Helium Leak Detection Can Save Money on Industrial Processes

Helium and Trace Gas Leak Detection Can Save Time and Money For Any Industrial Processes

2011-09-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

Helium is the perfect gas for finding leaks in industrial processes and equipment. The small size of the molecule allows for very small leaks to be detected easily. Using modern technology, helium is introduced to the equipment, pipeline or process, and upon reaching an operating pressure, the testing can begin. Valves, flanges, ports, unions and all other fittings can be tested quickly and accurately. Leak detection can take place prior to the process start-up, or during down time, and does not need to be voided from the process after the tests are conducted due to the complete chemically inert nature of the gas. United Leak Detection, Inc provides quality helium and trace gas leak detection services for any industry. From Petrochemical to biochemical to food production, any facility where having a tight production line is important, helium leak detection is likely to be the answer. Contact United Leak Detection today to get more information on how they can help you today! 888-422-LEAK (5325)

Water Leak and Detection Survey and Audit in Mobile Home Park

2011-01-24T06:20:00.000-08:00

The above leak was indicated only by a soft spot in the grass nearby. The majority of the water ran into a nearby lake. The 3/4 inch line was broken and thousands of gallons a day were leaking with only a high water bill to show for it. The lot where this leak occurred did not have a water meter on it. Had a water meter been installed, this leak could have been found more easily as the meter would have indicated the broken line.

Many mobile home communities do not have meters on individual homes. Without water meters on each and every home, the community cannot know how much water is being used by tenants, and how much is lost to leakage with no hope for recovering the cost of the water. Sub-metering all of the lots in the community can alleviate many of the issues with water loss, and can help to increase profitability. In theory, sub-metering is the practice of using a water meter to measure master metered water consumption by individual users.

The owner of the community resells the water that has been read by the meter and provides invoices to the residents or tenants. Recent interest in water metering is due to water conservation issues increasing the cost of water service thereby providing the incentive for the use of sub-meters and non-metered water allocation charges for mobile home communities. Issues keeping the bills accurate have limited the use to non-metered allocation charges. The increases in water bills and charges have resulted in the installation of sub-meters and changes in billing practices. Additionally, local and regional rent control regulations, while limiting rent increases, may permit billing separately for utility costs when they previously were billed at a flat rate.

Frequently, consumers who are billed separately for utilities use often:

question the reason for certain water charges
question the basis for calculating the charges
complain they are being assessed improper, or illegal, charges for water service
claim the water meters are inaccurate
claim the utility charges are another form of rent increase

Quality accurate water metering can eliminate many of these concerns while allowing for the passing along of water usage to the tenants using the most water, while allowing for savings for the water conservation-minded residents to benefit from lower utility bills.

A master meter, is a utility meter typically owned, maintained, and read for billing purposes by the water utility to multi-unit businesses and residences including mobile home communities. Sub-meters are installed on each of the lots in the community. Once the total cumulative sub-metered totals are compared to the master metered water consumption, the total unaccounted for water loss can be calculated.

Once a community knows how much water is being lost, a cost/benefit analysis for a comprehensive leak detection and repair program can be conducted, and the money savings can start. It is not uncommon for a mobile home community to save thousands of dollars a month once water leaks are repaired throughout the community.

Call United Leak Detection today for a professional review of your water bills in order to start you on the road to water savings, increased cost efficiency and significant savings and increased profitability. United Leak Detection does not charge to review water bills and can provide both leak detection and leak repair solutions to help you start saving money now!

Mobile Home Community Water Leak Detection

2011-01-19T18:09:00.001-08:00

Mobile home communities often find that the money they are collecting for utilities from the residents are not covering the costs of the utility bills. The electric bill has not changed more than typical rate increases. The gas bill has not changed more than typical rate increases. The water bill on the other hand has doubled, tripled or gone up even more. These are not costs you can pass along to the residents of your community. The bills do not ever go down; they increase in leaps and bounds month after month. Metering all of the individual lots will help a mobile home community to know how much water the community is losing and how much water a single lot is losing. The resident may be responsible for the single lot, and the remaining lost water is from the water mains throughout the neighborhood. A leak detection company like United Leak Detection, Inc. will find leaks in water mains in the community, and often can help to provide repair solutions in a cost-effective manner. By helping to negotiate with the water service providers and utility companies, United Leak Detection can not only save money going forward, but often can help to credit water bills that the community has already received. The expertise of the water professionals at United Leak Detection is second to none when it comes to saving a mobile home community money! Once a neighborhood decides that high water bills need to become a thing of the past, call United Leak Detection at (888)422-5325 so that they can start working with you to get your utility bills under control.

