tricky underground leak.

[Service Guy]

I have a customer with a massive underground leak that is so far undetectable. I was able to isolate the leak, its between two houses on the same property somewhere under the asphalt driveway. I drilled a bunch of small holes about a foot deep (with my new Hilti!) in the driveway every foot or so spanning the distance between where the water lines penetrate the ground respectively in each building....nothing.
I even used an air compressor to increase the leak pressure. Nobody in this region has reliable leak location devices. I am at a loss. One side of the line goes into the ground as copper, the incoming side is pvc. I am taking a wild guess that the leak is probably at the pvc adapter where it adapts to copper. So I think If I electrify the line and locate it with a navitrack, I can at least tell where the copper ends, and then drill some holes at that spot to see if there is water...

Any ideas are welcome, I am mainly just venting.

[JCsPlumbing]

Hmmmmm..... aggravation. Been there. Call SlimTim! Remember that mess he got into.

Can't run a new line?

Most of NC's meters I've ran into only run a "pigtail" of copper out less that 6' from the meter. People transition there to PVC, PEX etc. Could be at the transition there.

J.C.

[wrench spinner]

how deep is it? Your best bet might be a set of geophones

[plumberjr]

for some odd reason my seekteck sr20 located a few hundred feet of plastic gasline a few weeks ago--and i dug multiple spots and it was right on--and after everyone said the pipe had a tracer in it, i dug up the old pieces i cut out and it was standard gas pipe--no trace metals or wire, even researched pipe # online---yes it sounds weird as h3ll , but i swear it worked-- i hooked up to the gas riser with my inductive clamp and followed it pretty far--and if u remember that post, i did dig and there were no other utilities around--all was aerial except water and it was far away---point is, my steel pipe had a dresser 90 that transd to plastic and i was able to fol;low it without a tracer-----you have a pretty good locater--try it --whats it gonna hurt????
i know this is weird , but it did happen

[PLUMBER RICK]

trace the line the best you can and then see if introducing air into the line to make it bubble will allow you to hear the leak.

can you locate before and after the asphalt?

maybe just cap and test this section.

how far of a distance is it between the asphalt sections?

more info please;)

rick.

[gear junkie]

In my area, missutility will come out and locate the line for free.

[Service Guy]

I have a leak detection specialist coming in from tennessee. He will use the holes I drilled and trace the leak using his super-sonic special-new-fangled microphone device-thingy. I was surprised how reasonable his rates are especially considering he is 75 minutes away by highway.

He sounded quite confident on the phone and since his business name is "PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION" I am confident he'll find it.

[where am i]

I have a leak detection specialist coming in from tennessee. He will use the holes I drilled and trace the leak using his super-sonic special-new-fangled microphone device-thingy. I was surprised how reasonable his rates are especially considering he is 75 minutes away by highway.

He sounded quite confident on the phone and since his business name is "PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION" I am confident he'll find it.

how did this job turn out for you ?

[JCsPlumbing]

Alright C, what went right or wrong on this one? :confused:

J.C.

[Service Guy]

The locator guy found two leaks deep under the driveway. I gave the owner a price to excavate and repair and now I am waiting while drags his feet, he's probably shopping other prices.:rolleyes:

[drtyhands]

The locator guy found two leaks deep under the driveway. I gave the owner a price to excavate and repair and now I am waiting while drags his feet, he's probably shopping other prices.:rolleyes:
Hopefully you didn't give him a killer deal on locate and diagnose in exchange as bait for remedy.I've screwed that one up so many times I can't remember.

I'm such a sucker!!:p

[Service Guy]

Hopefully you didn't give him a killer deal on locate and diagnose in exchange as bait for remedy.I've screwed that one up so many times I can't remember.

I'm such a sucker!!:p

I already sent him a diagnosis bill that is over $700. I have to excavate a large area of the driveway to do the repairs. My price to excavate and repair was close to $2000, not including new asphalt. He's a repeat customer, so he knows I am not cheap. But he has cheaped out on me before with big jobs. He'll either get someone cheaper to repair it, or he'll call me a few weeks when he realizes nobody else will come out cheaper and then he'll finally let me do the job.
I don't care, this job is a nightmare, and I am not doing it unless I am well compensated.

[jrsaltz]

Get one of these to save some headaches:

http://www.hammerheadmole.com/products/waterline_slitters.htm

This works perfect!!!

Spartan sells the same one.

[PLUMBER RICK]

jake, i have this set up and it's great for straight runs.
on 90's or 45's, you need to dig the offsets.

also need to verify any tees.

i use my winch, come-a-long, truck, or hydraulic puller.

my smallest real camera will inspect 1'' pipe.

rick.

[wrench spinner]

I am still in awe that you dont have a backhoe or mini ex Rick? Is it possible I haev a tool that you don't?

[PLUMBER RICK]

I am still in awe that you dont have a backhoe or mini ex Rick? Is it possible I haev a tool that you don't?

yes it is:D

i do have a ditch witch:p

believe it or not, my insurance excludes excavating.

they won't define what this means:confused:

is it anything beyond a shovel?

i was looking at getting a tow behind mini ex;)

rick.

[cpw]

yes it is:D

i do have a ditch witch:p

believe it or not, my insurance excludes excavating.

they won't define what this means:confused:

is it anything beyond a shovel?

i was looking at getting a tow behind mini ex;)

rick.
Be careful Rick, if you get one you know you'll end up with a half dozen before you know it.

[wrench spinner]

yes it is:D

i do have a ditch witch:p

believe it or not, my insurance excludes excavating.

they won't define what this means:confused:

is it anything beyond a shovel?

i was looking at getting a tow behind mini ex;)

rick.


For you I'd go with this:

http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4072&d=1219247874

You can tow it behind your GMC- no problem!!

Those tow behind jobbies are like bringing a K-39 to a "board blasting" competition

[jrsaltz]

Here's how we roll!