One of the most important abilities that skilled plumbers have is being able to track leaks and find their sources.
Repairing water damage is fruitless unless a plumber has first done the required detective work to locate the source of the leak and what has caused it.
As any plumbing company can attest, sometimes that task is a lot more challenging than it may seem!
Read on to understand what is involved in finding plumbing leaks so that appropriate repairs can be made.
1. An In-depth Understanding of Plumbing Systems
Before any plumber can attempt to locate a sneaky leak in a plumbing line, they must already have a thorough understanding of how residential and commercial plumbing is done and how plumbing lines are laid within the walls of the building.
This knowledge allows them to develop an initial plan as to where the problem may lie and what will be necessary to locate, then resolve it.
2. The Right Training and Experience
In addition to that critical understanding of plumbing installation and components, plumbers must also have great training plus good experience tracking down leaks and remedying them.
Part of that essential training is learning how to use the latest leak detection technology and tools available to plumbing companies, as well as all of the tools necessary to do the repairs once leak sources are discovered.
Depending on the type of leak and the specific pipe it is affecting, different or multiple location methods may be used.
3. The Right Tools and Equipment
To put all of that knowledge and training to effective use and successfully find any leak, plumbers must have the equipment to get the job done.
Today, this goes far beyond the standard tools of the plumbing trade and includes important newer technology such as:
- Video Inspection Technology - Plumbing cameras are an important technology used by plumbers to detect leaks and other problems from right within the plumbing line. These fiber-optic cameras are lowered into water and drain lines to inspect the interior of these pipes and pinpoint the location of the source of a leak.
- Pressure Gauges - Another essential tool used by plumbers to isolate the location of leaks within a certain pipeline is a pressure gauge designed to put pressure on a filled line. Using soap on the outside of the line or by monitoring leakage in other ways, plumbers confirm that a leak exists in an isolated pipe by pressurizing the line and either watching for soap bubbles or noticing a reduction in water pressure.
- Test Ball Plugs - These plugs are used alongside pressure gauges and other equipment to block the passage of water through a pipe so it can be filled up and tested for leaks. Ball plugs are inserted into the plumbing line, then inflated until they seal it off so that water can be contained as testing is done.
- Acoustic Technology - One more innovative way that plumbing companies track and locate difficult leaks is by using acoustic equipment such as ground microphones or acoustic disks which transmit to acoustic amplifiers. These are essential when searching for leaks under concrete or within walls and when leaks are too quiet to hear with the naked ear.
Experienced Plumbers Find Leaks In Some Interesting Ways
When deciding whether or not to call a plumbing company, it is important to realize that leaks frequently start far from where signs of leakage are noticed.
Fortunately, a skilled plumber has the training and specialty equipment to find even the smallest of leaks inside someone’s home or commercial building.
Contact a quickly before too much damage is caused!