Electronic Leak Detection

More and more, electronic devices are being used in homes to detect water leaks and automatically shut off the water flow to the house. Such devices can be very effective when they detect a leak and shut off the water supply, at a time, when no one is home. They might, in such a scenario, save the homeowner thousands of dollars in water damage reparation expenses.

There are at least two fundamentally different types of electronic detectors and there also are detectors that works through ultrasonic water detection. There are also hand held detectors of many types, which are used by plumbers who are called to investigate a leak.

Ultrasonic leak detectors, work by detecting the sound of leaky water. There are certain characteristic qualities of the sound of leaky water. The sound is generated as the water passes out of a hole in the pipe. The material of the leaky pipe affects the sound. Hard metallic pipes transmit noise much further than softer pipes. Asbestos pipes, and plastic pipes absorb the sound, and weaken it. The nature of the bedding outside the pipe also influences the sound. Certain types of bedding allow the sound to resonate, more than others.

Ultrasonic leak detection is frequently employed by a trained specialist to detect leaks in a submerged pipe system. The detection can determine if there is a leak, and when water is escaping to the surface, the detection can determine what part of the piping the water is coming from. The repair men can then excavate right at the source of the leak. People employing this type of detection , must be practiced in the art, and able to detect false positives, which can be caused by electrical noise, valve generated noise, and other interferences.

Among house models there are two fundamental types. There are leak detectors which are sensitive to the change in the flow or pressure of the fluid in the pipe, and there are detectors which locate excess fluid loss. Among the second types, there are corona discharge detectors, which are set off by anything that breaks the corona barrier. These types are less expensive, however, they are set off by anything which breaks the barrier, including dust moisture and refrigerant. Shop dust and normal shop moisture and chemicals, can create false alarms. The heated diode detector is a more expensive liquid detector which has less false positives.

Another type of detector responds to changes in the water flow rate or pressure. For example, one type is installed into the water main, and programmed with a set limit of acceptable water flow If the water usage goes above the predetermined amount, the alarm will give a two minute warning, and then shut off the house water. Similarly placed units, can also be wired to external water leak detectors placed at vulnerable locations in the home.

Thanks to A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore for sponsoring this report. A-1 is a Baltimore plumber company with licensed plumbers who are skilled in the use of electronic leak detection. If you live in the Metropolitan Baltimore area and have a leak in your house, be sure to contact us, and we will send a radio dispatched plumber to your home.

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