Typically, there are three types of leaks that plumbers often deal with; water leaks, sewer leaks, and gas leaks. There are different ways of finding them, and each requires specific equipment and knowledge. So, how are plumbers able to accurately identify leaks in the pipes buried deep under the house? This can be simplified into two broad steps:

1. Testing to confirm there is a leak
2. Isolating the leak to pinpoint its exact location

Finding Sewer Leaks

A sewer leak test is usually the first thing a plumber does to confirm whether there is a leak under your slab. The sewer lines are blocked at the two-way clean outs using a test ball and then filled with water to the slab level. If the water level drops quickly, that indicates a sizable leak under your slab. It may take more time to detect small leaks. Once a leak is confirmed, the test is repeated but this time isolating different sections along the sewer lines to pinpoint the location of the leak. This may take some time and requires a lot of skill and experience on your plumber’s side. Equipment used for this step include cameras, test balls with long hoses, and locators.

Finding Water Leaks

A different technique is used to find leaks in your water lines. To confirm a leak, the plumber connects a pressure gauge to a hose bib and reads the city water pressure. Then they turn off the water at the meter and observe the pressure reading. A pressure drop confirms the leak, and the next step is to find exactly where it is. Is it in the yard or in the house? They can determine this by turning off the water at the valve box in front of the yard and running the test again. The plumber may need to install a ball valve first if your home does not have a valve box. After narrowing down the leak to either the yard or the house, isolation continues until the leak is found. For example, if the leak is in the house, they isolate the hot water lines and the cold water lines to know which side has a problem. Now, using tools like ground microphones and listening disks, your plumber can then find the leak.

Finding Gas Leaks

Detecting gas leaks is very different from detecting sewer and water leaks. The plumber pressurizes the system and crawls around with a spray bottle with soapy water spraying all the joints to see where bubbles form. If you have a CSST system with manifolds, they can isolate different parts to find the leak.

A Good Plumber Has The Right Leak Detection Equipment

What leak detection equipment a plumber uses can determine how fast and accurately they will do their job. As a plumber, you want the right leak detection equipment to provide the best services to your clients. At  LeakPro®, we have the best leak detection systems for all your needs. Contact us today to order yours. If you want to learn more plumbing tips, visit Roger’s YouTube for amazing videos on leak detection and plumbing.