VILPE Sense Leak Water Detector for Preventing Roof Water Damage
Roof water damage is one of the most common yet hardest-to-detect building issues. Leak water detectors, like VILPE Sense, provide an intelligent solution to identify hidden leaks early. This helps to prevent costly long-term damage to roof structures.
Why Roof Water Damage is Costly, and Often Invisible
Roof water damage poses a significant challenge for property owners because it’s difficult to detect in time. Even a minor defect can occur during maintenance, for example, if a tool falls onto the roof. The resulting damage is often so small that it’s invisible to the naked eye. Over time, even water leaking through a tiny hole can cause substantial damage to the underlay.
Usually, roof water damage is only noticed once the issue has escalated. In the worst-case scenario, water can make its way into the interior of the building. By then, the water may have already weakened the roof structures, causing mold and rot. If the insulation gets wet, it no longer provides effective thermal protection, leading to increased heating costs.
Roof water damage that has been festering in the structure for a long time is expensive to repair. Often, large sections of the roof must be opened and replaced. Locating the exact leak point is especially difficult on large roofs. Water can travel long distances within the structure before appearing indoors, meaning the actual leak may be far from where the damage is visible—making repairs even more complicated.
What Is a Leak Water Detector, and How Does VILPE Sense Do It Better?
A leak water detector is a sensor or device that detects excess moisture within building structures—for example, in the event of a broken pipe. It helps detect moisture before it becomes a visible leak. In addition to plumbing, leak detectors are valuable for roof monitoring.
VILPE Sense is a moisture detection system specifically designed for roofs. Unlike traditional leak water detectors, it offers several advanced features that benefit property owners:
- Continuous Monitoring: VILPE Sense continuously monitors the condition of the roof. Property owners or maintenance companies don’t need to climb onto the roof for inspections.
- Data Accessibility: The data collected by VILPE Sense can be easily viewed via smartphone or computer. You can even share a link to the data—for example, with a tenant or building user interested in the roof’s condition.
- Automatic Alerts: Once alert thresholds are set, you’ll receive automatic email notifications if moisture levels stay abnormally high. This eliminates the need for constant manual monitoring.
- Integration with Building Automation: VILPE Sense can be integrated into building automation systems.
Thanks to real-time data, roof maintenance becomes predictive instead of reactive. A traditional moisture meter provides information only at the time of measurement. If damage occurs later, it won’t be detected until the next inspection, which could be months later. By that time, the damage may have worsened significantly.
Preventing Roof Water Damage with Smart Technology
Preventing and minimizing roof water damage is much easier if leaks are detected early. Early repairs are cheaper and easier to carry out. Even with regular roof inspections, damage can still occur between checkups. That’s where the smart VILPE Sense leak water detector provides a solution.
The VILPE Sense product family includes two key options. Here are examples of how they help prevent moisture damage:
VILPE Sense Leak Detector – Sensors installed in the insulation layer detect elevated moisture levels within the structure. This information is transmitted to a cloud-based moisture map. When the map shows that moisture levels remain high in a specific roof area, it likely indicates a leak. This allows inspections and repairs to be focused on the exact problem area—and carried out in time.
VILPE Sense Humidity Control – A minor roof defect, invisible to the eye, allows water to enter the insulation during rain. One sensor is placed in the roof structure, another outdoors. They measure temperature and relative humidity. When the sensor in the structure detects increased humidity, it sends data to the control unit, which activates the exhaust fan. The fan boosts performance to dry the structure and then returns to normal. This efficient moisture removal prevents roof water damage.
All sensor data is accessible through a cloud platform. For example, if moisture levels consistently remain high after rain, this indicates a leak. If alert thresholds are set, users automatically receive notifications via email—ideal for monitoring multiple properties.
Reducing Long-Term Maintenance Costs with Predictive Leak Detection
The data provided by VILPE Sense gives property owners better tools for planning inspections and repairs. Decisions are no longer based on guesswork—there’s objective leak water detector data to support them. Long-term data about the roof’s condition is also a valuable asset when selling the property or verifying its condition.
Investing in VILPE Sense can save significant money—especially if it prevents even a single major leak. For example, replacing 200 m² of roof can cost around €30,000, while 1,000 m² costs at least €69,000. In contrast, repairing a small leak costs approximately €1,500. If VILPE Sense detects the leak early, it significantly reduces repair costs.
Who Benefits from Roof Leak Detection?
Leak water detectors, like VILPE Sense, benefit property owners, building managers, maintenance companies, and facility managers—especially when responsible for multiple buildings or thousands of square meters of roofing. For example, in hotels or shopping centers, a roof renovation or roof water damage can require partial closure, resulting in lost revenue. Smart roofs are also valuable for public buildings like schools or hospitals.
VILPE Sense is most used on flat roofs but is also suitable for sloped roofs. It can be installed in both new constructions and renovation projects. A building can be equipped with just the leak detection system, just the moisture control system, or both. For example, one part of the roof can be monitored for leaks, while another part is managed with moisture control.
Invest in Smart Detection to Avoid Expensive Surprises
Property owners must stay alert to the risk of roof water damage. This applies to buildings of all ages—older construction methods may now be considered risky, and even new buildings can be vulnerable if the roof is damaged during maintenance.
Inspecting thousands of square meters of roof is time-consuming and difficult. That’s why VILPE Sense is the solution: a smart leak water detector that monitors structures continuously and detects problems early—when they’re still small and easy to fix. With VILPE Sense humidity control, excess moisture is efficiently removed from the structure, preventing water damage and mold.
A smart roof saves both time and money. If you’re ready to modernize your property maintenance with smart leak water detector, get in touch with us today!