Water leaks can cause major damage to a home — even when the leak is minor. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find hidden water leaks in a home. That’s why plumbers use various leak detection methods, the most common of them being infrared camera searches, pressure testing, sound detection and video inspections.
In this blog post, the pros at South West Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric will go over different leak detection methods and signs that you have a leak in your home.
Infrared Camera inspections
Infrared cameras are devices that sense temperature differences in a given area and display those differences as an image. Because water will be a different temperature than the air, plumbers can detect dripping water or areas with damp drywall or insulation.
These types of cameras aren’t as easy to use as they seem, which is why plumbers undergo extensive training to interpret the camera’s images properly.
Pressure Testing
A pressure test is a simple and often cost-effective way to see whether you have a leak.
Your plumber will typically start by closing off all water supply valves, including your main water line, and sealing all supply lines into your plumbing system. Then, they’ll pump pressurized air into your plumbing system. Your plumber can detect a leak by measuring how quickly the pressure changes.
Sound Detection
A leak creates a sound that can be detected even through walls — with the right equipment, that is. One method of sound detection is to use an amplifying microphone to pick up on the sound of dripping water. Another is to use noise correlators that get positioned on either side of a pipe, using sensors to transmit frequencies to each other.
A plumber can use either of these methods to pinpoint where the sound of dripping water is coming from in a leaky pipe.
Video Pipe Inspections
With the video inspection method, your plumber will take a thin, flexible camera and snake it through your pipes. This camera will allow a plumber to find the area that’s leaking. Sometimes, the camera can also see if there are any obstructions in the pipe that are causing a leak, like a tree root.
Signs You Have a Leak
Not sure whether you have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system? Look out for these signs:
- Low water pressure: If your water pressure suddenly drops when you turn on your faucet, shower, or other plumbing fixture, that could mean water is leaking elsewhere in your system.
- Pooling water around your fixtures: If you see water pooling under your sink or around your toilet, you likely have a leak.
- Water stains: If you see water stains on your walls or ceilings, you could be dealing with a leaky pipe behind your drywall.
Why Choose Us for Leak Detection Services in Seattle, WA?
Leak detection services will help you find the root cause of your plumbing leak and give you peace of mind that you’ve found all the affected areas in your home.
For leak detection services you can count on, turn to South West Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric. We’ve been in business for over 40 years and have dealt with plumbing leaks of all sizes. Our professional plumbing experts have the experience needed to find and repair hidden water leaks.
Contact us today to ask about our leak detection and repair services. We offer 24/7 emergency plumbing appointments, so we’re always here to answer your call.
