Water Hero - Water Monitoring / Shut off valve system

[Water Hero]

Thank you, Teken, for taking the time to meet with us.

As we discussed on the phone, Water Hero is the result of Water Hero’s founder needing to solve his problems with frozen pipes in his own home.

We really want to thank Teken (and everyone else who’s on this thread) for their questions and suggestions.  It helps us understand how Water Hero will be used, can be used, and how it should integrate with other automation platforms.  Summarizing what was discussed:

 

Direct Pulse Cable:  Though I was not originally a fan of local access, Teken made a very compelling case. 

 

Temperature and Humidity Accuracy:   Teken voiced a need for high accuracy which I believe aligns with Water Hero’s own requirements.

 

Security:  Water Hero is now using two factor authentication.  Water Hero will never share a user’s identified data without the user’s consent.   Water usage data = occupancy data.  We understand the vital need to keep this data secure.

 

Surge Protection:  Teken suggested additional surge protection measures.  Spark has some integrated protection, but we’ll dig into this further after Kickstarter to see if added protection is required.

 

Valve Position Reporting:  Teken asked if the valve motor reported its position.
This was originally believed un-necessary, as the position would be documented by the water passing through the water meter during a pipe burst.  No water = closed. 
As we started to consider adding annual, quarterly, and if required monthly automatic valve cycling to keep tight valves loose, we did not review valve position reporting, which might be required when no water is flowing. 
It’s was a great question.  We’ll be looking into it.

 

The mission of Water Hero is extraordinary plumbing protection at an affordable price, and any changes will have to pass through that prism.  We’ll be looking into Local Access, Suitable Surge Protection, and Valve Position Reporting after the Kickstarter Campaign to try to get all of Teken’s requests included.

We’d like to keep these channels open as we move towards production, and thank you for your support of our Kickstarter Campaign.  Please tell your networks about us before the end of the campaign on December 24.

[Teken]

Hello Water Hero,

 

Thank you so very much for taking the time to share the information we had discussed to the group. I truly believe incorporating these features to an already great product will make it an outstanding product that will lead the market in all areas not seen before.

 

As discussed, many of us favor local access and control of a device over the cloud.

 

This ensure the product is accessible at all times should the persons environment not have Internet access or where its limited. Having a open API will allow others in the community to help develop the product, or bring ideas forward not yet considered.

 

Its safe to say no other water monitoring product offers so many features at such an excellent price point. I look forward to the release of the Water Hero product and would encourage all those (forum members) considering a water meter monitor / protector.

 

To take a few moments to make a pledge at Kick Starter and help make this product a reality.

[ccclapp]

...In for $119

[Teken]

...In for $119

 

Right on, and spread the word in the forums you participate in which you feel could benefit from this great product.

[io_guy]

I'm in...

[Teken]

I'm in...

 

Right on!

 

We are on the last few days of this campaign so those who are interested really need to make their pledge. This is bar none the only plug and play solution out there that will allow you to monitor the water flow for consumption, detect leaks, indicate the temperature / humidity, and shut off the water main.

 

All of this will include a cloud base data acquisition support feature along with many others still under consideration and development. There are those who simply want to monitor and shut off the water main locally and remotely this product can do that.

 

There are those who have no method to document, track, and see the amount of water consumed in their home.

 

This product does this and more . . .

 

Lets spread the word around to all your contacts via all on line forums and web sites. It would truly be tragic if this solution was short only a few dollars because the information was not made available vs not needed. 

[io_guy]

I'm much more interested in the valve than the meter.

I just need a way to locally operate the valve and I'm good.

[Teken]

I'm much more interested in the valve than the meter.

I just need a way to locally operate the valve and I'm good.

 

Sounds good.

[JSP0511]

I'm wondering if the current backers will see anything if the project doesn't reach its goal. Does anyone have experience with kickstarter programs that were close but failed to reach the desired goal?

