Leak Detection Services covering Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, Birmingham, Midlands, East Anglia, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire
Correlation
Typically, microphones or acoustic sound sensors are placed in contact with the pipe, at two or more points, to record the sound emitted by a leak (e.g. a hissing noise) somewhere between the points. The sound data is processed through a mathematical algorithm which compares or correlates the two recordings to determine the difference in the times it takes noise to travel from the site of the leak to each of the sensors. If the distance between the sensors is known in advance, this timing information can be used to determine the location of the leak.
Tracer Gas
If a water pipe is not under pressure or the noise from the leak cannot easily be heard then Tracer gas can be a very useful technique to locate water leaks in: Customer Supply Pipes, Underwater Heating Systems, Boilers, Central Heating Systems, Mains Distribution Networks.
The Tracer gas is introduced into the pipe with the leak from a cylinder of gas. The tracer gas used to find water leaks is a mixture of hydrogen (5%) and nitrogen (95%) making it completely safe to use in drinking water supplies being both non toxic and non corrosive. The tracer gas contains hydrogen, which is the the lightest and smallest molecule in the atmosphere, which will exit at the leak point and make its way to the surface where it is detected by a gas detector.
Thermal Imaging
Thermal Imaging cameras are ideal to detect water issues and also the pipe layout within a building structure. Thermal imaging cameras can detect small leaks due to the temperature abnormalities, the greater the temperature abnormality the easier it is to find large leaks easily. They are excellent at locating the exact area of the leak without the need for drilling or excavating of the area.
External water leaks on main water supply pipes
Acoustic
Your local water company is responsible for the water supply and pipework up to the boundary of your property. From there on, you are responsible for your pipework. You may not be aware of any loss of water from your main supply pipe, so it’s worth carrying out a few checks yearly to make sure you have no loss of water.
Regularly check your water meter. This usually can be found at the front of your property on the footpath. If the centre dial of the meter is spinning and you are not using any water in the property then you may have a leak. It is advised that the main internal stop tap is shut off first, so you are sure no water is entering the property. Sometimes you may hear rushing water near your stop tap. You can normally listen for a water leak by placing a screwdriver on your main internal stop tap and resting your ear on the other end. Any external water leak will be amplified through the screwdriver as a rushing sound.
You may visibly see a water leak. Obvious leaks will appear as a constant wet patch around your property, which may result in “over-green” areas (which are constantly being supplied by escaping water) or salt marks around a specific area on your brickwork.
Internal water leaks
This can be a range of things from central heating leaks, water supply pipes, bath and shower leaks. We will trace and fix the leak for you and repair the damage that’s caused.
Central heating leaks
If your central heating stops working and you have a combi boiler you should check the pressure gauge first. If this is below 1 bar, usually indicated with a red section, then more than likely the pressure has dropped and could mean you have a leak on your system. You may want to fill the system again up to 1.5 bar and wait to see if this holds. If the pressure continues to drop then you will need to call us to trace the cause of the pressure drop.
Bath/Shower leaks.
Usually indicated by a wet patch on your downstairs ceiling. This could mean the tiling on your bath shower has been compromised by movement. This will cause the sealant or gout around the tiled part of bath / shower to fail causing water ingress.