LEAK DETECTION
B y M ar t y S ilver m an
FINDING
Marty Silverman is the marketing manager with General Pipe Cleaners. He can be reached at marty@drainbrain.com.
The most common indicators of a domestic water leak are a dramatic increase in a water bill or hearing water running all the time. If obvious evidence of a major water leak, like “ponding” or loud leak sounds are absent, it’s time to start a water leak survey. Using a probe and a water leak locator, survey the hydrants and main valves. If the sound of a leak is found at one location, check lines running in all directions from that point. The leak location is usually found between the loudest and second loudest survey locations. Leak location is complicated by the fact that the leak is not likely to be found in the bathroom sink down the hall. Expect to find it buried below concrete, and six feet of water-saturated ground. To locate a water leak like this, it is necessary to filter out all the distracting noises, like traffic, wind, air conditioning compressors, and so forth. Sophisticated water leak locators do more than just amplify the leak noise, they filter out the ambient continues on page 24
Tips from the pros
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