Posts Tagged ‘id-northern’

Spokane office detects leak on snow-making system at ski resort

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

American Leak Detection of Spokane was on top of the world for a recent job. Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort in the ski town of Wenatchee, Washington hired the team to come up and locate a potential leak on their snow-making water system. Since their property is closed for the season, it was the perfect time to address an issue which plagued them last winter.

According to the resort’s website, “No other ski area in Washington receives as much acclaim for the quality of its snow…” The property boasts 36 designated runs spread over 2,000 acres of trails and chutes. With 66 acres of snowmaking, more than any other area in the state, skiers can race down a 2,250 ft. vertical drop.

Leak specialist Jordan spent an entire day at the resort where he completed an electronic leak detection on the high pressure supply lines of their snow equipment. He also used a ground microphone to locate any potential leaks over the lines in question. Ultimately, four leaks were discovered within a 2-mile stretch.

The snow-making lines are being repaired and will soon be ready to blast out snow in the upcoming season.Because, what’s a popular ski resort to do without snow?

American Leak Detection of Spokane and Tri-Cities has served the area since March 1993.

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Fixing Leaks Saves Water and Money

Friday, May 6th, 2011

The arrival of spring brings an increase in outdoor activity — including yard chores, deck and outdoor furniture clean up, and swimming pool prep — that can drive water usage and utility bills up. While this increased seasonal cost is just another reality of home ownership, costs driven by water leaks should not be. American Leak Detection says that from both an environmental and an economic point of view, homeowners should identify and address water leaks quickly.

“Many homeowners are quick to react to the usual source of water leaks, like faulty toilets and drippy faucets,” says Bill Palmer, CEO and president of American Leak Detection. “But other, less obvious leaks can also send substantial amounts of water, and cash, down the drain. Spring is a great time to check for these hidden sources of leaks, to help conserve both a precious resource and your hard-earned cash in this difficult economy.”

For example, if the indicator on your water Meter Test is moving, when you know there has been no water usage inside the house, American Leak Detection suggests checking the hose bibs around your yard to make certain that the flow of water to the hose is shutting off completely when the hose is not in use. If these connections are tight, and the meter’s indicator is still moving, you may have a pressurized leak underground between the meter and your home. Or, you could have a slab leak or a leak in your irrigation system. Check your home’s foundation for cracks, uneven growth of vegetation or earth shifts, and walk your yard looking for spongy or even wet areas. If your inspection doesn’t turn up an obvious leak source, you’ll need to call in a leak specialist who can employ electronic leak detection technology to locate, and fix, the leak at its source.

“Some water leaks show up when another utility bill shows a sudden increase,” says Palmer. “For example, an extraordinarily high gas bill, when there is no smell of gas in the home, could indicate a problem with your water heater! You may have a faulty thermostat, or, if your water heater seems to be running constantly, you may have a water leak in the hot water line from the heater. Warm spots on your floor (your dog or cat may have taken to sleeping there) can also be an indication of a pressurized leak under your home.”

Homeowners with swimming Swimming Pool Leak Detections face additional possible sources of water leaks that can be very costly over the course of a swimming season. Pool owners should use the spring season to prep their pool for summer fun by clearing the pool of leaves and other debris and checking the filtration system. Then, once the pool owner has filled the pool up to the middle of the skimmer opening and tested the water for safety, he or she should be alert for signs of water leakage. If the water level in the pool drops by one-eighth inch or more in a 24-hour period, if algae growth begins soon after a chemical treatment or if the pool’s automatic filler is running continuously, chances are the pool is leaking. Check for loose or missing tiles, cracks in the pool deck, cracks and gaps in the pool shell, and standing water, soggy spots or uneven grass growth around the pool.

“Staying on top of water leaks in your home, pool or spa can help you stay inside your budget,” said Palmer. “And, you’ll be helping to conserve a precious, and finite, natural resource.”

The specially-trained experts from American Leak Detection employ quality equipment to detect hidden pipe leaks behind walls and underground before they require major home repairs. These professionals provide the most non-invasive leak detection available, using proprietary methods and technology. Since 1974, American Leak Detection has found more than five million leaks in residential and commercial buildings, saving customers millions of dollars, and supporting the company’s ongoing commitment to resource protection.

