Water leaks are one of the most disruptive issues facing multifamily housing.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 25% of all home insurance claims are related to water damage or freezing. The average payout for those claims was close to $12,500, making water leaks a top financial risk for property owners.
Leaks often go undetected in rental properties, especially in vacant units. The result is mold, tenant complaints, high turnover, and thousands in repair costs. Fast detection is essential, but prevention is even better.
In this article, we’ll cover the most common causes of water damage, the best ways to detect hidden leaks, and what you can do to stop water leaks from happening in the first place. You’ll also get a preview of Minut’s upcoming water leak sensor, which is purpose-built for rental buildings.
Water leaks are one of the top three causes of property damage in rental housing, and in multifamily buildings, the risk compounds.
When a single leak can affect several units, damage spreads quickly through walls, ceilings, and shared infrastructure. Every hour without detection increases the cost of repairs and the potential for tenant complaints.
Stopping water leaks is a core part of protecting your building, bottom line, and tenant relationships.
Dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters frequently leak due to degraded hoses, cracked fittings, or failed seals. These leaks often go unnoticed until they’ve already damaged cabinets, floors, or neighboring units.
Condensate lines from air conditioning units can clog or become disconnected. When they do, water leaks into ceilings and walls, especially during peak usage in the summer months.
Standing water on flat roofs or balconies often finds its way inside. Blocked drains, poor sloping, or aging waterproof membranes are common failure points that lead to interior leaks during storms or heavy rainfall.
Toilet leaks waste water, drive up utility costs, and can cause floor damage over time. Pipe joints under sinks or behind access panels also fail frequently, especially when materials age or installation is poor.
Preventing water leaks in multifamily buildings starts with a proactive maintenance strategy.
Routine plumbing inspections should be part of your operational calendar, as a licensed professional can spot early signs of corrosion, pressure imbalances, or stress fractures in pipes before they escalate.
Aging fixtures and connectors also present a serious risk. Old valves, supply lines, and gaskets often fail without warning. Replacing these components as part of scheduled upkeep helps avoid emergency repairs and costly downtime.
And it’s not just on the building itself; tenant education plays a big role in early intervention. Your team should have clear protocols for responding to tenant reports of moisture, damp spots, or unusual sounds. A slow drip under a sink may seem minor to a resident, but if it goes unreported, it can lead to mold, rotted cabinetry, and long-term structural damage.
To remove the burden from tenants alone, smart sensors have become a key part of any modern prevention strategy. Installing water leak detectors in high-risk zones, including under sinks, near washing machines, and around toilets, provides continuous monitoring. These sensors send real-time alerts, allowing your maintenance team to act quickly, even if no one is home.
For larger buildings or multi-property portfolios, a centralized leak detection system offers a higher level of control. With app-based alerts, historical data, and unit-level visibility, you can quickly respond to leaks, register your insurance claim, and make data-informed maintenance decisions.
Minut’s new Water Leak Sensor is built to prevent water damage in rental housing—without relying on tenants.
It’s compact, wireless, and easy to install. There’s no need for plumbing changes, no complex setup, and no technician visits. Just place the sensor where leaks are most likely to start: under sinks, behind dishwashers, near water heaters, or next to toilets and baths.
When water is detected, alerts go directly to the property manager or maintenance team so that you can investigate immediately.
Importantly, the system is designed to scale. So, whether you're managing a handful of units or a multi-building portfolio, the sensor works directly with the Minut platform. It gives you complete visibility and control across your units, all from one dashboard.
There’s no tenant involvement needed. Just real-time protection from a device that’s designed to work silently in the background—until it matters most.
Property managers can detect leaks by monitoring water usage patterns, performing regular inspections for visible signs like damp walls or ceilings, and installing smart water leak sensors that send instant alerts when leaks occur.
Common causes include aging plumbing systems, faulty appliances, pipe joint failures, and HVAC condensation. Identifying these helps property managers take proactive steps to stop water leaks.
Smart sensors provide real-time monitoring and alerts, enabling immediate action to shut off water sources or dispatch maintenance teams, minimizing damage and costly repairs.
Yes, early detection through sensors and routine inspections allows property managers to address leaks promptly, preventing extensive water damage and costly repairs.
Regular plumbing inspections, replacing worn-out fixtures, educating tenants to report leaks early, and installing leak detection technology are key steps to stopping water leaks effectively.
Minut’s new Water Leak Sensor offers wireless installation, real-time alerts, and seamless integration into your Minut dashboard, helping managers stop water leaks quickly across multiple units.
