How to do Leak Detection Step by Step | Plumbing 101

[@alexruiz-vasquez7280]

Thank you! Learned a great deal! love everything about this video! Great teacher! Speaking with us vs. Screaming!

[@RogerWakefield]

This is a great thing to learn Alex. Thank you.

[@MOAllDa]

Actually love these videos. Maybe do more installation or instructional videos. A guy with your vast knowledge would be great 👍

[@RogerWakefield]

There is more to come!

[@pamelaturner579]

Question. I have hardwood floors and had noticed a dark area on the front side of the bar. The back side of the bar is the kitchen/sink area. Months later I noticed water where the floor and bar meet on the front side of the bar and that several kitchen cabinets had water damage. We had a leak detection company come out who determined that the leak was from a water line in the wall to the left of the sink (front side of bar). That was some time ago and I haven't started repairs yet due to other life issues, but I noticed that other areas to the hardwood floors are starting to separate and was just curious if I could possibly have a slab leak too?

[@brettharris3513]

Should I install a check valve on the compressor when using the remote control with one technician?

[@AZWSM]

Great Video! Searching for one of your videos for leak detection on the drain side. I have an intermittent leak in the ceiling of the bottom floor of a two story. I've been tricky to find.

[@michaelmoczygemba5788]

What would be the best equipment for leak detection?

[@nekotherion7317]

Keep up the good work!

[@RogerWakefield]

Neko, what do you like best?

[@matthewmcphail5682]

I always check wc to see if it's the flapper very early.

[@RogerWakefield]

That’s a great place to start Matthew. Thank you!

[@isiaac5715]

I use gen ear for listening and rigid scout and transmitter although I'm not really happy with consistency of my receiver might have gotten a faulty product

[@RogerWakefield]

Isiaac, I love the www.leak-pro.com sidekick inside the house and probe outside. They rock.

[@lori5391]

Very informative video, thnx! I've got a plumber coming out Monday with leak detection equipment. Recurring issues with pilot light on new hot water tank seems to finally be fixed, plumber, manufacturing company expert out, replaced parts, seems to be fixed finally. Recommended gas company come out to check regulator as that may have been causing issues, gas company out, supposedly did an adjustment, but also recommended I have a plumber come out to check for possible leak. No visible water anywhere so it may be under the slab. He saw the water meter was spinning slowly with no water on at the time. The gas utility bill is skyrocketing so I'm trying to cover all bases. Gas person thought hot water is triggering on becuz of possible hot water leak. If these is no leak detected by the plumber Monday, guess I will go back to the gas company. I sure hope he's as thorough as you are!!

[@RogerWakefield]

Lori how did it go?

[@lori5391]

Roger, it was a hot water leak under the slab in my downstairs bathroom. The plumber did a re-route and the inspection for the permit approval is tomorrow as it was required for the modification. So far, my gas utility bill has returned to normal and as soon as the permit is signed off on, I can have the drywall repair done. Hope it doesn't happen again, what an ordeal!!

[@brianbrown6200]

@@lori5391 do you have an estimated cost for the repairs yet? I think I might have an under slab leak. My water bill went from $18/mo to $165 and then $390. The utilities people originally told me my sprinkler system was coming at night and running until early morning and that was why my bill jumped from $18 to $165. I found that hard to believe bc I thought I would have heard it come on. So I shut off my sprinkler system, my yard is now brown and dormant, thinking that would stop it, but my next water bill was $390 😳 so my normal water usage is about 4000 gallons per month, this last month they said I used 90,000 gallons. There are no signs of any leaks outside, so I’m fearing the worst. I cannot imagine that much water leaking with no drop in water pressure any where in the house.

[@lori5391]

@@brianbrown6200 you should get a plumber who has leak detection equipment or a leak detection company out ASAP. Sounds like you do have a leak under your slab. I didn't see any water anywhere either, indoors or outside. Good luck!

[@andresa.rapssat1550]

Itch video of you I learn very much to grow up my plumbing business, thank you very much, A question, what is the best leak detector for pvc/ plastic pipe ?

[@l.u.rehuher3714]

Gutermann Subsurface Leak Detection equipment. Google the link. They have good equipment for leak detection

[@CarlosPerez-hg8ur]

I use nitrogen for under slab leak detection. how do you feel about nitrogen leak detection?

[@RogerWakefield]

Never tried it Carlos. What brand do you use. I tried the helium from leak-pro and it was freaking cool.

[@CarlosPerez-hg8ur]

@@RogerWakefield just straight nitrogen from Airgas. Very reliable for exact locating. Learned that in Oklahoma

[@kennethc8182]

How you detect leak with nitrogen . Sound ,Infrared ?

[@CarlosPerez-hg8ur]

@kennethc8182 a tank of nitrogen, waterline adapters to fit the tank gauges, hook up to outside bib or any fixture inside and you'll hear it. Try not to exceed 30-40 PSI of nitrogen

[@michaelmoczygemba5788]

@@CarlosPerez-hg8urcan’t you just use air?

[@keviningold9520]

How do you find the backflow valve on in ground sprinkler?

[@thomasjwatkins1775]

The double check is the box right after the meter where the sprinkler water begins

[@prod.cruzomg1782]

What headphones are best for leak detection?

