A plumbing leak is always a serious problem since it creates the potential for major water damage as well as mold growth inside a home or business. Most leaks will eventually produce noticeable signs such as a moldy/musty odor, a wet spot or water stain on the wall or ceiling, or bubbling paint. The issue is that, even when these signs are present, it can be quite difficult to determine exactly where the leak is without cutting numerous holes in the wall, ceiling or floor. There is also no guarantee that the signs are a result of a plumbing leak and not some other issue. That’s why plumbers use a variety of sophisticated equipment that allows them to quickly and accurately detect if a leak is present and also locate where it’s at.
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging is usually a fairly effective method that allows plumbers to identify and locate a leaky water line behind a wall or even underneath the basement floor. An infrared thermal imaging camera displays a colored heat map that reveals hot and cold spots. When looking at a wall, ceiling or floor, the image will mostly be the same color with only minor temperature differences. The exception is in the direct vicinity where the hot and cold water lines run since these will obviously show up as lines that are slightly warmer and cooler than the surrounding area.
If a leak is present, the infrared image will usually reveal a discernible pattern that displays as slightly warmer or cooler than everything else. For instance, if a vertical pipe in a wall is leaking, you’ll usually see a top-down triangle shape that results from the water spreading out as it seeps downward. If there’s a leaky pipe inside a ceiling, the image will reveal an amorphous blob shape that’s caused by the water soaking into the ceiling and the moisture then spreading out in various directions. The same type of warm or cool blob shape will also usually be visible if a pipe under the basement floor or any other part of the foundation is leaking. Thermal imaging can also be used to detect leaks in drain pipes since the water will still spread out and create the same type of noticeable pattern.
One of the main benefits of thermal imaging is that it makes it fairly easy for a plumber to pinpoint which specific pipe is leaking and approximately where the leak is in the pipe. That means they’ll know precisely where they need to cut a hole in the wall, ceiling or floor to access the pipe so that they don’t need to remove more of the sheetrock or concrete than necessary.
Moisture Meter
The only issue with thermal imaging is that any hot or cold spots that show up on the camera can be caused by other things and don’t always indicate the presence of moisture inside the wall or ceiling or under the floor. This is why plumbers and home inspectors typically also use a moisture meter along with thermal imaging. A moisture meter can measure the percentage of moisture in most building materials including sheetrock, concrete, tile, wood, and vinyl flooring.
Under normal circumstances, all of the building materials in a home contain a relatively low percentage of moisture. For instance, the moisture content in sheetrock is usually somewhere between 5% and 12%. The exact percentage can vary based on how humid it is inside, but it still should generally never be above 15%. To determine if the temperature difference that the thermal imaging camera revealed is due to a leak, all the plumber needs to do is use the meter to measure the moisture content in that area. If the percentage is higher than normal, they’ll usually then check other areas of the wall, ceiling or floor to get a baseline reading. If the two readings are different, it’s a sure sign that the hot or cold spot is due to a leak.
Acoustic Leak Detection
Acoustic leak detection is also an effective option for detecting a leak in a pressurized pipe, meaning any hot or cold water line. The process involves using a ground microphone or listening disc, which is extremely sensitive and can detect even the slightest sounds. The plumber will be able to easily hear if there’s water dripping, running or spraying out of any pipe. They’ll also be able to hear if water is flowing through a pipe. If a plumbing fixture is off, there won’t be water flowing through the hot and cold lines that feed the fixture. If the plumber does hear water moving through the pipe, it’s an obvious sign that the pipe is leaking.
As with thermal imaging, acoustic leak detection typically allows a plumber to at least approximately pinpoint the location of the leak. Both methods are often used together to more accurately diagnose and locate the leak.
Camera Pipe Inspection
A camera inspection is most commonly used to check for a leak in a drain line or sewer line. It can also detect the presence of tree roots inside a sewer line or any blockages and obstructions in the building’s drain and sewer system. All the plumber needs to do is feed the camera through the pipe and monitor the video screen for any cracks, holes or loose joint connections.
A camera inspection is also sometimes used to check for leaks in a water line. In this case, the plumber first needs to shut the water off and drain the pipe. They can then remove a faucet or showerhead to access the pipe and then again insert the camera down through it to look for holes, breaks and loose connections.
Soil Probing
A larger leak in the main underground water line that feeds a home or business is something that will become noticeable fairly quickly. In most cases, you’ll soon notice the ground is overly soggy or has puddles of standing water. If the leak is somewhat near the foundation, it will also usually result in water starting to seep through the concrete and into the basement or foundation.
Smaller leaks in a main water line are often much harder to detect. In many cases, you won’t see any noticeable signs until you get the next month’s water bill and your usage is much higher than usual. The most effective method for identifying and locating the leak in this situation is for the plumber to use a soil probe, which is another type of acoustic listening device.
The water pressure in a home’s main sewer line is usually far higher than the pressure inside the house. The high pressure means that a leak will cause water to spray out of the pipe, which creates discernible vibrations underground. To detect and locate the leak, the plumber inserts the probe into the ground all along the water line and then uses headphones to listen for the telltale vibrations. The probe is sensitive enough that it can detect even minor vibrations caused by a pinhole leak in the water line. It also allows them to accurately determine where the leak is since the sound will get louder the closer the probe is to the leak. That means they can sometimes fix the leak without needing to dig up the entire line.
If you’re facing a leak or any other plumbing issue, like drain cleaning, leaks or clogs, in your home or business, Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing is here to help. We’ve been serving Canton and Stark County since 2007 and specialize in the full range of plumbing, generator, and electrical services. To schedule an inspection or service call, contact us today.
