LeakLogik

Para qué sirve

LeakLogik is a small, battery powered, device designed to effortlessly detect and stop all kinds of toilet leaks at the source. It is installed in-line with a toilet's water supply and uses pattern recognition and an internal solenoid valve to stop leaks fast.

Qué te inspiró

The inspiration for LeakLogik came when I was far from home on a family vacation. While biking down the sunny streets of Buenos Aires my dad got a phone call from an unexpected caller -- the municipal water company. Back home a flash freeze warning had been issued so the water company's alert of "excessive usage" coming from our address led us to assume the worst. However, when a neighbor visited the house to check what happened they didn't find a burst pipe or massive food. Instead, they found a single leaky toilet. In just a few days that toilet wasted over $600 in water--enough to prompt a call from the city. With that, LeakLogik was born.

Cómo funciona

LeakLogik works by analyzing the flow of water into the toilet to which it is attached to determine if a leak has occurred. The water flow data is generated not by a traditional sensor that requires power to operate, such as a flow meter, but by a mini-hydroelectric generator. This component provides the internal microcontroller with flow data and instead of using power, it generates power extending LeakLogik's battery life with every flush! When LeakLogik is installed on a toilet the user first programs the device with our one-step programming process. Simply press the programming button, flush the toilet, and let LeakLogik do the rest. With this baseline data and the real-time flow data from the generator LeakLogik is able to detect all kinds of leaks–everything from catastrophic leaks to the smallest drips. In the event that a leak is detected, LeakLogik’s internal solenoid valve shuts off the water supply to the toilet and stops the leak in its tracks.

Proceso de diseño

Although LeakLogik has gone through many iterations to become the functional product it is today, the underlying principals the device is based on have remained unchanged. From the beginning it was clear LeakLogik needed an electrically controlled valve to stop leaks, a sensor to detect leaks, a way to generate or store power, and a processor to connect everything together. After researching the various parts that could fulfill these requirements I placed an order for an assortment of solenoid valves, sensors, generators and more. I began experimenting with different combinations of sensors, valves, and generators to see what would work best for finding leaks. The data from the sensors was promising, but the true breakthrough moment came when I realized that I could extract all the data needed from just the hydroelectric generator. This meant that not only would LeakLogik's BOM cost be substantially lower than expected, but it would have a battery life far exceeding what competitors claim. Armed with this new realization I built various different prototypes utilizing just a solenoid valve and hydroelectric generator. With each iteration the device became smaller and easier to use to the point that LeakLogik is ready to enter small scale production today.

Qué lo hace diferente

LeakLogik is not the first device designed to solve the massive waste caused by toilet leaks, but it is the best device for this problem. Whole home leak detection solutions can appear to be an attractive solution, but they are often expensive, difficult to install, don't work in multi-family or commercial environments, and take unnecessarily broad action by shutting off water to the entire building when only one fixture needs to be restricted. This "nuclear option" is especially problematic when the building contains plant watering systems, automatic water supply devices for pets, or other critical systems that rely on the constant availability of water. There are a few products that attach directly to the toilet like LeakLogik, but they too have flaws. From over-engineered solutions that require complex smart home integrations to motion activated valves that fail to catch leaks in the first place, there isn't a solution as simple and reliable as LeakLogik.

Planes para el futuro

LeakLogik is already a functional device that can be installed on toilets around the world today. However, at its current state the prototyped nature of the device means that it is not easy to produce additional units for sale. In the coming months LeakLogik will enter small scale manufacturing with the goal of building the first batch of commercially viable products. Additionally, we intend to introduce a more advanced version of LeakLogik with integrated WiFi and analytical reporting, LeakLogik Pro, designed for use in commercial environments where these features are of greater benefit.

Premios

LeakLogik has been accepted into Northwestern University's The Garage Residency Program. The competitive program provides resources to student founders and inventors to help bring their ideas to life.