Water Leak on a Water Main

2011-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

The leak was at the left of the picture, but the initial excavation was done at the right.

Here is the leak from the above picture 40 feet from where the leak showed above ground.

The water leak surfaced in the fence at the right. The ice was almost 8 inches thick and the excavator tried to dig up where the water was coming up out of the pavement. Unfortunately, the leak was nearly 40 feet away, and they needed to call a leak detection company to find the leak's location. United Leak Detection, Inc. found the leak after a little over an hour, and the digging up of the leak happened immediately. Under five feet of water, mud and rock fill, the leak location was right on. The only indication of the water leak was a high water bill, and nothing happened until the water began to surface, and the ice began to form. Often, leak repair is not undertaken until the water breaches the ground. This same repair and detection could have been completed 3 months ago, and saved over $3,000 in water charges. Leak detection can allow a timely repair of a leak that has not yet surfaced. Leaks will never fix themselves. They will not get better, and they will only cost more money as time goes on. Leak detection saves money. Period. The sooner you get it done, and use the information to repair the leak, the more money you will save. Call United Leak Detection today to find your leaks so that you can start getting your leaks repaired today!

2010-11-04T08:07:00.001-07:00

Water and Slab Leak Detection and Repair http://ping.fm/qtgUP

2010-11-03T20:08:00.001-07:00

Slab Leaks in the Winter http://ping.fm/UlAPe

Slab Leaks in the Winter

2010-11-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Slab leaks are common in the summer. They can occur in the winter, too. Many people expect them to be more common in the winter. Freezing is not so much of a problem when the lines are properly buried. In the cold states more prone to freezing this means at least 36 inches, and sometimes 48 inches. When properly buried, the lines are much less likely to freeze underground. Spring and fall seem to be the most common time for slab leaks in deeply buried lines. As the weather gets hot then cold, cold then hot, the lines expand and contract. Not enough to freeze, but enough to finally wear through where a bit of corrosion has weakened the line. In warmer climates, where lines may be buried as little as six inches deep a cold spell can cause the lines to burst much more easily. Of course, if the lines are buried under little more than six inches of soil, the leaks are often fairly easy to find. In the cold weather climates, leaks can often find their way to the ground water, around the foundation of the home or even can follow sewer lines and drain so that the water never surfaces. In this case, it is best to call someone who can help to find the leak and help to get it repaired. United Leak Detection can help with finding the leak and providing repair options. We work with thousands of homeowners who have had the same problems as you might be, and have helped them navigate the ins and outs of getting a troublesome slab leak repaired.

Water leak under a slab floor in Indiana found by United Leak Detection

2010-10-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

This isa hot water line leak that was found beneath a slab floor. The leak was on the bottom of the pipe where the pipe lay up against a concrete pipe used for air conditioning. The leak in the pipe was where the pipe had come in contact with the concrete pipe. The top of the pipe lay against the bottom of the slab floor. This job could have been a disaster had the location of the leak been off by only a few inches. The concrete pipe could have been broken. The hot water line lay under a wall, and deciding which side to access was the hard choice of a skilled leak detection specialist. Most of the heat from the leaking hot water line came up on the side of the wall away from the leak due to the concrete pipe absorbing much of the heat. Six inches to to either side away from the leak, and a contractor is either not finding the leak on the wrong side of a wall, or has broken the concrete pipe, and still cannot find the line or the leak. Call United Leak Detection to find your leak today so you can start getting your leak repaired today, 888-422-5325 United Leak Detection

