One of my former students created WAGs Valve

Tim McElwain

Many years back when I was teaching at the gas company I would draw a picture on the board of a water heater with a pan under neath. I would then make a statement that someone should invent a device that would safely shutoff water and gas when a water heater springs a leak.



Well as it would be one of my students by the name of Paul Almberg did just that and this is it. Been around for quite a while now. Makes me proud of my students when they are creative and successful



<strong><img src="http://image.bnpmedia-email.com/lib/fefa1670746d0d/m/1/011411RH_Taco+WAGSBoiler.jpg" width="183" height="120" alt="011411RH_Taco WAGSBoiler" />WAGS valve prevents water heater leakage: </strong>A Taco water and gas shut-off valve is a simple, inexpensive and reliable to way to guard against disastrous water problems that can arise when water heaters develop a leak. Taco's Wags valve, ideal for new or existing water heaters, is totally mechanical and can be installed with or without an electric harness. If a leak occurs, an internal water-soluble fiber element dissolves, releasing a powerful, spring-loaded piston that closes flow of water to the tank. With the addition of a wiring harness for gas-fired appliances, this action will also break a fuse to shut off the water heater's gas supply. The valve's action is based on fiber element technology developed for the British Royal Air Force to inflate life jackets automatically. <a href="http://click.bnpmedia-email.com/?ju=fe3d17727666077e751472&ls=fde11d76726c037a70117273&m=fefa1670746d0d&l=fe561576726d007b7413&s=fdf115787765017a7d107974&jb=ffcf14&t=">[u][color=#0000ff]www.wagsvalve.com[/color][/u]</a>.

croydoncorgi

Not just water-heaters!

Funny you should mention this just now!



Today I fitted an overflow pipe in a floor, underneath where a washing machine will be installed on the first floor of a building.  Once the final floor covering is down, there'll be a low-profile plastic tray connected to the drain.  Appliance sits in the tray and any overflow gets to the outside of the building instead of down through the ceiling!  In UK, at least, there's no standard product to use for the tray and no standard practice to fit such a thing.  Given the leaky habits of many appliances and the extensive damage that can result, this is a bit strange!