System and method for mitigating leaks in pipes
Systems and methods for preventing leaks from plumbing systems in buildings as well as limiting water damage to buildings whenever leaks do occur include electronically actuated valves to shut off water to one or more pipes in order to reduce water pressure in those pipes. The systems and methods also include sensors to detect when a room in a building is occupied. A controller opens the electronically actuated valve associated to a fluid outlet (such as a faucet) in a particular room when the room is occupied. The controller closes the electronically actuated valve in the room when the room is unoccupied.
1 . A system for installation in a building, comprising:
a water pipe manifold including:
a manifold port;
an electronically actuated valve disposed at the manifold port; and
a controller for controlling the electronically actuated valve;
a pipe assembly connected to the water pipe manifold at the manifold port;
a fluid outlet connected to the pipe assembly, wherein the fluid outlet is accessible in a room of the building;
a sensor associated with the room and in communication with the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to detect radio signals from a wearable device, and wherein the sensor detects occupancy information for the room based on the detected radio signals;
wherein the controller receives information from the sensor, wherein the controller opens the electronically actuated valve when the sensor sends information indicating that the room is occupied and wherein the controller closes the electronically actuated valve when the sensor sends information indicating that the room is unoccupied.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is associated with a faucet.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an occupancy sensor.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects motion in the room.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects radio signals from another device.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the water pipe manifold is located in another room of the building.
7 . A system for installation in a building, comprising:
a pipe assembly;
a water source connected to the pipe assembly, wherein the water source is accessible in a room of the building;
an electronically actuated valve disposed within the pipe assembly, wherein when the electronically actuated valve is closed no water can pass to the water source from the pipe assembly; and
a sensor disposed adjacent to the electronically actuated valve, wherein the sensor is configured to detect radio signals from a wearable device and wherein the detected radio signals are used to determine room occupancy;
wherein the electronically actuated valve is open when the sensor detects the radio signals indicating room occupancy from the wearable device.
8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the electronically actuated valve is disposed in a wall of the room.
9 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor is disposed in the room.
10 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the sensor is disposed in the wall.
11 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor is an occupancy sensor.
12 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor detects motion in the room.
13 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the wearable device comprises one of a smart watch or a smart ring.
14 . A method of mitigating water damage to a building, comprising:
detecting, with a sensor, radio signals from a wearable device;
determining, based on the detected radio signals, that a room of the building is occupied; and
controlling an electronically actuated valve to allow water within a pipe assembly to be pressurized based on detecting the radio signals from the wearable device indicating that the room is occupied.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , the method further comprising:
receiving additional information from the sensor;
determining at a later time, based on the received additional information, that the room of the building is unoccupied; and
allowing water within the pipe assembly to be depressurized based detecting that the room is unoccupied.
16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein the sensor is an occupancy sensor.
17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein allowing water in the pipe assembly to be pressurized comprises opening an electronically actuated valve.
18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein allowing water in the pipe assembly to be depressurized comprises closing an electronically actuated valve.
19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the method further includes:
receiving the information from the sensor at an electronic control unit; and
sending a command to open the electronically actuated valve.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the method further includes:
receiving the additional information from the sensor at an electronic control unit; and
sending a command to close the electronically actuated valve.