Modern Leak Detection

Leak Detection

Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes," is a well known military adage. In much the same way, a plumbing company cannot began to repair a plumbing leak until they have located the source of the problem. Sometimes this is not difficult. If a boiler has ruptured, or if water is coming from a leaky toilet, then at least the plumber and householder know, in general, where the problem is. However, often, detecting the exact source of a leak requires the skill and patience of a practised licensed plumber.

If water begins leaking from the ceiling, or if a damp spot appears on the wall, it may be a sign that a plumbing pipe, within the structure of the house has started to leak. The plumber may have to cut through plaster or other wall material to locate the leak. Sometimes, water that is leaking from one location may travel along a pipe before it drops onto the inside of the wall. In that case, the origin of the leak will be far away from the sign of the leak, and that complicates the job of leak detection for the plumber.

Slab leaks are another leak detection challenge. When water appears in the basement, or around the side of the house, they may be coming from pipes that are embedded in the concrete foundation of the home. Or they may be running between concrete foundations, or under the concrete. Both locating the leak and repairing it can be a difficult plumbing challenge.

Even when plumbers know, in general, where the water is coming from, they still may have to investigate more closely to know the exact source of a leak. If water is leaking from a radiator, for example, is it coming out of the radiator valve, or from somewhere else? In this case, the plumber will dry away all the water, and then gently lay an absorbent tissue on the radiator to see which part of the tissue absorbs the water first.

When needed, a modern plumber can rely on electric leak detection find the source of a plumbing leak. This is useful when investigating an underground leak, for example. The detection device records sonic waves that reflect back from under the surface, and by examining the change in the frequencies, the trained plumber can determine where the leak is located. Regardless of the source of the leak or the difficulty in detection, a homeowner can rest assured that an experienced plumber using state of the art techniques for leak detection will located the problem, and be able to provide relief.