Water leak under a slab floor found by United Leak

2010-10-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

The phrase "pin hole"leak is often used to describe any leak that is small in size. This leak was so small, that when the pipe was repaired, the leak was hard to see with the naked eye. There were several small pits in the pipe that looked like they may have been the breach in the pipe, but in fact, the leak was so small that a needle could not fit through it. Had the leak detection not have been done correctly, this leak could have been easy to miss. The homeowner has had a water leak before, and noticed a modest increase in the water bill. With only a $20 increase, they called for a leak consultation that resulted in the confirmation of a leak. Upon a careful detection, this small leak was discovered, and repaired the same day. Call United Leak Detection in find your leak today 888-422-5325 or visit them online at United Leak Detection of Indiana

Service line leak found by United Leak Detection

2010-10-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

This leak on a water pipe is called a service line leak. It happened in a campground that had almost a mile of water line running to numerous campers, and United Leak Detection was able to track it down. The service line is the portion of water line that branches off from the water meter. he line to the water meter is the responsibility of the utility company. From the meter to the home, the line is the responsibility of the homeowner. This leak was not visible from the ground until we located it, and began to remove soil. Upon a little bit of digging, the leak became apparent. This leak was located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Locating leaks on a service line can be one of the more challenging leaks to locate in areas where the temperatures will stay below freezing in the winter. In cold climates, service lines are often run at least 48 inches deep, and the water does not always break the surface of the ground. Leaks can be either in the yard under the soil, or can be under the slab of the home prior to the water shut-off valve in the house. Calling a leak detection company can help you find the location of the leak if the water source is not obvious. Call United Leak Detection to find out more about service line leaks and to get advice on stopping your water leak today!

High Water Bill? Time to Start Looking For Leaks

2010-10-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

If you suspect you have a water leak, you do not always need to call someone right away. Often, you can find a leak in your own home without calling in a professional. The following is a list of locations to look in your home prior to calling in help. Leaks can account for 20% or more of your water bill. Conserve water and save money by checking your home regularly for leaks. A leak as small as the period right . there can leak as much as 4000 gallons a month. That is how much water a family often uses for the whole month! That period can double your water bill! **Disclaimer** Obviously, you must shut off the water service into your home prior to working on many of these below spots around your home. Even if the fixture has its own shut-off valve, you will never go wrong closing the main shut-of line.

In the kitchen look for:

The Dishwasher – Check for leaks under the sink where a hose connects to the water supply. Look around the bottom of the dishwasher for evidence of water leakage, such as discolored, warped, or soft flooring, or water damage to cabinets. You will likely need to call a dishwasher service company to help you repair the dishwasher.
Refrigerator – If your refrigerator has an icemaker, make sure the hose connection is securely attached to the water supply line. Also, a wet spot on the floor may be a sign of a crimped icemaker supply line about to become a leak. You may need to call someone to come and repair the refrigerator if it is not an ice maker line.
Sink – Replace worn caulk around sinks, and check the pipes and fittings under the sink for leaks. A slow-draining pipe may indicate a partially blocked drain that needs cleaning.

In the Bathroom Look for:

Showers and bathtubs – Remove and replace old or worn or cracked caulk and grout. Water can leak through these damaged seals, causing stains or soft areas around nearby walls and floors.
Sinks - Check under the sink for leaks from water supply lines or drainpipes. Gaskets in the sink can become worn and need to be replaced. Soon, our site will tell you how to replace these gaskets!
Toilets – Can have several different problems. Many you can fix yourself.

Float arm problems can be found by taking the top of the toilet off, and flushing the toilet. Listen to make sure that you hear the water shut off. If the water does not shut off and runs into the overflow pipe, you may need to gently bend the float arm to stop the water.
Flapper Valve problems can be quiet leaks tat cause the water to leak into the toilet bowl, and the toilet to constantly re-fill without flushing.
Clogs can result from too much toilet paper or objects such as hanging bowl deodorants.
Some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode internal plastic or rubber parts, leading to a leak.
Wax Rings - Leaks can also occur at the base of the toilet where a wax ring seals the toilet to the sewer pipe.

