How To Determine If You Have A Plumbing Slab Leak In 15 Minutes

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If you suspect a slab leak, you can perform a sewer line and water line leak test to confirm the leak and take necessary action. A sewer water test is one of the best ways to find leaks in your plumbing system. It’s a simple water leak detection procedure; anyone can do it with the appropriate leak detection equipment. Here are the tools you will need:
  • Test balls and an air hose to test for sewer leaks
  • A pump to inflate the test balls
  • A pressure gauge to test for water leaks
  • A wrench to shut off the meter

Performing a Sewer Leak Test

First, locate the two-way sewer clean outs in your home. Connect the air hose to a test ball and push it down the clean out closest to the house. Then, inflate the test ball using the pump to block the sewer completely. Now fill the sewer line with water to the level of the clean out pipe. Look down the other clean out pipe to ensure no water is running through. Observe the water level for about 15 minutes. The concept here is simple; if the water level in the pipe drops, there is a leak in your sewer line.

Performing a Water Leak Test

The water test is a bit simpler. All you need to do is screw the pressure gauge onto a tap making sure it doesn’t leak, and take the water pressure reading. Now, go to your meter and shut it off using the wrench. Wait for about 15 minutes, and then check the pressure reading again. If the pressure in the gauge holds, there is no leak. However, if the pressure falls, you have a leak in your system.

What’s Next

The leak test above only confirms that there’s a leak and will not tell you where the leak is. So, the next step is leak locating, and for that, you will need leak detection equipment. If you’re a homeowner or an industry professional looking for the best leak detection systems out there, contact us to learn more. LeakPro® detection equipment will help you with your leak detecting and leak locating needs. You can also learn more about how to perform leak detection tests like a pro on Roger’s YouTube.
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