Steps Involved in Leak Detection.
Water leak detection is not always obvious and is sometimes only found when you receive an unusually high water bill.
The Steps We Take With Leak Investigation
The very first thing we need to determine is whether the leak has to do with the hot or cold-water service. We do this by isolating each individual service and pressurizing the line with high pressure air. Using a pressure gauge, it immediately informs us whether the leak is coming from the hot or cold-water service.
High pressure air and water will also make a high pitched noise where the water is escaping, making it possible for our team to hear and locate specifically where the leak is coming from.
What if the Leak is Underground?
Through the process described above, it is not always possible to hear where leaks are coming from, as water pipes often run underground, through concrete floors and other foundations.
When cases like these occur, we use pipe locating equipment to identify and outline the water pipe position. We then isolate sections of the water service, in order to determine the approximate location of the leak. Depending on the accessibility of the pipe, we may need to bypass this section in-order to repair the leak. There is however some good new when it comes to water leaks! The water authority will usually refund the excessive water bill, provided you deliver our report as evidence of the water leak.
No two leaks are ever the same. Some leaks can simply be identified, whereas others can be a far more ambiguous. We often send 2 plumbers to leak investigations, as when testing with die to find the leak it can be identified with ease.