How a small LeakBot water leak device saved one Ohioan a big headache
This article was originally written by Jarrett Dunbar and posted on nationwide.com.
Columbus, OH, November 12, 2024 -- In his 40-plus years as a general contractor, Con Keefer has seen the damage water can do to the home.
“Over the years we’ve done hundreds of fire and water damage restoration projects,” said Keefer, who owns Keefer Building Company in Maumee, Ohio. “It’s not pretty.”
Keefer is an expert on the inner workings of a home and was pretty confident that his home’s infrastructure was sound enough that water leaks wouldn’t be an issue.
“My home is 24 years old, so I was sure that all the systems - mechanical and electrical - were up to par and up to code. Or so I thought.”
At the advice of Nationwide, Keefer installed a Leakbot water leak detection device. The device clamps on to the main water line, monitors the pressure levels in the pipe and lets the homeowner know if there are any leaks - large or small - within the home.
Within just a few days of using the device, Leakbot notified Keefer that it had detected a few leaks.
“I knew I had one toilet that had a very minor leak,” remembers Keefer. “I finally thought, ‘OK, I will let the tech come in here and they can tell me what they think. If they want to repair my toilet at no charge, that’s fine. You know, how can it get any better than that?’”
Upon further inspection, the technician broke the bad news to Con. The Keefer home had two slow toilet leaks AND a hot water line leak in his furnace room – one that was occurring behind a wall in a room that Keefer rarely goes to. Without that notification from Leakbot, the leak in his water line was well on his way to causing significant damage.
“We could have had six inches of water through our whole lower level,” says Keefer. “I have a lot of built in woodworking, bookcases, stereo systems, and electronics down there. It could have been more than $100,000 worth of damage. We really avoided a disaster.”
Leakbot and Nationwide officials have heard dozens of stories like Keefer’s before.
“Mr. Keefer’s experience after fitting a LeakBot is actually quite typical” says Craig Foster, CEO of Ondo InsurTech, the parent company of LeakBot. “If a homeowner can’t see a leak themselves, they are often a bit skeptical. But since 90% of plumbing is hidden from view, our expert plumbers routinely find hidden leaks that homeowners can’t see, enabling us to catch them early before it damages the property."
Keefer received his Leakbot at no additional charge from Nationwide as part of the two company’s original partnership which started at the beginning of 2024. The promotion included a Leakbot device, monitoring of Keefer’s home, and repairs of leaks for Nationwide customers.
The initial Ohio-based pilot promotion was so successful that Nationwide and Leakbot are making it available to Nationwide customers in 16 additional states.
Nationwide’s partnership with Leakbot demonstrates the company’s “predict and prevent” mindset and shows that finding an issue and fixing it before it becomes a major problem is good for both the company and the customer.
“Nationwide is committed to fulfilling the promises we make to our customers and that includes paying out claims to make our customers whole,” said Mark Teets, Associate Vice President of Personal Lines Underwriting Strategy at Nationwide. “But in our mind, it’s better to catch these issues early. Water damage can take weeks, sometimes months, from which to recover. Also, many times, the items damaged are family photos, heirlooms…things that just can’t be replaced. These situations can put a lot of strain and emotional stress on the homeowner and their family. Having these devices in place provides a sense of protection that is priceless.”
For Keefer and his wife, that peace of mind allows them to take long, stress free weekend trips away from their house in their RV.
“If we leave on Christmas vacation, we’re gone a couple of weeks. We know that everything all the systems are intact, and we don’t have to worry. So, the peace of mind is what I really like.”
If you’re interested in receiving a Leakbot from Nationwide, talk to your insurance agent to see if you’re eligible or learn more here.