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PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it?

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JL Sargent

05-22-2005 17:38:01




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Been chasing water leaks for 3wks now, its getting old. I live out in the sticks. I have "city" water as its called. 2300ft PVC water pipe from meter to the house. Its as much as 26" deep in some places I suspect. Last night closed valve at the house and went down and read meter again. This morning 8hrs later read meter again. 200 gallons disappeared while we slept. I have found two leaks and repaired them already. How can I find the other(s). I've taken a box blade rake and cut about 6" deep the entire water line and no wet spots. Maybe somebody here has been here and done this. I certainly could use some tips. I dont know what to do next.

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Greg Co

05-24-2005 08:55:22




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to JL Sargent, 05-22-2005 17:38:01  
Yep the air works. I found a leak I have been trying to find for the last week.
Be sure to shut the water off at the meter so you don�t push anything back into the city water system. I shut it off at the meter pit and then hooked an air line up (60 psi) to a valve on the side of the house and turned on the air. I started walking the area where I thought the line was buried and when the water was all pushed out of the pipe you could hear it bubbling and raising heck down there. Started digging and sure enough. It looked like a leak that had been just a pin hole for a while and the water had started swirling around the pipe carrying dirt along with it and wore a big hole in the pipe.

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ljl

05-23-2005 16:18:28




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to JL Sargent, 05-22-2005 17:38:01  
if i had already repaired 2 leaks and looking for #3 in a months time i would get the trencher and new line and go from meter to house have seen this before sounds as if you could hae gotten some bad pipe or what you used is not handle the pressure of your water source i aways go for the top grade of anything like that if putting in the ground!!!!! !!!!



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720Deere

05-23-2005 12:20:28




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to JL Sargent, 05-22-2005 17:38:01  
200 gallons leaking in 8 hrs with the water line @ 26" max depth..... you should have a mudhole that your tractor would sink in. You're talking about 600 gallons per day leaking somewhere and no visible moisture. I would try the probe, but it almost sounds like your meter is backflowing through itself causing a false reading. You may want to start with the water company and have them check the meter. You should be able to shut the water off directly after the meter and check your flow results after doing that.

The listening device mentioned below should be somewhat effective for the shallow depth and possible high flow leak. We use such a device called geophones with high accuracy.

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caseyc

05-23-2005 11:13:29




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to JL Sargent, 05-22-2005 17:38:01  
since your on a public water system they should be responsible for the leak, not you. that's the way it is here in SD anyways. i also have "rural water". the meter is in my basement and they take care of everything to the meter.

casey



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MAC,IL

05-23-2005 13:29:07




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to caseyc, 05-23-2005 11:13:29  
When I worked for the municipal water dept years ago, anything to the meter we would fix, anything after the meter, it was yours. We have fixed after the meter at times when we were not covered up. That was only up to the house and not inside foundation.



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Led

05-22-2005 20:12:16




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to JL Sargent, 05-22-2005 17:38:01  
Just a shot in the dark. Take a steel pointed rod to push into ground looking for a soft spot. Start where conections are made (meter). Leaks normally are within 4 feet of conection. I"m just an old country boy, not an engineer. And I am not aware of soil conditions (rocks) or if is just some of those "PVC eatin varmets", but please let us know where you find leak.

Led



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Rod in Smiths Falls, ON,

05-22-2005 17:52:10




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to JL Sargent, 05-22-2005 17:38:01  
Any chance you could blow compressed air back against the water and produce an eruption of mud at the leak?

That's what happened when I drilled a 9/16" hole in an ABS 1 1/2" pipe plug, stretched a tire valve into it, then rigged it to the return line on our pool after plugging the two outlets. A little air from a tank and it produced a spectacular explosion of mud.

Blowing your water line to kingdom come would not be in your best interests, but a little compressed air at normal water-line pressures might make a noise at the leak.

Good luck. Leaks definitely are not fun.

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Bus Driver

05-22-2005 18:36:27




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to Rod in Smiths Falls, ON, , 05-22-2005 17:52:10  
Yes, use air. The air will blow out of the ground very soon after being applied. Pressure around 60 PSI sould be sufficient.



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Arizona Bob

05-22-2005 20:35:46




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to Bus Driver, 05-22-2005 18:36:27  
I"ve got about 800 feet of line and a couple of leaks over the past 15 years. It usually shows up as a wet spot. But if you want to get ahead of the game you could probe for it. I"ve never tried the air pressure. Sounds like fun except when you"ve already got a problematic line.

Bob



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Jim Broughton

05-22-2005 21:56:11




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to Arizona Bob, 05-22-2005 20:35:46  
You say that you have city water or commercial supplied water system? If so, the water board should have a dandy little gimmick called a leak detector...looks somewhat like a metal detector, but you wear earphones and you can "hear" the leak when you get to it!! I used one on my service entrance to my house and it worked like a charm! Good luck !(P.S. mine was PVC,also) Jim



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gahorN

05-22-2005 22:38:46




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 Re: PVC pipe water leak. How do you find it? in reply to Jim Broughton, 05-22-2005 21:56:11  
If you are on public or commercially supplied water and you inject anything...including air...into the line you might be subject to a hefty fine. Call the water supplier, and ask them for assistance.



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