For more information about American Leak Detection, The Original Leak Specialists, please visit http://www.americanleakdetection.com.

About American Leak Detection
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Palm Springs, California, ALD is the world leader in the accurate, non-destructive detection of hidden water, sewer and other types of leaks. For the past nine years, ALD has been ranked #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine’s “Maintenance Products and Services” franchise sector. In February 2008, The Wall Street Journal named ALD to its list of the top 25 high-performing franchises. ALD is dedicated to water conservation, resource protection and the providing of eco-friendly services.

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Are your hearing something?

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Are your hearing something?

Jordan Marsh, American Leak Detection of Spokane & Tri-Cities

Question: Over the past few days, I have noticed a “humming” noise that seems to be coming from the pipes under one of the bathroom sinks. Does this indicate a leak of some sort?

Answer: Usually yes. A “humming” sound coming from water piping is often a good indication of water loss occurring somewhere along the piping system. This can occur in two ways: loss through a fixture or outlet (i.e. faucet or leaky toilet) and loss through an actual leak along the line.

It is pretty easy to understand the way a running fixture makes noise on pipes. Water flows at a rapid rate through the line and causes the pipe to vibrate as the water leaves the outlet. Also, friction created by the water flow against the inside of the pipe sends vibrations that can be detected by the human ear.

The sound created by a leak in the pipe itself is a little more complex to understand. Essentially, the humming sound created by a leak in the pipe is driven by a pressure difference between the water inside the pipe and the ambient atmospheric pressure around the pipe.

When a leak develops in a pipe, a pressure loss occurs in the pipe at the leak site as the pressure in the pipe tries to equalize with the pressure outside the pipe. This pressure loss creates pressure waves that travel in both directions down the pipe and away from the leak. We call this “leak energy.”

In most cases, the human ear alone cannot hear this leak energy. It takes electronic leak detection tools that amplify selected sounds. If you can hear the leak energy without equipment, there is a good chance the leak is close by or has developed in size enough to be quite loud.

The humming sound you hear is not from flow or a leak in the pipe. A contact point between the pipe and a vibrating appliance or machine, such as a refrigerator or air conditioning unit, could cause it.

In any of the cases mentioned above, you can save some time and money by inspecting the exposed lines in the building for some obvious clues. Double-check all of your interior faucets and toilets. Check outside hose bibs and valves, too. If you don’t find anything, you may need to call a leak detection specialist to perform further investigation with specialized electronic equipment and professional experience.

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Mysterious Odors

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Patti Godwin, American Leak Detection of Spokane & Tri-Cities

Most of us have experienced the unwelcome smell of spoiled food in a garbage disposal. Perhaps many of us have even been gripped by the scent of a dead animal hidden within the walls of our buildings. These are odors that can usually be tracked to the source with our own human nose. But, what about those smells that cannot be traced so easily?

Sewer Odors

Most people cringe at just the mere mention of “sewer odor”. The source of a sewer odor can be a true enigma. The problem with sewer and other airborne odors is they are invisible and can be affected by drafts. Most sewer and drain piping components are hidden within building walls, compounding the search challenge.

As with any problem that involves an apartment complex or duplex, the rule to remember in the hunt for an odor is that you want to avoid damaging your facility in the process. It is easy to go to the area where the smell seems to be the strongest and begin taking things apart, or opening walls. It is not so easy to justify and finance the resulting restoration work required – after a hit and miss search.

With this in mind, before you begin dismantling walls, you should consider calling a leak detection specialist. A trained technician with the right equipment and experience should be able to quickly locate most mysterious sewer odors. This is done using molecular analyzers, machines that identify certain gases; or video cameras to inspect and reach out of the way areas; or by introducing a trace element into your sewer system and tracking them.

Keep in mind, the test results might determine the odor you smell is not from your sewer. Sometimes animals get trapped and die within the walls. Other times the odor is from an adjacent building, especially if there’s been re-modeling activity over the years. Whatever your situation, a detection specialist should be able to identify whether or not you have a sewer problem. If the technician determines the odor is not sewer related, he should be able to provide significant clues as to the source of your problem. Most importantly, he will keep you from needless damage to your building that can result from an uneducated search.

