Scenario · Garage with a water heater and storage

A water heater drips at 3 a.m.

Scenario: a garage water heater's drain valve drips overnight. A flood contact in the pan alerts you before the slab and stored boxes get soaked.

Illustrative scenario. This is a walkthrough of how ProbeHarbor behaves in a common failure, not an account from a real customer. The features, thresholds, and plan limits are real.

Blue PEX and copper water lines with valves in a basement ceiling
Supply lines in basements and crawlspaces are the freeze risk that history charts prove. Photo: Tomwsulcer. CC0

The setup

  • The ESP32 already pushing garage temperature; a wet/dry contact added in the heater pan
  • Ingest kind flood: alerts automatically when wet, no custom rule needed
  • Email plus SMS (Pro); the freeze threshold keeps watching the same space

How it plays out

  1. 3:08 a.m.: The flood contact reports wet; SMS and email go out even though vacation mode is on.
  2. 3:20 a.m.: A neighbor with the family live link checks in and finds a drip at the drain valve.
  3. Morning: A plumber tightens the valve while the slab is still mostly dry.

Why it matters

Leaks don't wait for a freeze. Flood contacts share the same device and ingest path, and wet alerts get through even when vacation mode mutes the routine ones.

Real outcomes depend on sensor placement, thresholds, and how quickly someone can respond.

FAQ

Do flood alerts need a custom rule?

No. With alerts enabled, wet flood/leak contacts notify automatically. Use a rule only to combine flood with door or temperature conditions.

Where should the contact sit?

On the pan floor, away from normal condensation drips. Test with a damp cloth, then dry it so it doesn't stay in a wet state.

Related answers

Try it on your space

Start free with live charts, email alerts, and one family live share link. Upgrade when you want CSV history (Member) or SMS and expanded share scopes (Pro: 14-day trial).

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