Watts EDP0004640 IntelliFlow Automatic Washing Machine Shut Off Valve
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Watts EDP0004640 IntelliFlow Automatic Washing Machine Shut Off Valve
Customer Review: Similar failure
Summary: 1 Stars
Installed in our top-floor laundry area. Failed in a similar fashion to the other posts (trickle of cold water) after being used for 13 months - just after numerous loads of post-vacation laundry. Intelliflow needs to improve their reliability - go elsewhere until Watts does something to address this. Good idea - poor reliability.Customer Review: So far so good.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have had this unit for almost a year. I agree with the other reviewers, it seems a bit flimsy. It was not easy to install. You may want to hire a plumber if you can not solder. I also have a high efficiency unit so it took some tweaking to keep it from shutting off prematurely but I got it to work. I also had a problem with it hooked up to a GFI plug. I have an older house so I have both types of outlets in the laundry room. It kept tripping the GFI plug. I am not sure if that is the fault of the GFI or the IntelliFlow. Watts would really have something here if it redesigned the unit for DIY installation.Customer Review: Three failures in seven years. . .
Summary: 1 Stars
Although this product is a great idea, these units are terribly unreliable. I've had to replace three of these within a seven-year span. Only one was covered under the Watts ONE-YEAR warranty. The maximum life I've seen from the IntelliFlow valve is three years, even though they have been protected by quality surge protectors. I keep thinking that later models will have improved reliability, but this is not the case. DON"T BUY ONE OF THESE UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED TO REPLACE THEM EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS!Customer Review: Two Watts Inteliflow units failed in 3 years
Summary: 1 Stars
We purchased the Watts Intelliflow and had it installed by a professional plumber 3 years ago. The unit failed within one week. It failed because it would not allow any water to pass through to the washing machine. The company replaced the unit at no charge. We had to pay the plumber to install the second unit. A washing machine has been hooked up to the second unit for a bit less than 3 years; the washer worked well for that time. We are now replacing that washing machine and when disconnecting the hoses found that the Watts Intelliflow valve would not shut down the flow of hot water. The cold water side seemed to work okay insofar as no water flowed from that side. We called the company (978 689-6066 option 2) and talked with a technical service consultant. He walked us through a few steps checking lights and such and then announced the unit should be okay. I asked him to wait while I turned the water on from the main house shut offs and when I did water flowed from both the hot and cold Watts Intelliflow pipes. Now the problem exists for both hot and cold. I talked with the service consultant to express my great disappointment that two units had failed and for different reasons within a 3 year period. I paid about $180 for the Watts Intelliflow and did not want to pay for another one. I asked if the company would stand behind the product and was told the warranty period is one-year. Fair enough but I warn you, these units are purchased so that we can avoid floods if a hose breaks. Insofar as the 2 units described here, both professionally installed, failed as I described how can we (you or I) expect to depend on the unit's water sensor to shut down water flow in the event of a hose break? MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT. I have called the company president and, as he was traveling, left a message describing the situation. I will update this posting if I hear back from him.Customer Review: Update: Caution, caution, it breaks.
Summary: 4 Stars
I came across the Deal of Deals for a Bosch washer and dryer (see my reviews on that, a good story) and decided to convert my just-restored spare bedroom into a laundry room. I wanted to protect my new floors and remembered seeing this valve on an episode of This Old House.
Three people I know had their houses damaged by burst washing machine hoses. One of these incidents involved two floors and the damage was very expensive.
It is also possible for the machine to spring a leak internally and flood things.
You can prevent this in two ways. One is to simply turn off the faucets for the washing machines hoses when you are done washing. Like that will happen, right? You can buy a special valve that has one easy handle to shut off both hoses at once. Still, nobody ever thinks about it. Washers in rental or mother-in-law units are never, ever going to be shut off.
The only sure-fire way to prevent this problem is to install an electric valve like the Watts IntelliFlow. You plug this into the wall outlet and then plug the washing machine into the valve. When you turn on the washer, the valve senses the flow of electricity and opens up. It turns off when the current stops for two hours.
Every washer should be placed in a plastic catch pan, sold by every box store or appliance dealer, and Amazon. You can rig up a pipe or hose to drain the pan. It is also a good place to put the Watts sensor. It comes with the valve, plugs into it and the sensor end is placed in the pan. If water gets into the pan, the sensor shuts off the water. Good extra insurance for sure.
Installing the unit requires plumbing skills and you also need a nearby electrical outlet. Codes call for GFI outlets in laundries.
You can get the valve as a surface mount where it just attaches to the wall. In this case the pipes will show, of course, and that may be just fine. It also is available in a box. These fit into the wall and also have a 2" hole for a drain stand-pipe. In this case the pipes don't show and you will likely have to tear out part of the wall for access to the plumbing and drains.
Although the boxed-in promises a neat and clean installation, the reality is that you have hot and cold water hoses, wires and drain hoses coming out of it, so it ends up being cluttered anyway. I used the box version because I had to tear out the wall for the plumbing and wiring.
Unless your washing machine is outside or in the garage where a leak will not be a problem, you should have this valve. If you are depending on others to shut off valves, then you really need this. The more stories there are below you, the more the need increases. Those with leather carpets and ebony floors...you know who you are and what you need to do.
If you have a 240v washer you have to go a step further and buy another device, the Watts IntelliTimer. This is because the plug in the IntelliFlow is 120v only. See my review of that unit.
Whoops. Although I ordered the IntelliTimer at the same time as the IntelliFlow valve, Amazon doesn't list it on its own site. I'll review it here. The Timer plugs into the Valve. When you want to use the washer, you push a button on the IntelliTimer that energizes the valve and turns it on. After two hours of no current, the unit shuts off as does the valve.
You have to push a button to use the washer, but don't have to remember to turn it off, although you can. The little sensor on the valve still works the same and so it is all good. The washer plugs into the conventional wall outlet.
This is a clever device that allows you to use and protect any washer.
I did give four stars for the valve because it got quite expensive when the timer was added. It does all seem to be good quality. The flashing Timer light when the unit is plugged in, but not activated, is unnecessarily distracting.
Update: this thing failed for no apparent reason in little more than a year. This seems to be a pattern. In my case, it was like it got no power and the light wouldn't go on. The circuit board probably.
I took it apart, which is easy, and emailed Watts twice asking about repair parts. I never got a reply.
I spent a good deal of time and money on these Watts products and for altering the plumbing to mount it. And there is a big hole in the wall for the mounting box. There is nothing positive about any of this.
What makes it worse is that if the valve fails you have to redo the plumbing to hook up your washer hoses. That is, unless you do the following:
Remove the unit and take it apart. Take the solenoids apart. Remove the little plungers and their springs. Put the copper parts that were in the solenoids back into the box and screw the retaining plate over them and the valves. What you have done is to remove the means to push down on the little valve stoppers and thus to allow a free flow of water through the system and to your hoses. The plastic housing remains. I also removed the power cord just to neaten it up a bit. The solenoids, circuit board, etc. stay removed. All that remains in the box are the two copper plunger-looking things and the retaining plate.
You will need a torx bit for the screws.
Then, search for another product, or hope that Watts will respond to you and act responsibly. I still have a faint hope that my emails will turn up someplace and they will sell me some parts. I'll redo the review again if that happens.