Picking Good Pipe

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Compatible Pipe Types
• Plastics
• Metal Pipes
• Conclusion

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 45 seconds.

Introduction

Picking the right install location for bluebot requires a very basic knowledge of plumbing and your home water system. First ask yourself the following question:

1. What kind of data do you want to record?

If you answered "all my water data" you will want to spend time locating a compatible pipe as far up your water line as possible.

If you want to monitor your garden or landscaping, you will find that bluebot is very flexible and that you can install it on an individual line or on the main pipe entering the irrigation system to achieve your sub-metering goal.

Many customers have a bluebot on their house main and another on the irrigation main.  In some cases, the irrigation splits off before the home so this allows total property water measurement.   If you have multiple monitoring zones/properties you can install a bluebot for each area and organize them into specific groups via the app.

Once you have found your water main or irrigation line, you will need to find a straight section of pipe at least 4” long with no obstructions (like fittings, paint or dirt) that would get in the way of a snug tight clamp-on fit to the pipe. It is key to assure the ultrasonic sensor pads touch the pipe very tightly so the ultrasonic signal can measure flow. Make sure you are installing the bluebot on a compatible pipe type and size before attempting installation. 

*We recommend considering your home's addition history to ensure all water usage is being captured- could you be installing on a newer or order section of your water line that does not feed through the entire home? Depending on your home's plumbing environment, the addition of a bathroom or ADU after the property was originally constructed could mean they branch off further up the line. 

Compatible Pipe Types

The bluebot flow meter can adjust itself using AI and the app to measure water flow on any Copper (type M and L), Stainless Steel PVC, Galvanized, PEX and black PE (polyethylene) sized at 3/4" up to 2" with larger size PVC up to 4" available upon request.  Read more about Compatibility and Specifications.

Plastics

If you have PVC, PEX or black PE pipe you will likely have no issues related to scale or buildup with your bluebot installation.

Metal Pipes

Homes with older copper or galvanized pipe often run into issues because the install location can be filled with buildup or is better defined as "scale". Scale is an issue because it increases the wall thickness of the pipe interfering with the factory calibration of the device. Here are some tips for checking for corrosion/scale:

Get To Know Your Plumbing

If you're unfamiliar with your home plumbing layout and pipe type, you must learn more before installing your bluebot. Read about Compatibility and Specifications to learn more.

Check for rust in your toilet tank

Rust is a product of the iron oxidation caused by the active presence of moist air in your pipe. If you have galvanized pipe the best place to look is inside your toilet water tanks. The darker the discoloration the more corrosion may be present. Another common place to check is in your shower or tub--turn the water on and if the first 5 seconds is murky or brown this generally indicates the presence hard water/rust or corrosion.

Testing

Testing your water with an over the counter PH, water hardness and copper presence kit is an easy way to see if your pipes are corroded. 

Physical Inspection

Nothing beats a physical inspection of the pipe. If you have a home built before 1970 it's likely you have galvanized steel plumbing. If the presence of corrosion is confirmed and you know the plumbing is very old it's generally a good idea to hire a professional and perform a physical inspection prior to installing a bluebot on your water line. 

Conclusion

When it comes to picking a good pipe, make sure it's a compatible size and type, it's in the right location and it's free of corrosion, scale, overlapping fittings, dirt, debris.

Tip: Send us a photo of your install location, it's free and we would love to help you. 

If you have any questions, please submit a support ticket or call (831)275-2715 and leave a message. A member of our support team will call you back within 24 hours.