Leak Detection Tips
Tips to help you test for water leaks
There are a couple of ways one can test for leaks to determine whether or not there is a leak in one’s house or at one’s pool.
Below are a few basic tests one can perform before calling out a water leak detection expert:
HOUSEHOLD WATER LEAKS
A simple test to determine whether or not one requires water leak detection in one’s home would be to close all taps in the house and on the property as well as all toilet feed pipe valves (ie: the small valves allowing water to fill the cisterns of the toilets in the house).
Don’t forget to check out buildings, garden taps, staff toilets and irrigation systems. Irrigation systems usually have a main valve or a manual shut off of some sort.
Go to the water meter (usually at the gate or main entrance to the property) and take a reading. A good idea would be to take a photo using your cell phone or a digital camera.
Wait for 5 full minutes then take another reading or photo of the water meter and compare it to the first reading/photo. If there is any difference there is probably a water leak on the property.
SWIMMING POOL WATER LEAKS
Swimming pool water leaks are typically much more difficult to find but there are 2 basic tests one can do. Both tests should be conducted over 24hr periods and when there’s no rain predicted.
Bucket Test
Take a standard bucket and fill it with water. Place the bucket on the top step of the pool and adjust the level of water inside the bucket to be exactly the same as the water level outside the bucket ie. the water level inside and outside the bucket must be exactly the same.
Leave the bucket on the top step for a couple of days but make sure it’s for full 24hr increments. This way one can determine the rate at which the pool is leaking per day (ie: per 24hr period). If the water level outside the bucket (ie: in the pool) drops faster than the level of water inside the bucket there is a water leak in the pool. If there is no water leak in the pool the water levels inside and outside the bucket will drop at the same rate due to evapouration.
Pipe Seal Test
Having established that the pool is leaking water, switch the pool pump off at the mains and remove the rings covering the openings of the return jets as well as the directional balls in the openings of these jets. Place a plastic shopping bag flat and taught over the front of the opening of each jet then fasten the ring over the front of the jet to seal the jet off. Make sure there are no creases in the plastic before screwing the rings back on as water can travel via the creases in the plastic in which case the water will still leave the pool in the case of the pipes leaking. Again, leave the pool standing still for 2 or 3 consecutive 24hr periods ie: 2 or 3 full days.
If the water level drops within this 2 or 3 day period the pool itself has a water leak as opposed to the piping system. In this case contact a swimming pool professional to quote on repairing the swimming pool leak.
If the water level doesn’t drop during this period please contact us immediately for pool leak detection.
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High tech water leak detection equipment is extremely effective at finding water leaks. The use of this type of equipment eliminates the need for excessive digging and damage to property when locating invisible water leaks.
The Ex Tec Snooper Mini unit
The water pipe system is flushed with tracer gas. The tracer gas seeps out through the ground or wall where ever there are water leaks. An Ex Tec Snooper Mini unit is then used to detect or sniff for the presence of the leaking tracer gas. This unit is superbly accurate and the perfect tool for locating a hidden water leak.
The Stethophon 04 Acoustic Unit
The Stethophon 04 acoustic listening device is then used to pinpoint location of the tracer gas leaks.The escaping tracer gas creates vibrations as it exits the hole in the leaking water pipe. By tuning into the frequency of these vibrations and the use of noise cancelling earphones, the exact position of the water leak is found.