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At Kelson Group, strong property management is not only about responding when something goes wrong. It is also about having the right systems in place to identify concerns early, reduce disruption for residents, and protect the buildings people call home.

One tool Kelson Group uses in many of its properties is AlertLabs, a third-party system that tracks water use and helps detect leaks or potential flooding before they become larger issues.

“It attaches to the water meter and measures the water usage in real time,” explained Keith Newton, HVAC Manager at Kelson Group. “Instead of having to wait until we get the next water bill, we can go on an online platform and see where our water usage is.”

This visibility helps the team spot patterns that may otherwise go unnoticed. For example, a running toilet can create a steady flow of water for hours or even days. AlertLabs can detect that constant use and send an alert to the Kelson Group team.

“If a toilet is running, it will show constant flow,” said Keith. “It gives us the ability to respond immediately to leaks instead of waiting for damage, puddles, or the next water bill.”

Alerts can be sent by email or text message to building managers and members of the operations team. Once an alert comes in, the team can investigate by checking mechanical rooms, walking the building, looking for visible signs of water, or asking residents to check their kitchen or bathroom fixtures.

In one building, AlertLabs showed higher-than-normal water use, even though there were no obvious signs of a problem. There were no hallway puddles, no visible leaks, and no reported issues from residents. Still, the system continued to show unusual consumption.

“We felt that the technology was smarter than us, so we kept looking,” Keith shared.

After further investigation, Keith noticed a wet support wall near a raised grassy area in the parking lot. The team later discovered a broken underground irrigation line.

“We would have never known had we not had this technology telling us not to stop looking,” he said.

Kelson Group also uses wireless flood detection devices in mechanical rooms. These sensors can detect water on the floor due to issues such as a leaking boiler, hot water tank, main water supply issue, sewer backup, or drain problem.

For residents, AlertLabs requires no action or adjustment. There is nothing they need to manage or adjust.

“As far as the tenant goes, this has zero impact,” said Keith. “It just runs in the background so we can respond.”

By using tools like AlertLabs, Kelson Group can take a more proactive approach to building management. The system helps the team identify concerns sooner, respond with better information, and reduce the risk of avoidable damage.

It’s one of the many behind-the-scenes ways Kelson Group helps create well-managed, reliable places to call home so residents can live better.