It sure worked for me, I found the leak in the ground from my pump house to the house by just putting this little gizmo together and pumping air at about 65 psi and right away I could hear the bubbles in the ground near the pump house. Mike you saved me $325 for a company to come out and find it , Thanks.
Thanks for this. I made one of these and it worked for me. I also used a 4' piece of PVC and a mechanic's stethoscope to find the exact spot that it was leaking underground. Set your compressor to 60psi and leave your water meter on. It did sound like gurgling water but it also sounded like a tapping as if someone was trapped in a box tapping on the inside. Weird, but that's how it sounded.
If underground, here is a POSSIBLE alternative. Get a Lazer thermometer and run it between the meter and the hose bib. If there is a leak, the ground temperature should be lower above the leak due to the water surrounding that area.
If you dont see bubbles or air feel and listen for rumbling underground, set air pressure about 10 lbs higher than water , purge water line with air then turn the water back on with the air still connected.
seeing the video above it seems i would need s seperate line going back to the main which it seems you have instead of sending the pressure though the pipes in the house?
@@MikeKlimek ok then.. i found my leak but not with pressure.. .the leak i have was to small slow to come to the surface like i wanted.. took a few days for the yard to dry out and looked for darker dirt.. and use the "poke a rod in the ground" test which worked because it hit an area of ground where it was soaking wet and slid in so easy..
I see some moisture in front porch pavers and suspect leak. Water line is going under the slab to center of the house. I am worried and want to know if they need to cut my slab in the house to replace pipe. its 70 year old house..
Can I do this if my water pressure is only 60 psi. I have a small leak some were but I can’t locate it. And how much will it cost for a leak detection services to come and look it.
A couple of reasons...the new line is one continuous piece of pipe from meter to house, so no fittings to leak in the future. With a patch, I didn't want a fitting down there where it could leak again. Also there is the potential of an additional leak somewhere along the length of the line, and lastly the line would have been well over 4 feet deep. Not sure even how deep it would have been. The topography of the lot has a rise from the meter to the house, and the old line was elbowed down into the ground instead of straight. Lots of trenching and the potential of an additional leak at some point in the future. No thanks!
As a person that has been finding water leaks for over 30 years it is just a good idea to pay a professional to find the leak. You had the right idea about adding compressed air. But the equipment that we use to hear the leak and sound below the ground costs around $8000 and takes time to learn. Plus you are trying to find an issue below the ground that cannot be seen or touched. Ground conditions vary and can change how a leak sounds. Even with all the knowledge and equipment leaks may be very difficult to find. Just had a site where there was multiple layers of asphalt and trash in the backfill. That creates horrible conditions to find a leak.
I get that. Even with an $8,000 device, you may still be several feet away from the leak, and when you are cutting through concrete, that is an expensive error. Many people can't afford that, and this is simply an alternative that sometimes works. Never hurts to attempt it, if you can find it, before calling in a pro.
yeah and no, im not getting ripped off.. ill do it my self if its not under concrete, which my main line isnt.. the stupid tree near it is causing my leaks LOL roots.. wonderful isn't it
@@MikeKlimek well it didn't work I even had a detection company come over with professional stethoscope and put in 100 lb of pressure could not find the leak they did not charge me which was very nice of them. It's literally one or two drops per hour but as we all know a pinhole can eventually turn into a geyser I have no idea how to go next
your supposed to leave the water on with the air this forces more air and water through the leak at the same time, helping you pin point the area. maybe try that on the next one!
It shows you how to do it and it's often very effective because of how much louder escaping air can be than water. I have a mechanics stethoscope that I bought from harbor freight 10 years ago for $4 that allowed me to find the leak I had way back then. It was near the meter and it wasn't deep and I was able to fix it myself for parts. I'm here now because I have a new leak somewhere lol. (That was a very sad lol.... Lol).
