Bathroom

• home safety
• flooding
• bathroom safety

A flood detector is a small device that helps spot water leaks or flooding early, so action can be taken before serious damage happens.

Here's how it works:

• It’s placed on the floor in areas where flooding might occur, e.g. near washing machines, sinks, boilers, or in basements.
• If water touches the sensor, the device sends an alert. This could be a loud sound (like a smoke alarm), a message to a mobile phone, or a signal to a monitoring system.

Some flood detectors are part of smart home systems and can even trigger automatic actions, such as shutting off the water supply.

They’re especially useful for protecting homes from water damage, and can be a key part of telecare or safety monitoring setups, particularly where someone has memory or thinking difficulties and there is a higher risk of taps being left on, or where the person will have difficulty taking appropriate action if there is a flood. 

Flood detectors can be purchased in shops that sell devices such as home security systems, smoke alarms and other similar electrical items or search on the internet for 'flood detectors'.

• Early Detection: Flood detectors can alert to the presence of water early, helping to prevent extensive damage by allowing immediate action to be taken.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that  the home is monitored for potential flooding can provide significant peace of mind. This might be because the person using it might forget when they start to run a tap or they live in an area prone to flooding.
• Cost Savings: By preventing major water damage, flood detectors can save money on repairs and replacements.
• Remote monitoring: A version that can link to a smart home system or Telecare system might work best so that it can be monitored remotely or automatically turn off water when activated. This can be particularly beneficial if the person living in the home needs support to take appropriate action or if the home is likely to be unoccupied when a flood occurs. 

• Installation: Consider where the most appropriate positioning is to provide the best results. Common locations include near sinks or baths. They can also be placed near washing machines, water heaters, and in basements.
• Maintenance: Just like with smoke detectors, regular checks and maintenance are necessary to ensure the sensors are functioning correctly and to replace batteries if needed. 
• Suitability: Consider what type of flood sensor is needed; basic devices make a noise if water is detected, and more complex devices will send an alert to a mobile phone or monitoring centre. Think about whether the person whose home it is will be able to take appropriate action if there is a flood or whether someone else needs to be alerted.  If it needs to be connected to a smart home system is it compatible with smart devices already owned? Consider whether a sink overflow plug could be used instead, which would let out any excess water when it reaches a certain depth. Another alternative would be a tap that has a sensor and only runs when it detects something such as a hand in front of it, or a tap that automatically turns off after a certain amount of water has run. 
• Cost: While generally affordable, the cost can vary depending on the number of sensors needed and whether smart devices are required. Check reviews and consider the customer support provided.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/living-with-dementia/home-electricity-heating-water