Stopping a Washer Flood

Our second Spring in the house, in 2007, our washer overflowed. We did the towels and buckets routine. We moved the washer out of its spot. I called a carpet company and they brought ozone generators to quickly finish drying the floor, walls and nearby carpet to prevent mold. I didn't want to worry about water damage from that source again. I didn't want to breathe that amount of concentrated ozone in my home again either.

I discovered the Samurai Appliance Repair Man's suggestions for preventing a washer flood in the future at http://fixitnow.com/2005/03/three-easy-steps-to-total-washing.htm. Confirmed by my research at other sites, the three steps seemed like very good ideas. So I ordered the FloodStop, a smart system that shuts off the faucets if it detects water on the floor. We already had the steel-braided fill hoses, and they had not leaked. I also ordered the leak catcher, which is a plastic "dish" like the one under the dish drainer on the kitchen counter but big enough to sit under the washer.

After the FloodStop arrived, we installed its shut-off valves on both the hot and cold water faucets. We plugged the valves into the control unit. We plugged the moisture sensor into the control unit. We plugged the control unit into the power outlet. We rested the moisture sensor on the floor.

Since we'd unplugged the fill hoses from the old washer before moving it out, it was easy to test the FloodStop. We turned on a faucet and splashed a little water onto the sensor. The water immediately stopped. We dried the sensor with a towel and then waited for it to dry completely to test the other faucet. Its shut-off valve worked like a charm, too.

Even for the people (not us) who shut off both faucets after every washer use, this is a good idea. Our washer overflowed while we were using it, but we were watching movies with a guest and we didn't notice until the water had covered a surprising distance. I think the water level sensor of the old washer failed. I didn't confirm this because I wasn't willing to give it another chance, and it was a good time for us to switch to an energy-efficient washer. Bottomline: The FloodStop is a clever device that should save a lot of people from a lot of hassle, expense and anxiety.