Having problems in finding leaks

[waterdoggy]

Here is a question about finding leaks, I have had problems in finding leaks,mains or services. I have talked to the senior waterdogs, and they say poke holes in the ground to see where it comes up. I have done that and I found out that water does like to travel. I have listened to the services and sometimes you can here them leaking if you put the digging bar to your ear. Is there any other way that anybody knows any help would be helpfull.

 

[MikeHalloran]

You probably don't have it, but ground- penetrating radar works.

Speaking of which, the cops' Doppler radar _might_ give a signal; it's worth a try if you can borrow a unit.

It goes against my training, but I have seen dowsing appear to work.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Artisi]

Sorry but I just can not resist - seeing as how you are a waterdoggy - can't you sniff it-out.

 

[dicksewerrat]

Use old telephone parts. modify it by using a nail on the back side of the speaker diaphragm. When you put this on a vavle key resting on the water service, you will be able to hear much better. As you go along the main, listening at the services, you will be able to narrow your digging area. None of this is new science and it isn't easy. Don't look for an easy solution.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[cvg]

many plumbing outfits use a microphone listening device which can pinpoint the leak to about plus/minus 1 foot. I have seen it done where a small 1/2" copper pipe under a concrete slab in a bathroom was leaking through a pinhole and they found the leak within about 10 minutes. I'm sure this could also be adapted to larger leaks in the street if ambient noise is not too high. You can probably find this in the yellow pages...

 

[SteveWag]

I have used all of the above, except dowsing, but find a correlator to be the most usefull. They are expensive, they can be rented, either with or without an operator. My employer has two or three and most of the medium and larger water companies have them. If your in the US you must be near someone that has one.

Steve Wagner

 

[lmm600]

Could Dicksewerrat or anyone else ellaborate on the old phone gizmo? Or any other tricks/ways of detecting leaks without the fancy techno machines. My small municipality can't afford the new stuff every time.

 

[49merc]

There are some inexpensive listening devices sold by companies such as Pollard Water that can be used quite effectively. You can also use listening devices that are used for listening to steam traps and bearing housings on rotating equipment. A local industrial plant may have one you could beg or borrow to try it out. There are usually exposed devices such as gate valves, service stops, and hydrants to listen on. Substantial leaks sometimes never surface, but it is not unusual to hear leak noise several blocks from the source under good conditions - this means little or no background noise from traffic, transformers, nearby buildings, service use, etc.

 

[dicksewerrat]

The earpiece of an old phone. It operates much like a stethoscope. Dial type phone not the newer ones. You can't take the new ones apart

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[BigInch]

I can devine, but I find the whole pipeline route rather than the leak location. I'll have to work on the sensitivity I guess.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[Zambo]

Oh No! I followed dicksewerrat's advice and dismantled my phone. Then I saw cvg's recommendation to look in the yellow pages, I found the number I want but now my phone's in bits.

But what I don't understand is the method of connection of the phone to the leaking pipe. What do you do with the nail and the valve key?

 

[SteveWag]

Here is just what you need.

http://www.gswagner.com/waterphone/MVC-001S.JPG

http://www.gswagner.com/waterphone/MVC-002S.JPG

http://www.gswagner.com/waterphone/MVC-003S.JPG

http://www.gswagner.com/waterphone/MVC-004S.JPG

http://www.gswagner.com/waterphone/MVC-005S.JPG

http://www.gswagner.com/waterphone/MVC-005S.JPG

Steve Wagner

 

[Artisi]

Just goes to show the benefits of old technology.

 

[SteveWag]

We had quite a few of these at the last water company I worked for. The one in the picture came from E-Bay, $10. It looks like it was made commercially from old ear pieces from candle stick phones. The earpiece is marked American Electric Co., pt'd 1899 and 1900.

Steve Wagner

 

[SteveWag]

It looks like these are still avalible!!!

http://www.pollardwater.com/pages_product/P679sonoscope.asp

for less than $20!!!!

Steve