Find Pipe leak without Radioactive material - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 06:18:51 am
content: Hi all,Is there any funny or creative way to find drinking water pipe inside concrete wall/floor without putting radioactive material + Geiger counter?In my Google search i have find using stereoscope, small camera,...i find one plausible solution, but haven't try itso the next question is? Can i use like "3m cable locator"(just example) if i add salt to the water in the water pipe?

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 06:31:19 am
content: If you can make the water in the pipe run a fetal doppler monitor (30 bucksish on ebay) will work depending on the depth. Wet the wall and used the gel.Here is a link.http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CE-Baby-sound-fetal-doppler-fetal-heart-monitor-pink-A-/220842734249?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336b40b2a9

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 06:44:15 am
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on April 03, 2014, 06:31:19 amthanks for reply, so basically like stethoscope?do i need sound source?

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 06:58:09 am
content: It uses the doppler effect, completely self supporting. I used one to find a pipe 8 inches away (on the other side of a cement wall burried underground). Wetting the wall and using gel helps the sound pass easily. It will only detect moving water so a leak is ideal.This could be considered a variant of an ultrasonic flow meter if you want to read up on it.

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 07:06:43 am
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on April 03, 2014, 06:58:09 amthanks, i will find one locally...

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 07:45:32 am
content: If you can heat the water (or in some cases cool it) so it has a significant different temperature from the surrounding you can use thermography. Done right the pipes will show up and a leak will show up as some cloud near a pipe.Another one is using a gas (5% hydrogen, 95% nitrogen, plus some foul smelling additives) and a gas leak detector. Requires you can empty the pipe system, close all taps, etc. Pump the gas in, use the gas leak detector to detect where the gas is coming out.For large pipes you could try a camera inside the pipe.There is also an industrial technology using microwaves. Microwaves are used to measure the wetness / dampness of materials. The surrounding of the leak will show up as more damp.Acoustic techniques have already been mentioned. A simple stethoscope can sometimes help to find a larger leak. High sensitive microphone to find smaller ones. They typically require that you have a pretty good idea where to listen.

author: han
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 08:09:02 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on April 03, 2014, 07:45:32 amGas detector also a good idea...is there any particular reason for the 5% , 95% composition?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 08:36:57 am
content: Quote from: han on April 03, 2014, 08:09:02 amIt is about the hydrogen, which is easy to detect, there is very few in normal air. The 5/95 mixture is still non flammable, although it shouldn't contain much more hydrogen before it exceeds some safety standards. It is relatively cheap, non-corrosive, non-toxic and has a low viscosity. And the mixture is considered environmentally friendly.Another gas would be helium, but that is much more expensive.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 03:07:00 pm
content: Divining rodsHey... if they work, you're set. If they don't, what's the worst you'll do, cut through cubic meters of concrete for nothing?....Oh.Tim

author: CaptnYellowShirt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 09:26:54 pm
content: Old Spice. No joke.Dump it in and start sniffing.

author: tsmith35
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2014, 10:41:46 pm
content: Quote from: han on April 03, 2014, 06:18:51 amIs this a metal pipe, or plastic?

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2014, 12:32:59 am
content: Blow out and then pressurize the pipe with air duster (which is R152a, a HFC) and go over it with a refrigerant leak detector.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2014, 05:13:45 pm
content: Line the pipe. A glass fibre reinforced sleeve that is impregnated with a polymer is inserted into the pipe and then inflated with hot water which causes the polymer to set hard, not sure what the system is called but I have seen it used where leaks are very hard to get to or would cause too much disruption.

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2014, 07:21:10 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on April 03, 2014, 03:07:00 pmIf it is in the floor, use a set of divining rods (bare copper wire, stiff).Make sure the water is running.The slight change in the magnetic field near the pipe as you walk across it will cause a tiny change in your arm muscles, causing the rods to rotate inwards, thus crossing. Works best if you just don't think about it.Honestly, this works better to find buried high voltage lines or aquifers, but you might get lucky.

author: Frost
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2014, 07:57:10 am
content: Quote from: han on April 03, 2014, 06:18:51 amYou can use warm water together with a TICThe Image below shows a drinking water pipe insidea tiled concrete wall:Although it should be possible to go the opposit wayand work with cold water, but then you have to firstheat up a part of the wall e.g. with a IR Heater.