A hidden leak in a residential plumbing system can be enough to drive a homeowner crazy. Hidden leaks can also be costly. Thank goodness for plumbing contractors who have access to state-of-the-art tools and testing strategies. If anyone can find a hidden leak, a plumber can.
Hidden leaks are problematic for homeowners for two reasons. First, leaks waste water. Every drip of water leaking from a system represents money going down the drain. Second, unaddressed leaks can lead to big problems. A hidden leak can:
- Become a major leak over time.
- Lead to mold and mildew growth.
- Cause structural damage that can’t readily be seen.
All the things that could potentially go wrong are likely to come to fruition the longer a hidden leak is undetected. So calling a plumbing contractor at the first sign of a potential leak isn’t a bad idea.
How Plumbers Detect Leaks
SameDay is a Utah plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contractor serving the greater Salt Lake City area. They say that licensed plumbers have access to a number of technologies that help them locate hidden leaks. One of those technologies is thermal imaging.
Also known as infrared thermography, it’s a tool that utilizes infrared cameras to scan walls, floors, and ceilings. The cameras are looking for temperature differences rather than actual water itself. Why? Because leaking water changes the temperature of surrounding materials. Thermal imaging detects and displays those differences.
Check out these other ways plumbers detect hidden leaks:
- Acoustic Detection – Rather than looking for leaks in thermal images, acoustic detection listens for them using specialized microphones.
- Video Detection – Plumbers sometimes utilize waterproof, flexible cameras that are actually fed into the plumbing system through existing pipes. Live video footage could reveal the leak in question.
- Gas Detection – Some jobs call for gas detection, a strategy in which an inert gas is pumped into a suspect pipe. Sensors scan for any signs of escaping gas.
- Smoke Testing – Smoke testing is similar to gas detection except that it utilizes smoke and visual observation.
- Pressure Testing – Systems that are designed to be sealed can be tested with air. Pressurizing the system will result in escaping air if there is indeed a leak.
Even without all these high-tech methods for discovering hidden plumbing leaks, plumbers have access to a very old but proven method. It involves a harmless dye and the home’s water meter. Without getting into the details, placing dye at a suspect location and then watching the water meter can indicate whether a leak is truly present.
When Leaks Are Detected
It turns out that detecting a hidden week could be easier than actually repairing it. Repair difficulty is nearly always tied to accessibility. Pipes that are harder to get to are also harder to repair. And the harder repairs are to make, the more costly the bill.
A leak inside a wall, floor, or ceiling could mean cutting into the affected surface. A leak in your irrigation system would mean digging up the yard. Unfortunately, hidden plumbing leaks tend to require more than just simple repair. That is why plumbers charge so much for their services.
The good news is that some types of repairs are touchless. For example, trenchless pipe repairs could eliminate the need to dig up your yard. But each situation is different.
Fortunately, plumbers can often do what homeowners cannot: find hidden leaks without too much trouble. Thanks to their knowledge, skill, and equipment, plumbers can zero in on leaks pretty quickly. It’s a good thing they can, too.