Sorry you feel that way. You can find it under certain circumstances, but mine was 8' down. I had an idea of where it was but it just didn't show itself
@@MikeKlimek my line is about a foot down why? Because ive fixed 2 leaks .. 1 near the sidewalk near the main valve on the street.. and one near where it comes into the side of the house.. ..thanks to the tree in the yard.. = roots being the issue
agreed.. plumbers act like it some special thing, to a degree but over all plumbing isn't that hard. ive had contractors be like $300 to put in the plumbing for a valve for a shower which was a new remodel. I laughed and look at him.. its pex.. its not that hard.. take you maybe 10-20 if that. LOL
@@SuperJimmyBennett people like you dont consider the travel time to get to you, the fuel used to get to you, the vehicle needed to get to you, the cost of the tooling to do the work, the hourly wage to pay the plumber, the INSURANCE cost, the cost of an attorney and accountant, the cost of the phone bill, water bill, electric, internet and insurance on the office space, the workers comp insurance, to cost of marketing and the cost associated with invoicing and collections, as well as, the fees associated with having bank checking accounts, savings accounts and the ability to process card transactions. Then there's TAXES! I Pay over 30% tax on anything the feds deem a "profit" ....so if you think I made $1000 on a job I really only walked with $700.00 .....so if a plumber made a "profit" of $100 on your shower valved after overhead expenses then that plumber only got to keep $70 for his work. ....on the real, probably way less at $300 for a shower valve install. So that guy looses a 1/4 to 1/2 a day with travel and screwing around to get your service call done and walks away with a profit of $50-70 and you think you're being ripped off....smh ....not to mention that the labor is guaranteed and if something went wrong you'd be first in line to sue. So that guy get to work for you and loose half a day to make $50-75 and takes on the liability of something going wrong and he's ripping you off??? Riiiiiight. People like you will NEVER get it and you will always think you're being screwed or ripped off. If its "not that hard and will only take 10-20 minutes" then why are you bothering someone to even quote you? Do it your damn self if its that "easy" and so fast! You obviously needed something that the pro had....tooling, parts, skill, knowledge or shift liability. In the real world when you need something you have to pay for it. You don't go and not eat because you think food is a rip off do you? A service is a product, just like anything that you can tangibly hold, but people like you don't get it and you never will understand what you are actually being charged for, you just assume its a rip off. I deal with DIY people all year every year and it's its usually worse when I get there than if they had not touched it at all and just called in the first place....but yeah, I'm a "ripoff" because I have to clean up your mess. Right? ...No. TBH, $300 isn't bad for a shower valve install, PEX or not. Time and overhead that guy isnt going out to a $300 lunch when he leaves your place like you think he is.
It sure worked for me, I found the leak in the ground from my pump house to the house by just putting this little gizmo together and pumping air at about 65 psi and right away I could hear the bubbles in the ground near the pump house. Mike you saved me $325 for a company to come out and find it , Thanks.
Awesome! Glad it helped you!
Thanks for this. I made one of these and it worked for me. I also used a 4' piece of PVC and a mechanic's stethoscope to find the exact spot that it was leaking underground. Set your compressor to 60psi and leave your water meter on. It did sound like gurgling water but it also sounded like a tapping as if someone was trapped in a box tapping on the inside. Weird, but that's how it sounded.
Awesome-glad it helped you!
If underground, here is a POSSIBLE alternative. Get a Lazer thermometer and run it between the meter and the hose bib. If there is a leak, the ground temperature should be lower above the leak due to the water surrounding that area.
If you dont see bubbles or air feel and listen for rumbling underground, set air pressure about 10 lbs higher than water , purge water line with air then turn the water back on with the air still connected.
seeing the video above it seems i would need s seperate line going back to the main which it seems you have instead of sending the pressure though the pipes in the house?
Unless you have a valve that isolates the inside from the outside, the pressure will be throughout the system. Not a bad thing
@@MikeKlimek ok then.. i found my leak but not with pressure.. .the leak i have was to small slow to come to the surface like i wanted.. took a few days for the yard to dry out and looked for darker dirt.. and use the "poke a rod in the ground" test which worked because it hit an area of ground where it was soaking wet and slid in so easy..
Nice! Glad you found it!@@SuperJimmyBennett
I see some moisture in front porch pavers and suspect leak. Water line is going under the slab to center of the house. I am worried and want to know if they need to cut my slab in the house to replace pipe. its 70 year old house..
You can either cut the slab open, or do a re-route of the line (don't need to cut the slab for this).
They can also bypass the area in question under a driveway or sidewalk by pulling a new line under, and not breaking up, or cutting your concrete.
Can I do this if my water pressure is only 60 psi. I have a small leak some were but I can’t locate it. And how much will it cost for a leak detection services to come and look it.
Yes you can, I wouldn't exceed 80 psi though. Leak detection companies vary wildly. Call around!
so how much was them to detect the leak?
Leak detection companies typically charge between $250-$375. I had a friend come over with the right equipment!
@@MikeKlimek Great
Why replace the whole line? Was it more cost effective than patch?
A couple of reasons...the new line is one continuous piece of pipe from meter to house, so no fittings to leak in the future. With a patch, I didn't want a fitting down there where it could leak again. Also there is the potential of an additional leak somewhere along the length of the line, and lastly the line would have been well over 4 feet deep. Not sure even how deep it would have been. The topography of the lot has a rise from the meter to the house, and the old line was elbowed down into the ground instead of straight. Lots of trenching and the potential of an additional leak at some point in the future. No thanks!
Thanks guy. Excellent video. Am curious what the leak detection folks charged and how long it took them to find the leak? Thanks. Ron
Leak detections will cost from $250-$400ish depending...took about an hour. Didn't pinpoint it, but we know it was from the street to the house.
Can you share with us briefly how the leak detection company was able to locate the leak. What did they do to find it?
Appreciated.
They basically use a $2,000 microphone on a plunger they stick in various points on the ground until they find where the noise is coming from.
