While it’s easy to spot water leaks from an exposed cracked pipe, some leaks can be very difficult to locate. Sometimes the only signs that there’s a leak somewhere is a wet patch where there shouldn’t be or a mysterious rise in water use with no obvious explanation.
In these circumstances, it’s best to call in a professional plumber and have them determine both the location and the cause of the leak, so that it can be fixed quickly.
That said, how confident can you be that leak detection methods are accurate? Are some more accurate than others? And what’s the best method of determining where a leak is indoors, or in an inaccessible location?
Read on to discover the answers to all these questions and more as we take a look at how accurate leak detection is.
An inspection
While you can see staining on plasterboard or flooring, a trained plumber will frequently spot the source of the leak simply by looking at where the staining is sitting. Evidence of leaking does not always appear at the same spot as the leak itself. Many plumbers have decades of experience in finding leaks. They can use their knowledge and experience to help work out where the leak is on inspection.
If a professional plumber isn’t 100% sure of the leak’s location after inspecting, they will use another method of detection as backup to check their accuracy.
Cable-mounted CCTV camera
Perfect for locating leaks in underground pipes, a cable-mounted CCTV camera is passed into the pipe. The camera films as it progresses down the pipe, giving an accurate visual of its internal condition.
The cable has a measurement gauge on it, so it’s easy to see how far along the pipe the problem is. This method doesn’t require any digging to establish where the leak is and can be used in both water pipes and sewage pipes.
This is a highly accurate method and can also provide evidence of additional areas of weakness or show the sites of multiple leaks.
Thermal imaging
Whilst the cable-mounted CCTV camera works well in pipes, it’s no use for detecting a leak behind drywall, or under floorboards. In these circumstances, thermal imaging can work really well. Water pipes (particularly hot water pipes) have a temperature that’s different to that of the area surrounding them.
If there is a leak, hot water seeps into the surrounding area, temporarily heating it. This fluctuation in temperature will show up on a thermal imaging camera, pinpointing the location of the leak.
A microphone
A microphone held close to the site of the suspected leak will amplify the sound of dripping water, enabling the plumber to work out where the leak is. A microphone can be used as an alternative to thermal imaging but is only effective if the water noise is noticeably changing.
Smaller leaks, or leaks where seepage, rather than drips, occur, are more difficult to spot using a microphone.
A soil probe
The soil probe is a type of listening device that can be used to detect water leaks under lawns or in backyards. If the probe is sunk in close proximity to a leak, the plumber will hear the sound of water escaping through the leak. This method works particularly well when the water is under pressure or there is an abrupt change in its velocity, as that creates more of a noise difference than water that is moving (or leaking) slowly.
The skill and experience of the operator using these detection devices play a key role in how accurate the results are. All of these methods require skilled operation and considerable experience to interpret the findings. Even high-grade equipment won’t help an amateur accurately work out where a leak might be.
Use an expert plumber
In most cases, if you want a leak accurately located and subsequently repaired, it’s best to call out a time-served, skilled plumber. They will know the right type of detection method to use, as well as how to operate the various pieces of equipment and interpret the results.
A seasoned plumber will normally be right about a leak’s location around 90% of the time or more. When their professional expertise is backed up with a secondary detection method, the level of accuracy rises to around 99% or more making professional leak detection methods very accurate.
Even if you’re pretty sure you know where a leak originates from, it’s always better to have the location confirmed by a seasoned professional. Pulling up floorboards or ripping off plaster, only to discover the leak isn’t where you thought it was, is a frustrating and expensive mistake to make!
Why risk it? O'Brien Plumbing Maroochydore offers a complete suite of leak detection services, pinpointing your leak quickly and accurately with state of the art equioment. Contact us today on (07) 5493 7330 to book now.
