Re: [GBlist] finding a leak in a water line?

[billc_lists@greenbuilder.com]

>I've installed a flow meter at the cistern/pressure tanks.  Over night
>(when no fixtures are in use) it registers a quantity of water "used"
>that, if extrapolated to 24 hours is equal to approximately 110-120
>gallons(!)  Secondly I have installed a kWh submeter for both pumps.  The
>electricity usage over night corresponds to the flow meter readings based
>on past comparisons.

That could easily be something as simple as a leaky toilet flapper 
valve. Your test only tells you that *something* is using water - it 
gives no indication that it's not a faucet, hot water pressure 
release valve, toilet, etc...

If you have a shutoff valve where the line enters the house, try 
shutting it off overnight. Then check your readings and see if the 
problem is inside or outside the house.

If you don't have a shutoff at that point, you might want to consider 
installing one now...

Depending on the climate and soils, 100 gallons can disappear pretty 
easily. And it's more likely to go down than up to the surface.

You might also try probing the soil along the trench to see if you 
find any particularly damp spots.  I have a sharpened piece of smooth 
rebar with a T handle welded on that works fairly well for this - not 
too sharp, of course, and inserted with some caution so that you 
don't *cause* leaks.

The pros sometimes have listening devices that are basically a big 
cone with a microphone at the point.  You set it wide end down and 
can hear the water hissing out through the hole.  They're 
expensive... so other pros will just have a crew of cheap labor and 
tell them to go dig up the line and find the leak.

Good luck.  Slow leaks are a pain sometimes!

-- 
Bill Christensen
http://greenbuilder.com/contact/

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