How does a plumber put his hands on a leak that is well behind your walls and do it without putting your home through the ringer? Or what are the instruments that allow one to put an eye on a minuscule drip out of sight in the ground? Then there is the question of how technology has altered the process of unearthing leaks.
We at Advanced Plumbing & Leak Detection are quite fond of telling you about our side of things, since we put these tools to use on a daily basis. As a locally run and owned enterprise with the proper licenses and insurance, we are the go to for Ventura County and the Conejo Valley. Give us a ring at (805) 273-8396. In the interest of full disclosure, here are a few things about leak detection you may not have come across.
Water Has a Sound of Its Own
Take for instance the fact that when water is under pressure and makes its way out of a pipe it will make noise. Much of it is inaudible to the human ear. Our acoustic gear is designed to pick up on those frequencies and put some volume to them so we can track down what would otherwise be a silent affair. An adept technician will also listen for the pitch and tone; from that he can glean the depth of the leak, what kind of material the pipe is made of and its size.
What the Eye Misses, a Thermal Camera Will Not
A thermal camera is a handy bit of kit. Because water has a temperature, a concealed leak will alter that of a ceiling or wall or floor. The camera translates the variance into a pattern of colour. A plumber can thus identify a damp patch behind the drywall without making a hole in it. You could say it is precision as opposed to the old guesswork.
There Is No Harm in a Little Gas
Not everyone is aware of this but if a leak is hard to pin down, we will put a non-toxic tracer gas in the line. Being lighter than air it will make its way up through the flooring or ground to the point of the leak where a detector can find it. It is a good approach for any business or home since the gas is harmless.
Video for the Places You Cannot Go
With a flexible cable a plumber can send a small waterproof camera into the bowels of a sewer line or pipe. What you get back is a live feed of any corrosion or blockage. Before such cameras were around one had to do some digging and then hope for the best. Now the pipe can be left in the ground and let the camera do the work.
Do Not Underestimate a Drip
You might want to think twice about that slow drip. Left to itself a small leak will:
- Run up your monthly bill
- Waste thousands of gallons in a year’s time
- Damage the framing, drywall and flooring
- Encourage mold in places that are dark and moist
- Cost you in energy if the hot water is part of it
- See the value of your home erode should the damage spread
It is a case of early leak detection being the key to saving money and water.
Intact Homes Are the Best Part
These days the equipment we have will pinpoint the issue before a cut is made. In bygone times you would have to break through a concrete slab or a wall in order to have a hunch as to the source of the trouble, which was costly and did no favours to the home. With modern methods there is less of a mess and the repair is done in short order.
What It Means for You
When you engage a professional you will know what to make of it once you have an idea of how the detection is done. And it serves as a reminder to look into an odd noise or a warm spot on the floor, or a water bill that has jumped for no apparent reason.
Our services are available to the residents and businesses of Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Oak View, Ojai, Oxnard, Simi Valley and Ventura. We are at your disposal Monday to Friday between 7:00am and 7:00pm and have 24/7 emergency plumbing for the issues that are not going to wait.
Should you have cause to suspect a leak or want an expert opinion, do not hesitate to call the licensed and insured team at Advanced Plumbing & Leak Detection on (805) 273-8396 and we will be on hand to put the technology to work.
