Leaks are an ever-growing concern to homeowners and businesses alike. The damage caused by such leaks is disproportionate and can lead to a grievous financial drain. Water is a pivotal source of life on our planet, it’s a preeminent requirement in the production of electricity, agriculture, manufacturing and sustaining all forms of life. Approximately 20% to 30% of water is lost through leaks and that number could climb up to 50% in old systems that suffer from inefficient maintenance.
Several factors lead to water loss these include, Leakage, theft, metering errors and public usage. Leaks, however, contribute the highest percentage of water loss. An estimated 70% of water is lost through leaks and this figure is expected to rise if the systems are undermanaged. Managing a water leak is not necessarily expensive, you just have to find a company that understands your needs and reciprocates them with the best of services.
Loses created by these leaks require innovative techniques to minimize their negative impact. An expert at ADI Leak Detection mentioned the use of state-of-the-art equipment in detecting and fixing such leaks. Here we look at some of the best methods for detecting water leaks.
- Watch the Meter. Does your water meter keep spinning? Monitoring your water meter will give you an unquestionable answer. To monitor the water meter, ensure that you have turned off all taps in your home. The dishwasher and washing machine should also not be running. Make a note of the numbers you see on the meter and come back after an hour, if the numbers have changed then you leak. You now have to determine whether the leak is indoors or outdoors. If the leak is not leaving a visible trail above the ground level, then it could mean the leak is under your flooring.
- Observe the water bill. Water bills tend to constantly lie on a specific range. So if you receive a water bill that is inordinately higher and your water usage has been the same then it might be a sign of a water leak. Even the smallest leaks can accumulatively lead to huge wastage. Do not assume and call professionals at the sight of any leak. Keeping an eye on your water bill is an insightful practice that every homeowner and business person should adopt.
- Check your appliances. After checking the meter and it indicates a leak in the house, it is time to check your appliances, cabinets, bathroom sinks, under the kitchen and laundry. Make sure they are all dry. Check whether your heating has suddenly stopped or whether your boiler’s pressure gauge is under 1 bar. If your heating system is losing pressure, this could be a sign of a water leak. ADI Leak Detection experts recommend that you check your boiler pressure regularly. Any signs of pressure dropping should not be ignored.
- Check your pool water level. A drop in the water level in your pool could be an early indication of a leak. In case this is always happening contact the experts and with their specialized equipment, they will pinpoint the exact location in your pool that leaks.
Leak detection may sometimes elude the eye and this is the point to call the experts. They come with advanced techniques and equipment that accurately locate the source of the leak causing no damage to your property. Here are four methods they use.
- Thermal Imaging Cameras. Professionals handle the best Thermal Imaging Devices to view any patches or damps on your floors and walls. The cameras can track accurately the source of the leak and trace the route of cold and hot pipes by the use of thermal scanning technology. This makes the process way faster and smoother.
- Leak Correlators. If you intend to detect a leak location underground up to 600 meters then Leak Correlators is what is used. It uses electronic pulses that can detect leaks across large areas such as farms, driveways, yards, airports, fields, commercial and industrial car parks. You would have little luck trying to detect this on your own and these Leak Correlators will speed up the water leak detection by pinpointing the exact location in very little time.
- Acoustic Listening Devices. Internal and external leaks can be detected by listening. Specialist Acoustic Devices can hear leaks up to 2.5 meters below. You do not need to destroy anything as your floors, garden, driveway or land will remain intact while tracing the leaks. This will ensure no damage happens to your property and results will be achieved with pure precision.
- Tracer Gases. Gases require only the experts to work them out for safety reasons. Not many companies use gases although it is very effective in leak detection. I understand ADI Leak Detection have this technology. From what I have gathered a safe mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen is forced into the pipe at safe pressures with these gases going on to locate the tiniest of leaks. This is because gas molecules are lighter than those of water and therefore very effective in accurately determining the source of the leak.