@@danielzastoupil2359 yup super rip off to the plumbers and or DIY folks like us
As a person that has been finding water leaks for over 30 years it is just a good idea to pay a professional to find the leak. You had the right idea about adding compressed air. But the equipment that we use to hear the leak and sound below the ground costs around $8000 and takes time to learn. Plus you are trying to find an issue below the ground that cannot be seen or touched. Ground conditions vary and can change how a leak sounds. Even with all the knowledge and equipment leaks may be very difficult to find. Just had a site where there was multiple layers of asphalt and trash in the backfill. That creates horrible conditions to find a leak.
I get that. Even with an $8,000 device, you may still be several feet away from the leak, and when you are cutting through concrete, that is an expensive error. Many people can't afford that, and this is simply an alternative that sometimes works. Never hurts to attempt it, if you can find it, before calling in a pro.
yeah and no, im not getting ripped off.. ill do it my self if its not under concrete, which my main line isnt.. the stupid tree near it is causing my leaks LOL roots.. wonderful isn't it
This helped a lot thank you
Welcome!
Where do I find a leak detection company blairsvill pa ???
I would ask around, maybe try Angies List, google reviews etc.
i have the exact situation im doing it today. i have 60lbs street pressure ill start with that.
Good luck!
@@MikeKlimek well it didn't work I even had a detection company come over with professional stethoscope and put in 100 lb of pressure could not find the leak they did not charge me which was very nice of them. It's literally one or two drops per hour but as we all know a pinhole can eventually turn into a geyser I have no idea how to go next
your supposed to leave the water on with the air this forces more air and water through the leak at the same time, helping you pin point the area. maybe try that on the next one!
Yes very true. I actually did that as well, but my leak ended up being 8' down. Having the water on with the air does make for better acoustics
This is nearly a 5 min video that can be summed up with "I made lots of bubbles in my pipes so could I end up calling the professionals anyway"
It shows you how to do it and it's often very effective because of how much louder escaping air can be than water. I have a mechanics stethoscope that I bought from harbor freight 10 years ago for $4 that allowed me to find the leak I had way back then. It was near the meter and it wasn't deep and I was able to fix it myself for parts. I'm here now because I have a new leak somewhere lol. (That was a very sad lol.... Lol).
Misleading title of your video. You didn’t find the leak… I’m trying to AVOID paying $600 for the leak detection people coming out…
Sorry you feel that way. You can find it under certain circumstances, but mine was 8' down. I had an idea of where it was but it just didn't show itself
@@MikeKlimek my line is about a foot down why? Because ive fixed 2 leaks .. 1 near the sidewalk near the main valve on the street.. and one near where it comes into the side of the house.. ..thanks to the tree in the yard.. = roots being the issue
Thanks for watching! Leave any questions or comments below:
So to show us how to find a leak you had a company come out who did not even show how it was located?
These are the days of the ripoff
agreed.. plumbers act like it some special thing, to a degree but over all plumbing isn't that hard. ive had contractors be like $300 to put in the plumbing for a valve for a shower which was a new remodel. I laughed and look at him.. its pex.. its not that hard.. take you maybe 10-20 if that. LOL
@@SuperJimmyBennett people like you dont consider the travel time to get to you, the fuel used to get to you, the vehicle needed to get to you, the cost of the tooling to do the work, the hourly wage to pay the plumber, the INSURANCE cost, the cost of an attorney and accountant, the cost of the phone bill, water bill, electric, internet and insurance on the office space, the workers comp insurance, to cost of marketing and the cost associated with invoicing and collections, as well as, the fees associated with having bank checking accounts, savings accounts and the ability to process card transactions. Then there's TAXES! I Pay over 30% tax on anything the feds deem a "profit" ....so if you think I made $1000 on a job I really only walked with $700.00 .....so if a plumber made a "profit" of $100 on your shower valved after overhead expenses then that plumber only got to keep $70 for his work. ....on the real, probably way less at $300 for a shower valve install. So that guy looses a 1/4 to 1/2 a day with travel and screwing around to get your service call done and walks away with a profit of $50-70 and you think you're being ripped off....smh ....not to mention that the labor is guaranteed and if something went wrong you'd be first in line to sue. So that guy get to work for you and loose half a day to make $50-75 and takes on the liability of something going wrong and he's ripping you off??? Riiiiiight.
People like you will NEVER get it and you will always think you're being screwed or ripped off. If its "not that hard and will only take 10-20 minutes" then why are you bothering someone to even quote you? Do it your damn self if its that "easy" and so fast! You obviously needed something that the pro had....tooling, parts, skill, knowledge or shift liability. In the real world when you need something you have to pay for it. You don't go and not eat because you think food is a rip off do you? A service is a product, just like anything that you can tangibly hold, but people like you don't get it and you never will understand what you are actually being charged for, you just assume its a rip off. I deal with DIY people all year every year and it's its usually worse when I get there than if they had not touched it at all and just called in the first place....but yeah, I'm a "ripoff" because I have to clean up your mess. Right? ...No.
TBH, $300 isn't bad for a shower valve install, PEX or not. Time and overhead that guy isnt going out to a $300 lunch when he leaves your place like you think he is.
This post is like the last one I watched.....useless.
Sounds like you might have to consider a leak detection company.