If you think you have a leak in a concealed plumbing pipe, then you must find a way to find its location. This job is particularly complicated if the pipe sits behind a wall, under a floor or above a ceiling.
You might hear dripping but you won't always see external signs of water. At this stage, it's a good idea to bring in a leak detector plumber. They will have various ways of locating the leak.
For example, acoustic techniques are often a good starting point. Why?
How Does Acoustic Leak Detection Work?
An acoustic leak detector uses highly sensitive sound sensors. If you run the detector along a surface which has a pipe behind it, then it will pick up any noises the pipe makes.
If the pipe is OK, then your plumber will hear regular noises. However, these noises change once the detector hits the leaking area.
For example, your plumber might hear a different sound if the pipe is dripping. If the pipe has even pressure running through it, then the noise usually gets louder at the site of the leak.
As well as finding the leak's location, your plumber can also assess its size and severity by the noise it makes. They can measure sound levels at either side of the noisy spot to assess how big the leak might be.
What Are the Benefits of Acoustic Leak Detection?
If you can hear a leak but can't see it, then you won't know precisely where it is. An acoustic leak detector pinpoints it location quickly and easily.
This process speeds up the time it takes to find a leak. So, you can have it repaired quickly before it gets worse or does any damage.
It's also a lot cheaper to repair a minor leak than it is to fix a bigger one. If you catch the problem early, your plumbing costs reduce.
Acoustic leak detection is also completely non-invasive. You won't need to break into a wall, ceiling or floor to actually see the pipe. You also don't need to drill holes into the surface to put detection equipment into the area. You don't need to see the pipe at all at this stage.
An acoustic device just runs along the surface of the wall. Once you do need to get to the pipe, your plumber can make targeted and minimal access points.
So, if you think you have a leaking pipe, contact a local plumber who uses leak detection tools and ask about their acoustic solutions.