 

 

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[Teken]

I'm wondering if the current backers will see anything if the project doesn't reach its goal. Does anyone have experience with kickstarter programs that were close but failed to reach the desired goal?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I have seen quite a few that failed to meet their goal but still went ahead with private funding to get to market. While others simply waited a period of time and tried again with more vigor in getting the information out and doing another KS campaign. 

 

The last scenario I have seen is basically they did not get full funding but still went ahead. They reached out to all the current backers via internal mail to advise them of the fact.

 

They later offered those backers the same pledge amount for the item so they could go into production and release the end product to the masses.

 

Even if this KS does not go through I am more than happy to continue to work with the company to beta test and purchase a unit so it can make it to the market.

 

This device is literally one of a kind where its a matter of plug and play.

 

The ELK Valve water shut off assembly is more than $400+, the Flood Stop units I own range from $150-550.XX and all of them only turn the valve open / close, and some can link to Insteon and receive COM's this way. But, none of them are plug and play save the toilet, sink, ice machine, dishwasher, clothes washer.

 

The main water valve unit requires removal of pipe and plumbing and none of them offer any water consumption, leak detection via monitoring water flow, or able to provide usage data.

 

Please consider making your pledge if you feel it has value in your home.

[JSP0511]

Teken,

 

I'm right there with you. I have priced out my own custom system and even with me doing the labor, it's close to $1000 and I get a simple water shut off. Nothing else.

 

I hope water hero makes it. I immediately recognized its value and jumped on the project.

 

 

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[Teken]

Teken,

 

I'm right there with you. I have priced out my own custom system and even with me doing the labor, it's close to $1000 and I get a simple water shut off. Nothing else.

 

I hope water hero makes it. I immediately recognized its value and jumped on the project.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That's great to hear and they are currently at 321 backers or $47544 - 54000 = $6446 short. Let's all take a few moments and spread the word in our social networking circles to see if we can push past the target. 

[Teken]

I wanted to reach out to all of the forum members who saw value in this KS project. To personally thank you, as of this writing the Water Hero Team is fully funded!

 

Anyone who is still pondering about getting in at the ground level still have two more days to do so. I really can't think of a better technology gift that serves to bring awareness, safety, and convenience like the Water Hero Monitor / Shut off valve.

 

What a great X-MAS gift that I know will keep paying back each year. 

[JSP0511]

Any idea if water hero will work on a 3" valve?

 

 

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[Teken]

Any idea if water hero will work on a 3" valve?

 

 

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Are you speaking about the water shut off portion? If it has a handle the Water Hero assembly can attach to it with out issue. One thing you may want to do because I did this and was very shocked to find out later.

 

Is to go down stairs and open and close the handle about 50 times. My first pull on the handle felt like 500 lbs of force was needed and my house is only 5 years old!

 

After about 50 cycles of open / close and a few shots of *Moovit* penetrating lube. The handle moves much better in both positions.

[JSP0511]

A buddy of mine has a sewage backup issue that he solved with the ball valve after a check valve (that fails when garbage gets caught inside). He basically has to shut the valve manually or have the tenant in the apartment shut it when a storm is coming.

 

I thought water hero may be of assistance here if we had a way letting the water hero know that water is starting to back up (like a leak detection) though water would have to be backing up into the apartment for leak detection or by using something like weather bug in conjunction with the WH.

 

He will not have home automation like insteon. It would be water hero and something else to trigger it. Not sue what yet.

 

Any suggestions would be great.

 

 

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[Teken]

A buddy of mine has a sewage backup issue that he solved with the ball valve after a check valve (that fails when garbage gets caught inside). He basically has to shut the valve manually or have the tenant in the apartment shut it when a storm is coming.

 

I thought water hero may be of assistance here if we had a way letting the water hero know that water is starting to back up (like a leak detection) though water would have to be backing up into the apartment for leak detection or by using something like weather bug in conjunction with the WH.

