Stop Plumbing Leaks Before They Start

Stop Plumbing Leaks Before They Start - From your Phone

Many homes in Corolla built before 1994 still have polybutylene plumbing, a material known for its potential to fail over time. While some systems perform without issue for years, the risk is enough to make many homeowners uneasy—especially when the property is a vacation home that may sit vacant for extended periods. Replacing these pipes is a major undertaking, requiring cutting into interior walls and installing new piping throughout the home’s entire water distribution network. By comparison, installing a Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff upstream of your plumbing is a relatively low-cost preventative measure that both warns you of problems and can stop water flow before damage spreads.

The device continuously monitors water pressure and flow, learning the home’s normal usage patterns. If it detects something unusual—like a slow leak or a sudden pipe break—it immediately sends an alert to your phone through the Moen Smart Water App. Even more importantly, it can automatically shut off the water supply to prevent extensive damage.

I was reminded how vulnerable any home can be when a simple $8 toilet supply valve failed in my own house. The slow leak eventually seeped through the floor and damaged the ceiling and hardwoods below. It had nothing to do with polybutylene or  the main plumbing system, which just reinforces the point: most water damage starts small.
Another major benefit is convenience. Using the app, you can turn your water on or off from anywhere. There is no need to deal with an in-ground shutoff valve before leaving town or upon arrival.

Installation is straightforward, and a licensed plumber can handle it easily. In my case, the total installed cost was about $1,500. For vacation homeowners in Corolla, a system like this offers peace of mind, remote control, and strong protection against one of the most common and costly threats to any home—undetected water leaks.

Link to FLO by Moen:  FLO by MOEN