Water Leak Detection via Usage Disaggregation and Occupancy Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water leak detection systems face challenges in detecting leaks in inaccessible areas and require significant retrofitting and costly sensors, with many solutions limited to detecting leaks only at specific sensor locations.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a combination of water usage data from utility companies, flow meters, and pressure sampling devices, integrated with security and automation systems, to determine total home water usage and occupancy, allowing for the identification of potential leaks by disaggregating known water usage patterns from total usage, thereby reducing the need for extensive sensor placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid detection sensors are positioned at every possible location where leaks could occur, then leak detection capability is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the leak detection function from individual sensor locations and consolidates it into a centralized water meter that measures total water consumption for the entire property. This allows leak detection without requiring sensors throughout the building, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary analysis system that processes water usage data from the meter along with occupancy and appliance information to infer leaks. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for direct sensor placement at leak locations, maintaining detection reliability while reducing installation complexity
2Reliability
If liquid detection sensors are installed in inaccessible areas such as underground or within walls, then leak detection coverage is improved, but installation cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the requirement for sensor installation in inaccessible areas by using a centralized water meter that can be easily installed at the main water line entry point. The leak detection function is extracted from difficult-to-access locations and performed remotely through data analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor installation approach with a data-driven detection system. Instead of physically placing sensors throughout the building including in inaccessible areas, the system uses water usage patterns and contextual data to identify leaks remotely
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are placed throughout the home to detect leaks at all locations, then detection accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the leak detection function from multiple individual sensors and consolidates it into a single water meter reading combined with contextual data analysis. This maintains detection accuracy while reducing the quantity of hardware components from many sensors to essentially one meter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the water meter serve multiple functions: it measures total water consumption, provides data for leak detection, and works with occupancy and appliance information to contextualize usage patterns. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensors at each location
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for detecting water leaks using a security and/or automation system includes receiving total water usage data for a home, receiving water usage data for known sources in the home, receiving occupancy data for at least one occupant in the home, and determining a water leak based at least in part on the total water usage data, water usage data for known sources, and occupancy data.