Water leak

corkery

Can anyone help me with this. There is a leak in my water pipe somewhere under my farmyard but I am unable to track it down except for digging up my concrete yard over which the pipe lies. Is there any technology out there which would detect this leak under the concrete. It is only a very small leak as the water pressure in taps and troughs is still strong but sill causing the pump in my well to almost run continuously.

funny man

most group water scheme's have listening equipment, if you contact them and ask i'm sure they will help out. it worked for me.

whelan1

we had a leak under the concrete too, we went at it during the week, a hateful job, it eas bubbling up at the joinings in the concrete, the actual leak was about 12 foot away from where we started digging.... took us a whole day to sort it out....have you a consaw and a back arm of a digger?

vanderbadger

corkery wrote: »

Can anyone help me with this. There is a leak in my water pipe somewhere under my farmyard but I am unable to track it down except for digging up my concrete yard over which the pipe lies. Is there any technology out there which would detect this leak under the concrete. It is only a very small leak as the water pressure in taps and troughs is still strong but sill causing the pump in my well to almost run continuously.

is it possible to disconnect the whole run of pipe and run a new length outside concrete and reconnect further on..it would be easier than digging for leak? pipe burst practically underneath the wall of my house last year, plummer had listening equipment but day was too windy he could hear nothing..had to dig, messy job im afraid

5live

I had the same problem a few years ago and rang the council. A guy came out with what looked like a screwdriver and listened to the pipe running and pointed out 2 places where it was leaking.
We were metered though and on a public supply in a private group scheme. They would probably come out as water reserves in some parts of the country are low and it helps to stop the reserves running out

pakalasa

If you're running water pipe under concrete, run it in those yellow drainage pipes. That way you can just pull it through if it leaks. Just don't forget to tie (or tape ) a light rope to the other end to pull the new pipe back in.;)

whelan1

pakalasa wrote: »

If you're running water pipe under concrete, run it in those yellow drainage pipes. That way you can just pull it through if it leaks. Just don't forget to tie (or tape ) a light rope to the other end to pull the new pipe back in.;)

thats a good idea, just a pity that they didnt have that idea 30 years ago

LK_Dave

Are you certain that the leak is under the concrete? Put a on/off connector on the pipe that exits the concrete and see if pump cycles as intended.

Check golden pages for leak detector - they usually work on a no leak no fee.


Could be the well is running dry!

corkery

yes certain its under the concrete put a tap on pipe where before it goes into farm yard and when i turn it off pump works fine cutting in and out so have it narrowed it down to there.

mattthetrasher

infra red camera like plumbers or ber guys use just walk over pipe when camera shows blue thats your leak:)

corkery

thanks for that but i reckon the leak is only a slight pinhole leak in the pipe will such equipment pick up such a small leak!! I know its only a small thing but its bugging me when I walk across the yard that there is a leak somewhere underneath me.:D

mattthetrasher

it sure can thermal imagery thats the name its commonly used in houses for those exact same leaks a pinhle in ahouse is not good dont know how much it costs but a sound lad would surely do it for 70 or 80 euro still its cheaper tan a digger and aload of readymix any way diggers always seem to create more leaks:eek:

the bolt

whelan1 wrote: »

thats a good idea, just a pity that they didnt have that idea 30 years ago

they did

Dupont

i dont think them machines are that accurate.
my boss had a leak on his farm,it was running out of the ground about 70ft away and got the water board out and he pinpointed it to the corner of the shed.
he told me if you put your ear to the ground you could actually hear the leak.
i was sent one evening to dig it up:rolleyes: i couldnt hear the leak the rain was that heavy:(and started to kango up the ground.a couple of hours later i was under the wall of the shed,still no sign of pipe but could see water running,so moved to inside of shed and started there,
another hour later eventually came across it 2ft or more inside the shed:eek:,so it was about 4ft away from where he pinpointed it was,and said because he could hear it,it wasnt that deep:mad:
rant over

LostCovey

vanderbadger wrote: »

is it possible to disconnect the whole run of pipe and run a new length outside concrete and reconnect further on..it would be easier than digging for leak?

This is a really great solution, speaking from bitter experience.

It also means that the pipe will be accessible for the NEXT leak!

LC

corkery

Originally Posted by vanderbadger
is it possible to disconnect the whole run of pipe and run a new length outside concrete and reconnect further on..it would be easier than digging for leak?


It is a good idea but its not just a single pipe going through the yard there are pipes joining out of it going to different troiughs in all the slatted sheds. I wish it was that easy.

rocky bilboa

corkery wrote: »

Can anyone help me with this. There is a leak in my water pipe somewhere under my farmyard but I am unable to track it down except for digging up my concrete yard over which the pipe lies. Is there any technology out there which would detect this leak under the concrete. It is only a very small leak as the water pressure in taps and troughs is still strong but sill causing the pump in my well to almost run continuously.

are you sure pump is not the problem, could be waterlogged or have a faulty pressure switch,or if its a submersible the air pressure in tank could be low all of these would cause pump to cut in and out the whole time