Don’t estimate the power of water. Water under pressure is very abrasive. In fact, it is used for cutting toughened glass and many other products in manufacturing processes.
Small leaks quickly become large leaks.
We have seen many different types of leaks during the last 33 years of specialist leak detection. We have the people, the knowledge and the unique equipment to resolve issues. That is why so many of our delivery partners are quality plumbing contractors who understand that there are many aspects of quality leak detection above and beyond simply buying a piece of technology.
Our unique knowledge and combination of technologies is why we are the industry leaders in leak detection. There are now many new businesses purporting to be leak detection specialists. Nobody else has Leaktech’s 33 years of experience, range of technologies and skilled staff who ONLY specialise in leak detection and underground service location.
In January 2020, we were contacted by our long-standing and valued client, J & K Plumbing Works from Gladstone. A major commercial centre in that city was virtually without water on both the domestic and the fire lines. The leak had presented over several hundred metres of a thick concrete carpark more than a kilometre in length. Despite major efforts by the experienced plumbing team, they could not pinpoint the leak.
The centre was losing around 300,000 litres of water a day. That is equivalent to 1.5 Olympic swimming pools of water lost each day.
Leaktech deployed to site from our Sunshine Coast office and began work with the plumbers late at night after the businesses had closed for the day. The leak was located, Leaktech carried out an underground service location to ensure it was safe to excavate and the concrete was cut by waiting contractors.
Over the course of around 10 years, Leaktech has carried out many jobs with J & K Plumbing. They know that when we say “digâ€, that is where the leak will be. We find leaks and we are accurate!
Our Leaktech technician detected two sounds at different frequencies when he first located the leak above concrete, prior to the cutting of the concrete. He advised that this indicated there were most likely two major leaks at this location beneath the concrete, coming from two different types of pipes.
The domestic feed to this property is a large 75mm (3) poly pipe. This pipe was found to be almost completely missing for around 70 mm of the length of the pipe, allowing water to flow from the pipe at full flow. See the photograph below with a shovel beside it to visualise the size of the hole.
Below the domestic water feed, there are three 150mm PVC fire main pipes. One of these pipes had a hole caused by a rock in the back fill. This hole was only around the size of a 20-cent piece.
Water from this fire main was escaping at high flow and high pressure and almost cut right through the domestic line. Whilst this is not the first time that Leaktech has seen this, it was by far the biggest.
Again, this proves the logic in using only proven experts when these (or any other) leakage problems occur. Without the three technologies deployed on this project, it is unlikely that this great result would have been achieved.
Leaktech is often called in by one of its partner plumbing clients as happened here but body corporate managers, property owners, engineers and many others call us directly. We will find the problem and, if required, recommend a suitably qualified and competent contractor to carry out the work.
Don’t waste your time and money. Call Leaktech first.
“I have used Rod and his Leaktech team for the last 10 years and will continue to do so. They are a crucial component of my business locating leaks in difficult areas and in a timely manner. To date they are on a 100% success rate with leak locations which is no mean feat. Definitely recommend these Guys.â€
Josh Smith, J&K Plumbing
