Leak detection guide
What LoRaWAN is, and why it suits leak sensors.
LoRaWAN is a low-power, long-range wireless network built for sensors that send small messages over long distances on battery. This guide explains how it works and why those traits make it a strong fit for water leak sensors across a building or estate.
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
It is not a replacement for wifi.A common misconception is that LoRaWAN competes with wifi or cellular for speed, when it is built for low-power, low-data sensors and trades bandwidth for range.
Signal reaches where leaks hide.Basements, risers, plant rooms and tank rooms are where leaks start and where wifi struggles, and LoRaWAN penetration is what keeps those sensors connected.
Battery life depends on small messages.The years of battery life come from sending tiny, infrequent packets, so a leak sensor reporting status is an ideal use rather than constant streaming.
A gateway ties it together.Sensors talk to a gateway that forwards data to the cloud, so coverage depends on gateway placement, which is part of designing a reliable deployment.
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How LoRaWAN works, and the fit for leaks
LoRaWAN, short for Long Range Wide Area Network, is a wireless technology designed for sensors rather than phones or laptops. It trades high speed for long range and very low power, sending small packets of data over distances that reach across a large building or a whole site to a single gateway, then on to the cloud. Because the messages are tiny, a leak sensor reports its status, dry, wet, or a temperature reading, while sipping so little power that a coin-cell battery can last for years. Walls and floors that block ordinary wifi are far less of a problem for LoRaWAN signals, which matters when sensors sit in basements, risers, plant rooms and tank rooms, exactly where leaks happen and where signal is hardest. That combination, long range, deep penetration, years of battery life and low running cost, is why LoRaWAN suits leak detection so well. AQUAIOT uses LoRaWAN alongside cellular telemetry so sensors reach the dashboard reliably wherever they are placed.
Built for sensors, not streaming. LoRaWAN trades speed for range and very low power, carrying the small status messages a leak sensor sends rather than the heavy traffic of phones or laptops.
Long range and deep penetration. Signals reach across a large building or site to one gateway and pass through walls and floors that block ordinary wifi, suiting basements, risers and plant rooms.
Years of battery life. Because each message is tiny and infrequent, a leak sensor sips so little power that a single battery can last for years, cutting maintenance across many sensors.
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.
Secure cellular and LoRaWAN telemetry Long battery life Role-based escalation Audit-ready event logs
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Questions & Answers
Common questions
What is LoRaWAN in simple terms?
LoRaWAN is a low-power, long-range wireless network built for sensors, sending small packets of data over long distances to a gateway that forwards them to the cloud.
Why does LoRaWAN suit leak sensors?
Leak sensors send tiny status messages, and LoRaWAN gives them long range, deep building penetration and years of battery life at low running cost, which fits the job well.
Does LoRaWAN work in basements and risers?
Yes, that is a key strength. Its signals pass through walls and floors that block ordinary wifi, so sensors in basements, risers and plant rooms stay connected.
How long do LoRaWAN sensor batteries last?
Because each message is small and infrequent, a single battery can last for years, which keeps maintenance manageable even across many sensors on a large site.
Is LoRaWAN the same as wifi or cellular?
No. LoRaWAN trades speed for range and very low power, so it complements rather than replaces wifi or cellular, and AQUAIOT uses LoRaWAN alongside cellular telemetry.
Explore the AQUAIOT range
Related leak detection pages
Ready when you are
Connect sensors where leaks hide. Talk to an engineer.
Tell us about your basements, risers and plant rooms and how your sites are laid out, and we will explain how LoRaWAN and cellular telemetry keep every sensor reporting.
LoRaWAN leak sensors – Speak to an AQUAIOT engineer about your buildings.
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