How do plumbers detect leaks?
Plumbing issues are never fun but while some problems with your home’s plumbing may simply be unpleasant and mildly disruptive, others may cause significant damage to your property. Unfortunately, leaks belong to the second category, as even a small leak can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Plus, if the leak goes undetected for a long time, all that extra water will likely add up to a hefty sum. This is why professional and timely leak detection is extremely important. Let’s take a closer look at the different methods professional plumbers use to detect leaks:
Acoustic technology
Plumbers often try to listen for leaks using listening disks and ground microphones. And if the sound is too quiet or the suspected leak is located too far away, professionals can even utilize acoustic amplifiers to intensify the sound. This technology allows plumbers to detect leaks through thick layers of stone and concrete.
Heat scanning
When water escapes from a pipe and seeps into the ground or the surroundings, it causes temperature changes. Plumbers can use heat scanners to detect these changes in temperature. This method is commonly used in areas that have too much baseline noise for acoustic technology and in locations where leaks are suspected to be too far away.
Charging the pipes
This method involves the plumber attaching pipe locator clamps on the piping inside your home and sending a radar signal along the surface of the pipes. This technology allows the professional to detect any damaged areas of the pipe that may exist in your home.
Video detection of leaks
When a plumber needs information about the precise location and nature of the leak, they can use a tiny video camera attached to a fiber optic cable to inspect the inside of all the piping in a home. The plumber will watch the image sent back by the camera simultaneously, which will allow the professional to get all the information necessary to put together a successful pipe repair plan.
Extensive training
Well-trained and experienced plumbers can often detect leaks without using any specialized equipment. This is why it is extremely important to have a professional inspect the piping in your home if you suspect there might be something wrong with it.
Signs that there might be a leak in your home
There are several signs of pipe leakage you may spot in your home. Make an appointment with a professional plumber if you notice any of them:
- Increased water bills – if your bill suddenly increased without any apparent reasons for it, there might be a leak.
- Water meter keeps running – locate the water meter for your home, shut off all the faucets and appliances that may use water, and take down its reading. If the reading is higher in a few hours even though you didn’t use any water, it’s a sign that there’s a leak.
- Watch for clues – if you notice that patches of your lawn that are greener than the rest of the glass or see that there’s bubbling wallpaper, peeling paint, or mold in certain areas of your home, it could be a sign of a leak.
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