[@RogerWakefield]

Personally I like an over-the-ear type headphone to block out outside noises. You can use any brand really. The LeakPro kit includes headphones, that I think are great.

[@sarahavera1817]

I have a question and can't seem to find a video with the exact problem I'm having but wanted to ask you because you 100% seem to know what I could do. My water bill was 175$ more than usual. I went looking for the problem and when I went looking down my outside clean out pipe I noticed water flowing even when none of the appliances that use water was being used. I also shut off the main water line to the house and looked at my water meter and the dial seemed to stop once it was shut off. I can hear water flowing at which seems to be the pipe right behind my water heater as well as hear it under my kitchen sink. it stops when I shut off the main water valve. I then turned back on the water and 1 by 1 went turning off valves to the appliances that use water and the meter dial is still turning and water is still flowing outside at the clean out pipe to the city line even when all the valves are shut off. Please help If you can!😅

[@michaeltucker7468]

I’m a very experienced leak detection licensed plumber in East Texas. I’ve never used a probe and I’m within a foot 99% of the time with geo phones and air… but I always like to increase my knowledge pertaining to this specialty. What line locating equipment are you using to trace out your copper lines?? We have a rigid tracker but it never seems to accurately locate copper lines in the house. Am I missing a piece of info with my rigid equipment or is there a better tool on the market for this in particular???

[@RogerWakefield]

I use Leak-Pro, to me it is one of the best leak detection equipment on the market.

[@MrAnthonynola]

I've never used the Ridgid ST-305 but the Ridgid St33Q is accurate. Can follow pipe easily with locator.

[@XSpImmaLion]

You guys might want to re-edit and re-upload this one... voice levels too low, effects ear busting high.

[@alexruiz-vasquez7280]

It sounds perfect to me!

[@XSpImmaLion]

@@alexruiz-vasquez7280 Really? Weird... will check configurations here.

[@sleeper632]

Informative

[@highcommanderperformance6109]

Check this out, isolate whether it's hot or cold, listen for where it is loudest, cut hole under cabinet , cut through the manifold and see which one doesn't have water, run a electricians fish tape through it and listen for where it is sounding from, cut hole in wall, cut cap, reroute over head. No tunneling, no jackhammer, no drilling holes or buying listening devices to tell you its leaking... sometimes if water is still present in the pipes solder on fittings for a gage and do a leak down test. Very rarely does that happen though

[@RogerWakefield]

There are a bunch more steps after you find it. Thank you!!!

[@senseisecurityschool9337]

Can you please expand on what you mean with the fish tape?

[@Waterheaterserviceproplus]

@@senseisecurityschool9337 an electrician has a tool called a fish tape and it’s a small flat metal that can easily go through the copper line to the next manifold in the wall and when you hear it tapping the tee in the manifold inside the wall you will know where that pipe is running to. The electricians fish tape can be found at any hardware store.

[@lorrellwilburn2396]

Like an electrician wire pulling tool to stick through the copper pipe to see where the manifold leads to

[@michaelmoczygemba5788]

@@Waterheaterserviceproplusthat one way to maybe find a manifold. Another is that there’s gonna be fixture on that wall.

[@xTheSilverRavenx]

Your voice is extremely quiet on this vid. The other audio is normal.

[@alexruiz-vasquez7280]

It sounds perfect to me. Maybe it is your equipment.

[@doxx2427]

Hi Rodger, fellow plumber here. Thanks for this video, I also do leak detection. Question: what equipment is there to locate PVC water supply lines under ground? I live in the Caribbean and we don't use copper lines.

[@mattmcgraw5375]

Ground penetrating radar will do it

[@porkncoke4833]

@@mattmcgraw5375 That radar is effective too. I've used it locating leaks in pools. Just pressurize and listen carefully

[@RogerWakefield]

There’s no equipment to trace it. Unless you can pull a tracer wire through it. What size is it?

[@doxx2427]

@@RogerWakefield Usually ½" or ¾" Pvc and Cpvc

[@doxx2427]

@@porkncoke4833 Hi, where can I get this equipment? Do you have a link you can share? Thanks in advance

[@thirdsin7754]

Voice audio is very low.

[@RogerWakefield]

Thanks for sharing. I will talk to the editors.

[@tarunarya1780]

I find FxSound useful as a volume booster on my laptop

[@pedroandres3210]

😮

[@highcommanderperformance6109]

Why are all the fixtures on a outside wall Roger?? Nooooooo!🤯

[@Fritzlton]

had to cover it with a black curtains to make the glass board visible with no reflections.

[@RogerWakefield]

I just drew it that way to give me more room.

[@berderk2796]

Voice audio is extremely low even maxing out my phone volume didn't help ): All other sound effect audio is loud as hell!

[@alexruiz-vasquez7280]

Mmm... it sounds perfect on my phone. I can hear him perfectly!

[@RogerWakefield]

I will look into it, thanks for letting me know!

[@ACP760]

…pretty sure that was a gas meter

[@gerryfrenk6858]

Nothing about actual leak detection😢

[@RogerWakefield]

This video shows you how to trace water lines and where to search for leaks on fixtures...so in a way, is about leak detection