Leak detection guide
How automatic water shut-off works, step by step.
An automatic water shut-off closes the supply the instant a leak is detected, not when someone reaches the stopcock. This guide walks through the mechanism, from the sensor reading to the valve closing, and what the system does next.
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
Shut-off is a chain, not one part.A common mistake is thinking the valve is the whole system, when it only matters because sensing and logic decide the right moment to close it.
It triggers on pattern, not a clock.The system does not close on a timer, it closes when flow goes abnormal or a moisture threshold is crossed, which is why baselining the building first matters.
Whole-building isolation is not always needed.Where pipework allows, valves on branches cut only the affected zone, so chasing one leak does not take water off floors that were never wet.
Automatic does not mean no human.Manual remote override keeps a person in the loop, so the valve re-opens on a confirmed decision rather than leaving a building dry by accident.
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From reading to valve in seconds
Automatic shut-off works as a chain. First the system reads the building continuously, moisture sensors where water collects and inline flow analytics that have learned the normal pattern of the main. Second, logic decides a leak is happening when a moisture threshold is crossed or flow goes abnormal, a continuous overnight draw, a sudden high rate that signals a burst, or flow that never stops when the building should be quiet. Third, the controller commands a motorised auto-isolation valve to close, cutting the supply in seconds. Fourth, the system escalates, sending a role-based alert to the on-call duty holder by SMS, email and app, with a manual remote override so a person can re-open the valve once the cause is found. Every step is timestamped. Where pipework allows, valves on branches isolate only the affected zone so the rest of the building stays live.
It reads, then decides. Continuous moisture and flow readings feed logic that has baselined normal use, so an abnormal pattern or a crossed threshold is what triggers the chain, not a fixed timer.
A motorised valve does the cutting. On a trigger, the controller drives a motorised auto-isolation valve shut on the main or an affected branch, stopping the water in seconds without anyone on site.
A person stays in control. The system escalates by role and offers a manual remote override, so the duty holder can re-open the supply once the cause is confirmed, with every action logged.
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.
Abnormal-flow triggering Motorised auto-isolation valves Manual remote override Audit-ready shut-off logs
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Questions & Answers
Common questions
How does automatic water shut-off decide when to close?
Inline flow analytics baseline the buildings normal pattern, then logic triggers isolation on abnormal flow, a continuous out-of-hours draw, or a moisture sensor crossing its threshold.
What physically stops the water?
A motorised auto-isolation valve on the main or an affected branch receives the command and closes in seconds, cutting the supply without anyone needing to be on site.
Can someone override the shut-off?
Yes. The duty holder gets a role-based alert and can re-open or override the valve remotely once the cause is found, so a person always stays in control of the supply.
Does it shut off the whole building?
Not necessarily. Where the pipework allows, valves on branches isolate only the affected zone, so the rest of the building keeps its water while the leak is investigated.
Is it faster than a manual stopcock?
Far faster. Manual isolation needs someone on site to find and turn the valve, while automatic shut-off acts in seconds the moment the leak is detected, day or night.
Explore the AQUAIOT range
Related leak detection pages
Ready when you are
See the shut-off chain in your building. Talk to an engineer.
Tell us about your incoming mains, high-risk branches and out-of-hours cover, and we will explain how automatic shut-off would work across your site.
How shut-off works – Speak to an AQUAIOT engineer about your buildings.
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