Water Line Pressure Testing
Pipes don’t last forever. While the materials they’re made from can last for several decades, joints can come apart with time. The weight from the soil and buildings above it can trigger cracks in buried pipes, and they will start leaking. Tree roots can also infiltrate the pipes. The problem is, you may never know you have a leak when it happens to be deep underground.
Water line pressure testing is an effective way of establishing leaks in any of your pipes. Nowadays, the process is being used to determine pipe leaks in commercial and residential properties, particularly those located under slabs.
What exactly is Water Line Pressure Testing?
Water line pressure testing is used to find leaks in pressurized systems. Pipelines, fuel tanks, and boilers are commonly tested using this method. It can also be done on the sewer line on your home to determine any potential leaks.
The process involves filling a system with a liquid, pressurizing it to test the system’s integrity. If there’s a drop in the liquid level, it’s a clear indication that the liquid is escaping from somewhere, even if the leak cannot be seen.
Design
Essentially, testing water line pressure in a new water line begins during the design phase. The plumber or water professional needs to understand the testing factors during design to prepare for obstacles that could arise during the process of testing. Some considerations for test requirements include:
- Size and length of pipe
- Flow/volume demands
- Changes in elevation or “high spots.”
- The overall difference between the low and highest elevations
Water line pressure testing is performed to determine if a house or sub-slab sewer has a leaking piping system. Existing cleanouts are capped with test plugs to block and fill the sewer system with water. Water is then observed in an exposed toilet drain. Any decrease in water levels is an indication of leaks in the aged piping system.
To renew the sub-slab piping system of a building with no excavation, Cast in Place Pipelining (CIPP) trenchless epoxy pipelining is installed on the buildings’ main pipelines. This helps to protect the foundation of an old building’s foundation. When CIPP isn’t an option, the building can be tunnelled from the exterior without any cosmetic damage to the building’s interior.
Why Test Your Home’s Water Pressure? High water pressure can lead to leaks.
Too much water pressure can take a toll on plumbing lines and fixtures. It can also cause blowouts in washing machine hoses or flex lines, that would flood the house. Even if your home has a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) or pressure regulator, it’s always advisable to test water pressure to prevent the regulator from failing. Periodic testing of water pressure can help to determine a problem with a pressure regulator before high pressure damages any plumbing.
Identifying slab leaks is a major part of our business. As such, we use water line pressure testing to help us find and fix the hidden leaks. If you suspect a hidden leak in your house, contact us right away Call Us:732-872-7624. We have the equipment and expertise to locate the leak and do necessary repairs.
