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

["Michael Thompson" <michaelt@got.net>]

Dear Reuben:

Finding water leaks is an industry. It is often very difficult to find leaks
much bigger than yours, so professional leak locators demand big bucks for
their services. I used to work for company that sold helium and hydrogen
detectors. These instruments are used after a closed system is pressurized
with helium or hydrogen. I have spent a number of frustrating days chasing
down leaks in water systems.

While leaking water will follow gravity and flow down, so is not usually
apparent on the surface, these lighter than air gasses rise so are
detectible at the surface. However, leak locating in a large water system
with multiple branches is often far from simple even using gas detection
methods. Just getting all of the water out of the system, so the gas can
permiate the whole system, is quite a trick. If it is worth the cost, you
can probably find a professional leak locating company in your are that will
help you. Perhaps you could even rent a gas detection instrument from them,
although experience at leak locating is usually a big part of most
successful searches. You also need the equipment to connect gas lines to
your water lines and then regulate the gas pressure. I can suggest a person
to call for help if you are in Northern California.

I can offer you a few hints from my experiences in leak locating in water
systems. The most important thing is to do what you have done and establish
the rate of the leak. Don't be surprised it the rate varies. If you can
isolate any legs of the system by adding valves, you can reduce your area of
search. If you can isolate the leak to one leg of the system, it might even
be easiest to abandon that leg.

Also important is the fact that almost all leaks occur at joints. Joints in
old PVC systems are often pulled apart by roots. Focus your leak locating
efforts at joints if  know where they are. Such things as sprinklers can
leak a tremendous amount of water. On one system, we found a leaking
sprinkler that had been buried so was not apparent.

Hope this helps. Good luck.
Mike Thompson

----- Original Message -----
From: <deumling@socrates.Berkeley.EDU>
To: <GreenBuilding@crest.org>
Cc: <pollicino@igc.org>
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 9:05 AM
Subject: [GBlist] finding a leak in a water line?


> We're losing approximately 100 gallons/day between our well/pressure tanks
> and the house.  The water line is your basic 1" (or thereabouts) PVC
> buried underground over sandstone.  I am mystified that this quantity
> hasn't showed up in some for at the surface.  We suspect the leak has
> existed for more than a month, maybe two.
>
> Any tips on how to troubleshoot (and ideally fix) this, without digging up
> the whole line?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Reuben Deumling
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
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> ______________________________________________________________________
>



______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________