
Common questions
Why does an empty property need leak detection most?
With no one on site a leak in a void runs for days or weeks until an inspection or the unit below floods, so an empty unit carries far more risk than an occupied one.
How does it know a leak has started in a void?
An empty building should draw no water, so flow analytics treat any continuous draw as suspicious and trigger isolation, alongside moisture sensors where water collects.
Can it shut the water off with nobody there?
Yes. An auto-isolation valve closes the supply on a moisture or flow trigger and escalates remotely, so a leak is stopped even when no one visits for weeks.
Does it cover freeze risk in unheated units?
Yes. Temperature sensors on exposed pipework flag a freeze in a cold, empty void, the classic cause of a winter burst that floods a vacant building.
Is installation disruptive in a vacant unit?
No. Sensors and clamp-on ultrasonic flow monitoring are retrofit-friendly and non-invasive, fitted quickly between lets without cutting pipes or a shutdown.
Explore the AQUAIOT range
Related leak detection pages
Ready when you are
Protect the units nobody is in. Talk to an engineer.
Tell us about your voids, vacant units and unoccupied buildings, and we will scope detection and automatic shut-off across the empty property in your portfolio.
Empty property leak detection – Speak to an AQUAIOT engineer about your buildings.
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