Basement, Laundry or Utility room

Washing machine – Check hoses regularly for bulging, cracking, fraying, and leaks around hose ends. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program. To help make sure the hose doesn’t kink, leave at least four inches between the water connection and the back of the washing machine. Even if you can’t find a source of water, the washing machine may only leak if the machine has been running.
Water heater – Most water heaters last eight to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a leak. Water heaters should be installed on the lowest level of the home, next to a floor drain, or inside a drain pan piped to the floor drain.
Sump pump – Battery-operated back-up sump pumps can help protect against power failure or failure of the primary pump. Test the sump pump before the start of each wet season. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and must have some components replaced or serviced within those 10 years.
Fire Suppression (sprinkler) systems- Many newer homes have these installed to prevent fire, and they can leak, often at the sprinkler heads. Make sure that they are all tightened.
Humidifiers will often have water standing beneath them as a sign of a leak.
Water Softeners - May run constantly if they have a leak. You are likely to hear the sound of running water when you get close to them.
Outdoor faucets - These have a gasket in them similar to sinks that can be easily replaced.
Swimming Pools - May have an automatic fill that does not require you to put a hose in the pool to add water, but may be adding water without your knowledge.
Irrigation Systems - May leak, and you are likely to notice the standing water in the yard if there is a large enough leak on this system.

Since water may still come through an overflowing drain or cracks in the foundation walls, make sure items stored in the basement are kept off the floor. Furniture should be on casters or shims and arranged away from floor drains. Good Luck! FOR EVEN MORE INFORMATION- United Leak Detection, Inc.

For More Information On Hidden Water Leak Detection

2010-10-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Under Slab Water Leak Detection In Indiana

Will Homeowner's Insurance Cover The Cost of a Slab Leak

2010-09-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

Will homeowner's insurance policy cover a slab leak? The short answer is maybe. If they do cover it, there will be some qualifications, and only a claims adjuster for your company can tell you for sure. Your leak will need to be inside the walls of your foundation. You don't have yard insurance, you have home insurance so a leak on your service line outside of the foundation will not be covered. Sorry, but on the bright side, if that is your leak problem, it is likely the least expensive kind of hidden underground leak to repair. If the leak is on the pressure side of your plumbing and the water under the house comes up through the slab and causes damage to your home or belongings, some portion of the work is very likely to be covered.

If you do not have damage to the above slab portions of your home, and the leak is inside the walls of the foundation, you may still be in luck. When you call your adjuster, they may say that they will pay to find the leak, but not to repair the leak. Have no fear! This means that the company will likely pay for the leak detection, pay to remove the slab, and whatever fill stands in the way of repairing the pipe. The company will likely not pay for the actual cutting of the pipe, the pipe and fittings to repair the leak, and the labor to repair the pipe. Then they are likely to cover the cost of fixing your home back to the original shape it was in before the work was started.

Only a claims adjuster can tell you for sure, and some companies may not cover any of this at all. If you have had a slab leak problem, please write and let us know how your experience was. Who is your insurance company, and was your leak a covered claim? Thanks

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Slab Leak Detection Blog

2010-09-27T18:28:00.001-07:00

Water standing in the yard can be a sign of a SLAB LEAK

2010-08-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

If you have decided that watering your grass in the summer is not for you, your grass may brown, and may not grow as fast. Not always a bad thing. If, however, one day you notice that your grass is greener than it was the day before, there has been no rain, and you do not suspect someone is sneaking onto your yard while you are at work and watering the grass for you. You may have a leak under your slab. Once a pipe breaks under your slab, the water sprays out all day and all night. You may not notice a drop in water pressure. You may not hear any noise in your home. Simply green grass can be the first sign of a leak under your slab. By checking your water meter, you can tell if you should call someone to get even more information. If you are not comfortable taking the lid off of you water meter, cal the water company. They don't want you wasting water any more than you want to waste it. They won't help you find the problem, most likely, but that will be able to tell you if the meter is running non-stop. If it is, and you don't think you are using any water, check toilets, sinks, hose bibs, and ice makers. No leaks on any of those? Try turning off the water at a shut off inside your home. Don't know where it is? You should in case of an emergency. Shut it off, and take another look at the meter. If it is spinning with the valve shut off, your leak is likely on the service line into your home. If the meter stops, then the leak is likely on a water supply line to a fixture or appliance in your home. In either case, call company that specializes in slab leaks. Make sure they do a lot of them, and are confident they can do them well. Almost all plumbers want to do the work, but one the specializes in slabs will be the most accurate, can make the smallest hole in your home, and can keep the price down because they are not worried about breaking 2 or 3 holes when they can't find the leak the firsts time.

