How to Locate Underground Leaks

Beware of plumbers telling you they’ll find your underground leak if they haven’t got the correct equipment… you might end up with a huge bill by the time they eventually find it!

Using a professional to locate your leak is obviously the smartest option. Here’s how it’s done:

Firstly, eliminate the following: Dripping taps, toilets that are leaking, pressure control valves that are leaking etc. Once these have been inspected the leak detection can start.
1. Find the general area with a listening pen. The SEBA HL4 is a good example of this device.
2. The underground pipe is then tracked using a transmitter that is attached to the pipe and the located using a receiver. The transmitted frequency is 8khz or 33khz. There are a number of good transmitters and locators available.
3. A line is then marked on the ground (grass, concrete, paving stones, tar) to indicate where the pipe runs. The receiver also indicates the depth of the pipe.
4. The water to the property is then turned off and a forming gas is pumped into the pipe usually through a garden tap under a low pressure so as not to spread over to big an area (Forming gas will be explained in the next section)
5. A forming gas detector is then turned on and moved over where the pipe has been located. When the detector nears the gas an alarm is activated and increases in intensity the closer the detector gets to the leak.
6. Under concrete, tar and often paving it is necessary to drill small holes along the pipe to aid the escaping gas before it spreads over to big an area.
7. A ground microphone is used to confirm a leak under concrete or tar. Most times a ground microphone is sufficient if the leak is large enough.
8. Once the leak has been found the area can be excavated and the pipe repaired.

The above is the quickest way to detect leaks.

More info here regarding leaks under the ground:

Leak detection locating equipment
Plastic pipes under ground
What causes a water pipe leak?
Poorly joined pipes
Got a high water bill?
Leaks on underground drainage
What is forming gas?

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