Understand Leak Alerts
FlowCue watches for water-use patterns that continue longer than normal household activity. When it sees an unusual continuous pattern, it sends a leak alert so you can check your home.
The alert type describes the pattern FlowCue first recognized. An alert is a prompt to investigate. It can be caused by a plumbing issue or by water use you recognize, such as a water softener, irrigation system, or appliance.
If your home has a connected shutoff valve, see Shutoff Valve Auto Protection to learn how FlowCue can close an armed valve automatically after detecting a leak.
Types of Unusual Water Use
| Detection | What it means |
|---|---|
| Slow continuous flow | A small amount of water has continued for an unusually long time. This can be caused by a slow leak, a running toilet, or a fixture that does not fully shut off. |
| Medium continuous flow | A moderate amount of water has continued longer than expected. Check for an appliance, fixture, or plumbing issue that is still using water. |
| Fast continuous flow | A larger amount of water is continuing. Check your home promptly for a significant leak or an expected activity that uses a high volume of water. |
| Continuous water use | Water has continued to flow for an extended period, while the rate rises and falls with normal household use. There is a high chance that a leak is continuing in the background. |
Questions About Leak Alerts
Why did I receive an alert after water had already been flowing for a while?
FlowCue looks for water-use patterns that continue over time. This helps it distinguish possible leaks and unusual water use from short, everyday activities such as washing hands or flushing a toilet.
Why is my alert still active after someone used water normally?
FlowCue ends an alert after it detects that the unusual continuous water-use pattern has stopped. Brief changes in flow, including normal household water use, may not immediately end an active alert.
Why did I receive more than one alert on the same day?
Each alert represents a separate period of unusual continuous water use. If one pattern ends and another begins later, FlowCue may send a new alert.
Can I have more than one active leak alert at the same time?
FlowCue tracks one unusual continuous water-use pattern at a time. If the flow changes while an alert is active, FlowCue keeps that alert open until the continuous pattern ends instead of creating overlapping leak alerts.
If you monitor more than one FlowCue device or more than one home, you can receive an active alert from each device or home at the same time.
Why did FlowCue say water use returned to normal?
FlowCue detected that the unusual continuous pattern ended. This does not identify the cause, but it confirms that FlowCue is no longer detecting that pattern.
Does an alert always mean there is a leak?
No. Water softeners, irrigation systems, reverse-osmosis systems, humidifiers, and pool fills can use water for an extended period. Check the source before deciding whether the alert is expected water use or a plumbing problem.
Can FlowCue learn about expected water use?
Yes. When you identify a repeated activity as expected, FlowCue learns that pattern for that device and can distinguish it from unexpected water use. See Teach FlowCue What Is Normal for how to confirm expected water use safely.
What to Do When You Receive an Alert
- Check for running fixtures, appliance cycles, irrigation, and visible leaks.
- If you find a plumbing issue, deal with it and tap Issue Resolved in FlowCue.
- If you recognize expected water use, tap Not a Leak? and tell FlowCue what caused it.
- If you are unsure, keep alerting and investigate further.
See Manage Notifications and Alerts to choose which leak alerts you receive and configure urgent leak notifications on your phone.