 

He will not have home automation like insteon. It would be water hero and something else to trigger it. Not sue what yet.

 

Any suggestions would be great.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

This may be something you that you could suggest to the Water Hero team in the KS comments section. Or let me bring this up during our next New Years meeting about a possible input line to the Water Hero Shut Off Valve.

 

No guarantee on this aspect though, but asking is free!

 

If this could be done, then essentially a very simple water detection grid sensor could e placed anywhere in that room. Once water is detected it closes the contacts in the system indicating water is present and than closes the valve.

 

Since the monitoring part of the Water Hero is wireless if there are any WiFi based systems you're aware of perhaps they could integrate into those?

 

Currently the Water Hero system monitors the water flow which is based on your (user set thresholds) of water flow etc. Based on those user settings the water shut off open / closes. I am in favor of a external sensor that could be inserted into the device for a extra measure of sensing.

 

I currently use three methods in my home: Insteon, Flood Stop, Central Alarm System. The Water Hero will be my forth method to ensure a measure of fail over and protection. I am more eager in having the ability to remote / schedule a open / close event based on my needs etc.

 

I am also very eager to see integration of the water monitoring portion to send data to the Green Eye Monitor (GEM). This would allow me to capture, monitor, and track my water consumption via the Dash Box (DB).

[JSP0511]

This may be something you that you could suggest to the Water Hero team in the KS comments section. Or let me bring this up during our next New Years meeting about a possible input line to the Water Hero Shut Off Valve.

 

No guarantee on this aspect though, but asking is free!

 

If this could be done, then essentially a very simple water detection grid sensor could e placed anywhere in that room. Once water is detected it closes the contacts in the system indicating water is present and than closes the valve.

 

Since the monitoring part of the Water Hero is wireless if there are any WiFi based systems you're aware of perhaps they could integrate into those?

 

Currently the Water Hero system monitors the water flow which is based on your (user set thresholds) of water flow etc. Based on those user settings the water shut off open / closes. I am in favor of a external sensor that could be inserted into the device for a extra measure of sensing.

 

I currently use three methods in my home: Insteon, Flood Stop, Central Alarm System. The Water Hero will be my forth method to ensure a measure of fail over and protection. I am more eager in having the ability to remote / schedule a open / close event based on my needs etc.

 

I am also very eager to see integration of the water monitoring portion to send data to the Green Eye Monitor (GEM). This would allow me to capture, monitor, and track my water consumption via the Dash Box (DB).

If you could ask that would be great!

 

For my home needs, WH is perfect. Looking forward to installing it.

 

 

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[bleepblorp]

Just backed this project even though my meter is on the street. I look foward to a product like this succeeding in the market.

[Teken]

Just backed this project even though my meter is on the street. I look foward to a product like this succeeding in the market.

Thank you so much for your support.

 

 

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If you could ask that would be great!

 

For my home needs, WH is perfect. Looking forward to installing it.

 

 

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Will do

 

 

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[Teken]

I wanted to update this thread that the Water Hero team has provided some updates and a new web site which offers more insight and comparisons of the products soon to be released to the general public.

 

The direct link to the company is here: http://www.waterheroinc.com/#Home

 

The update link via Kick Starter is listed here and offers insight as to what stage they are in: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1115949672/water-hero-protection-from-major-pipe-bursts-and-c/posts/1416232

 

I have been in close contact with the vendor during the many months of production. I've been given lots of opportunity to offer feed back and assist the team in developing the Water Hero unit. Lots of the features you see listed in the Water Hero home page came from the people like you and me.

 

To be honest I didn't have to push very hard but made a good business case about how different supporting features would offer penetration into various market segments.

 

IE. Security, Plumbing, Insurance, Home Automation.

 

At the very bottom of the Water Hero home page is a email box to register for updates. Should there be new members who feel this product will meet their needs please do sign up. Once again I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to consider and back this great company.

 

Regards