Locating Underground Leaks in Water Lines and Pipes
Locating Leaks in Sub-Surface Water Lines, Fuel Pipelines & Other Transmission Lines using a Hydrogen Tracer Gas
Subsurface Leak Detectors with the highest sensitivity and lowest cost
Finding and locating subsurface leaks in underground transmission lines and pipes can be a long and expensive task. With the development of hydrogen leak detectors, you now have a low cost tracer gas solution for pinpointing those hard-to-find leak locations.
Hydrogen/Nitrogen Mixture (non-flammable with 5% H2) is a very low cost abundant gas mixture. The mixture is commercially available throughout the USA. Hydrogen is an extremely small, high energy molecule that is very difficult to contain. Thus, when coming out of a pipe or line, it uses that energy to escape to the atmosphere where our hydrogen leak detectors can precisely detect the underground leak location.
Is the 5% Hydrogen/95% Nitrogen Flammable?
Important answer....No... 5% hydrogen in nitrogen is not a flammable gas. It is important to maintain the 5% hydrogen concentration as at 5.7% the mixture would not be classified as a non-combustible gas. But the 5/95 mixture will come in a green label non-combustible rating on the gas bottle. Now the 5% hydrogen must be in nitrogen. For example, 5% hydrogen in air is not non-combustible.
Why Use Hydrogen as the tracer gas?
- Hydrogen is a very high energy gas and a small molecule
- Background of hydrogen in air is extremely low, providing good leak resolution
- Low cost gas that is abundantly available and can be created
- Hydrogen sensor offers great durability and robustness
- Sensor while very sensitive to hydrogen is relatively inexpensive
- 5/95 Mixrture is non=flammable green label
- Non-toxic so safe to use in potable water lines
How to Use Our Hydrogen Leak Detectors
- Isolate the underground line so that the hydrogen tracer gas mixture can be released into the pipe.
- Determine the depth the pipe is below the ground and the type/density of the underground soil/material.
- If the pipe is 2 ft. underground, it may only take 30 minutes for the tracer gas to surface. If it is much deeper and the material is concrete, the period could be as long as overnight.
- Inject the hydrogen tracer gas into the line pressurizing as much as possible without damaging any component in the piping system. Pressure is a major factor in leak rate, but keep in mind that leaking water lines expel a lot of tracer gas.
- Once you feel the tracer gas has surfaced, walk the line of the pipe, probing every foot or so until a leak is detected.
- Measure the leak rate in the area where indicated closely and determine the point of highest reading.
- The leak should be located within a 3 foot circle of where the highest leak rate is indicated.
Our Underground Tracer gas H2 Leak Detectors
Our Underground Tracer gas H2 Leak Detectors
H2Leak-Underground Underground Pipe Leak Detector
The Hydro-Lok Underground Leak Detector (Subsurface Leak Detector) uses the TLD.500 on a ground probe to located leaks in underground pipe. Applications are usually water line leaks but can also be gas lines and steam lines. System includes a H2 regulator and air hose.
Hydro-Lok Underground Pipe Leak Detector
The Hydro-Lok Underground Leak Detector (Subsurface Leak Detector) is our starter/basic unit and uses the TLD.500 on a ground probe to located leaks in underground pipe. Applications are usually water line leaks but can also be gas lines and steam lines. System includes a H2 regulator.
H2 Leak Detection Advantages Over Acoustic Leak Detection
| Hydrogen Tracer Gas | Acoustic Detection |
|---|---|
| Works on plastic pipes | Poor on plastic |
| Not affected by noise | Sensitive to traffic & machinery |
| Pinpoints exact leak | Requires interpretation |
| Effective at any depth | Limited by pipe material |
Ideal Applications
-
Underground water pipe leak detection
-
Municipal water loss reduction programs
-
Non-revenue water (NRW) surveys
-
Leak verification after pipe repair
-
Difficult acoustic leak detection environments
-
Plastic and non-metallic piping systems
Versatile Applications
-
Municipal water mains
-
Residential service lines
-
Commercial and industrial water piping
-
Fire suppression systems
-
Irrigation and utility pipelines
Testimonials
Osbourne Pool Leak Detection
"The H2Leak Hydrogen Leak Detector product has proved wonders for my business finding leaks others miss and locating them more quickly.
https://www.osbornespoolleakdetection.com/
------------------------------
Simply Leak Detection has used the Hydro-Lok since 2012, Recently, they sent us the video below of the Hydro-Lok in action.
Simply Leak Detection
718 Griffin Avenue #147
Enumclaw, WA 98022
Serving Seattle, WA Tacoma, WA & Olympia, WA
https://www.simplyleakdetection.biz
_____________________
Dave Weeks Plumbing
Lakeland, FL
863-648-4634
http://davidweeksplumbing.com
Videos of Our Hydrogen Leak Detectors in Action
Osbourne Pool Leak Detection in Myrtle Beach,SC
From California Customer Simply Leak Detection
Hydro-Lok in Action from David Weeks Plumbing
Request a Quote or Demo
Contact us to learn more about our hydrogen tracer gas leak detectors for underground water pipes, available for municipal, commercial, and professional leak detection applications.
📞 Speak with a leak detection specialist call 770-479-7138
📧 Request technical specifications or pricing Contact Us
