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Blog : Case Study

How Smart Water Sensors Saved $200K+ in a Downtown San Diego High-Rise

smart water sensor commercial building improvements

Industry
Real Estate

Challenge
A 40-story downtown San Diego multi-family property suffered from frequent hidden leaks due to aging infrastructure and poor design. One major incident caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in elevator damage and months of tenant disruption.

Results
Installation of Alert Labs leak detection system caught 5 leaks before they became major issues, generating 24/7 instant alerts and saving over $200,000 in potential damage costs.

Products
50+

Sensors installed

5+

Leaks Detected

24/7

Monitoring

$200K+

Cost Savings

Smart Water Sensors' leak detection has eliminated large losses in our building's mechanical rooms and elevator shafts with their 24/7 instant alerts. The sensor network's cost was a small fraction of potential elevator replacement expenses, making it an easy decision.

Mark S

Building Property Manager
Building

Downtown San Diego 40 Story Multi-family Property

The property faced significant challenges due to its aging plumbing infrastructure and poor initial design. Leaks frequently developed in inconspicuous areas throughout the building, going unnoticed until they evolved into flooding events that caused substantial damage to critical systems and living spaces.

The Challenge: Aging Infrastructure Creating Costly Damages

The 40-story downtown San Diego property struggled with leaks in inconspicuous areas due to aging plumbing infrastructure. One devastating incident caused hundreds of thousands in elevator damage and months of resident disruption. Complete plumbing replacement was financially prohibitive, requiring a detection-based solution.

The Solution: Detection System Deployment

The building owners implemented Smart Water Sensors leak and flood detection system in all major mechanical areas. The solution featured cellular-based sensors requiring no complex wiring, with 50+ devices installed throughout the 40-story building in just a few hours. The system provided 24/7 monitoring with instant alerts to maintenance personnel whenever water was detected.

"It was a no-brainer when comparing the cost of replacing elevators against purchasing a network of sensors for just a small fraction."

The Results: Early Detection Prevents Major Losses

The system quickly proved its value by detecting 5 leaks before they could develop into significant damage events. According to the Building Property Manager, "After installing the leak detection solution, we have had zero large losses in our building mechanical rooms and elevator shafts thanks to the instant alerts generated 24/7." The implementation saved over $200,000 in potential damages and protected critical building systems from water damage.

Long-Term Impact

Impressed by the results, building ownership expanded the technology to other properties in their portfolio. The building owners are now considering unit-level installations for even more comprehensive protection, recognizing the tremendous value of early detection in preventing major water damage events.

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