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Slab Leak Detection Blog

What is a slab leak? I got a high water bill. Could I have a plumbing leak I don't know about?

2010-08-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

So you opened your mail, and got the water bill is much higher than it is supposed to be. You have called the water company hoping it was a mistake, but they said it is not. Perhaps they send someone out to make sure the meter is working properly, but it is. You have not seen any sign of water around your house. You have not wasted three times your normal water usage filling the pool over and over again or watering your lawn non-stop, so what is happening? Check the toilets and sinks in your house, and if you can't find another cause for the increase, you may have a water leak. If the water company comes out, they will look at your meter, and they may tell you that a leak indicator on the top of the meter may be spinning away. this is a classic indication of a water leak and often a slab leak. There are several different type of slab leaks. The service line of your home runs from the water meter to the shut-off valve in your house. If you close the shut off valve in your house, the leak indicator on top of the water meter will continue to spin. If you have a leak in your home between the shut-off valve and and of the water fixtures in your house, when you close the shut-off valve, the leak indicator will stop also. If the leak is on the service line, there is still a chance, even if you don't see water in your yard, that the leak on the line could be outside of your slab. This is most likely in climates where freezing is an issue as service lines are often required to be 36-48 inches under ground, and that depth can allow even significant water loss to dissipate before reaching the surface. In areas where freezing is not a concern, lines are often run much closer to the surface, and leaks on the service line outside of your slab are more readily apparent. Never fear!! Once you realize that you have a leak, you know what the problem is and can get started on the path to getting it fixed.

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What is a water slab leak?

2010-08-18T18:36:00.000-07:00

Water is relentless. Rivers formed the Grand Canyon and glaciers flattened the United States to create farmland throughout the heartland of America. The same forces of flowing and freezing water can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Slab leaks can happen to any home on a slab foundation. No matter the age of your home, no matter where you live. Just because it does not freeze where you live, you may still have leaks beneath your slab. California and Texas have some of the highest rates of slab leaks in the country, and deep freezes are few and far between. For the rest of us, we can still have slab leaks, and then we must worry about freezing and thawing to boot. As a slab leak detection and repair specialist, we have found that, surprisingly, most slab leaks on the pressure side of the plumbing happen in newer homes, built in the last 20 years. Slab leaks on the drainage side of the plumbing happen in older homes, where the metal drainage pipes have simply worn away.

Slab leaks can occur on the service line of your home from the water meter to the shut off valve in your home. They can occur on a cold water supply line to any plumbing fixture in a home, or they can occur on the hot water line to any fixture using hot water. They can occur on any drain line from any sink, toilet, shower, or washing machine.

Leaks on the pressure side of the plumbing can often be discovered before they cause a great deal of damage. High water bills, noise, or wet spots in your yards can be signs of a slab leak on the pressure side of your plumbing. These leaks are often found before too much time has passed, but they can also cause damage to a lot of your home. The pressure of the water fills up the space beneath your slab and inside you foundation. If it cannot escape through the foundation, it can find its way up through small hairline cracks in your slab and can flood your home!

Leaks on the drainage side can be much more hidden and are harder to diagnose. They can leak for years without any outward sign of leakage. Think of all the nasty gray water hanging out under your slab, sloly wetting the soil, and then the soil dries, then wetting it, and then it dries. Over time, your foundation can feel the effects. These leaks can cause your foundation to buckle and can cause a good deal of smelliness if you have a crack in your slab. Drainage pipe should be checked every so often just to make sure you don't have a problem.

Of course if you may have a leak, call in a professional who can fix it right, not a kid with a sledgehammer who wants to make a mess in your home and may get lucky and find a leak. Most leak detection companies, and some plumbers can find your leaks accurate to within a couple of inches; no matter what kind of slab leak, no matter where it hides.

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