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A Leak at Home

Monday, December 14th, 2009

In the unfortunate event that you experience a leak problem in your home, it can be critical to both your pocketbook and your long-term property value that you take the right steps to solve your problem.

If the leak is inside the residence, your homeowner’s insurance policy may cover this issue. The company usually covers the detection fee and exposing the leak. The pipe work is not usually covered since they do not want to be responsible for re-plumbing everyone’s home every 40 years. They do tend to cover the cost of replacing flooring or wall work after the repair. Check with your agent on coverage issues. After over 30 years of working with insurance companies across the country, American Leak Detection has worked with most of them.

1) Take responsibility for your property. In other words, do whatever you can to mitigate damage to your property and do it quickly. Turn the home’s water off at the shut-off valve right away – if you have water surfacing from under the slab floor. If you are not sure where it is, locate it now for future emergencies. If you notice water leaking whenever you use the shower, stop using that one until the problem is identified and repaired.

2) Contact your insurance company or homeowner’s association before pulling a random name from your Yellow Pages or over the Internet. There is a good chance the insurance company or HOA has a recommended service company for this issue. They often have a long history with the companies they recommend, therefore, they can safely say the company is able to provide accurate, reasonably priced, and efficient services. In other words, they trust the company does honest work.

3) Help to promote a team effort amongst your insurance claim adjuster or HOA representative, the service specialists and you. By working together and staying in close communication, the team will provide preventative measures that may reduce the chance for future leaks and property damage.

4) Take pictures of the problem before, during, and after the process of remedying it. Sometimes your adjuster isn’t able to visit in person during the problem stages. Your pictures, along with those the leak detection company may take, can help in the decision making process. Pictures also serve well in your personal records.

5) Use common sense. It sounds cliché, but the reality is a little common sense goes a long way when you are trying to preserve the value of your property.

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Water Leak: Property Owner’s Nightmare

Thursday, April 30th, 2009
By Patti Godwin

Water leaks can be one of the most frustrating and expensive aspects of owning property. An undetected leak can create enormous havoc in a very short time. Think about this: a hole the size of a pinhead can waste 360,000 gallons over a year, enough to fill about 12,000 average-sized bathtubs.

The loss of that much water has two negative effects. First, the property owner is paying for the water that is disappearing into the ground. This is often compounded by sewer rates that are tied to water consumption. If a leak occurs in January, it could be even more expensive since some water companies do not read meters during the winter. The April or May water bill could be a real shocker!

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Posted in property managers, tips, washington | 2 Comments »

Tips to Avoid Frozen Pipes

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
flickr.com pineconekaty

flickr.com > pineconekaty

Before freezing weather:

  • Advise all household members where the main water shutoff valve is located in case of emergency.
  • Make sure hoses are disconnected from outside faucets.
  • Make sure water pipes in unheated parts of your home, including crawl spaces, are insulated.
  • Seal all openings in the basement around the foundation, windows, and doors.
  • Pipes in your basement that are close to windows should be insulated.
  • Drain all underground irrigation systems.

During freezing weather:

  • If a water pipe freezes, NEVER thaw it with an open flame. You may start a fire! Use hot air from a hair dryer, the exhaust from a vacuum cleaner, heat lamps, heat tape, or electric heaters.
  • Make sure you heat all rooms of your house that have plumbing fixtures. Water pipes in unheated rooms are subject to freezing and could cause extensive damage.
  • If your sinks are on an outside wall, you can leave the cabinet doors open to allow the heat from the room to enter.
  • A light bulb can be used to thaw pipes slowly, by placing it next to pipes that are frozen (Be sue to keep the bulb away from combustible material.)
  • Keep meter box lids closed during winter months to prevent cold air from freezing the meter. (Don’t remove snow if you don’t have to. It helps insulate the meter.)
  • If you have experienced problems in the past during freezing periods and you have exhausted all other solutions, you can leave a trickle of water running from the faucet highest in the house. This trickle should be a steady stream slightly larger than the lead of a pencil.

If you need additional advice, call your local water department.

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