4 Ways to Detect a Slab Leak
Unlike the average homeowner or DIYer, you’ve got access to a wide array of tools to help you detect a slab leak. Even if you had access to all the equipment in the world, it’s wise to know more than one way to detect a slab leak. Equipment can give incorrect readings or fail completely. Relying solely on observation may have you causing more damage to a client’s home than necessary. But using multiple ways to find a slab leak means you’re more likely to find it on the first try -- much to the relief of the homeowners who call you.
1. Old Fashioned ObservationDetecting Slab Leaks
Your five senses aren’t the primary tools you’ll use to detect a slab leak, but they can definitely help confirm your data. By looking for wet spots in the flooring, feeling for moisture or catching a whiff of mold or mildew, you’ll be able to properly infer whether the readings coming from your leak detection equipment is accurate. Don’t forget to ask the homeowner about their experiences, such as higher than usual water bills and any sounds of running water - even when nobody’s using the supply.
2. Video Inspection
Going into the system with a camera is an exciting prospect and if you’ve got the equipment to do so, you might as well take advantage of it. Not only are you able to quickly diagnose and find the location of a slab leak without ever removing a square foot of flooring, but you’ll also be able to see any other problems along the way that may have contributed to the leak.
If you’re not quite in the market to invest in video location equipment just yet, a trusty infrared camera can be a huge asset in finding the location of pooled water underneath flooring -- and possibly the location of the leak itself.
3. Acoustic Location
The backbone of leak detection is the widely-used acoustic leak locator. Unless you’re a beginning plumber starting at day one of your career, you’ve probably at least read about these bad boys. They allow you to find the source of the leak by listening for the sound of running water. Most acoustic locators manufactured today have the ability to block out ambient noise, so you don’t have to worry about the client’s barking dog or traffic on the street nearby clouding your judgment.
4. Radio Detection
Another staple in leak detection, radio locators work by bouncing frequencies off of the pipes -- or, in the case of non-metallic pipes, an insertable sonde -- to give you an accurate read on pipe location.
While not exclusively used to detect leaks, these tools let you map out your client’s plumbing so you’re not tearing through floors needlessly to find the pipe that’s the source of the slab leak. Most, but not all, models come equipped with an easy to read LCD display. Some models -- including older ones -- rely on your ability to interpret the data given.
A seasoned pro can make a reasonable guess based on years of experience and careful observation, but observation alone isn’t enough to satisfy most homeowners when it comes to tearing up their flooring to find and fix a slab leak. Using an array of methods to back up your estimation of where the leak is located saves time, trouble and needless work.
What’s your best slab leak detection tip? What’s your favorite detection tool and why?
Attachment 108948
Comments
Post a Comment