Lancaster, MA is joining in on the water conservation movement.
The Department of Public Works has issued a statement requesting residents to conserve water by installing water saving fixtures throughout their home to reduce their water consumption.
While they hit on a lot of important points, such as reducing the amount of water used to water the lawn, they do not touch on the option of having a water leak audit done by a company like American Leak Detection.
Water leak audits are a thorough inspection of an entire house, from the sidewalk out front, all the way to the back fence, including a complete inspection done inside a home in addition to checking the pool or hot tub for leaks.
Many times, cracks in pipes causing water leaks can be very small. While small in size on a pipe, a substantial amount of water can flow through the crack, increasing consumption rates and water bills.
American Leak Detection is proud to offer our new Membership Program for homeowners. The Membership Program has four different levels, ranging from Basic to Premier. The advantages of being a Member of this program is front-of-the-line service for leak detection work, in addition to an annual water leak detection audit, if a Standard, Priority or Premier membership package is purchased.
The assurance that everything will be checked for leaks means that anything that happens underground, behind walls or in foundations over the winter, when cracking pipes are most likely, will be quickly spotted by our trained technicians, saving you time, money and increased water bills if the leaks go undetected.
Due to the recent earthquakes American Leak Detection has some pre-caution info for our local residence.Below are a couple of tips and pre-cautions to check following an earthquake.
Earthquakes not only rattles you nerves, it rattles and shakes everything.Many people do not think about the pipes that are underground are also moving with thousand s of tons of dirt during an earthquake.These lines can crack, break or even loosen fittings.
Here are a couple of tips and pre-cautions a homeowner can perform themselves following a earthquake.
·Check the front “Water Meter” for your house.This meter is usually by the curb or street and it is either in a plastic or concrete box.Most times they are marked “Meter”.
1.Mark with either tape or a pen the line the meter is currently at.
2.Left the meter sit for a period of 45 minutes to 1 hour without using any water in the house.
3.After step 2, check the mark from before.If it shows that the meter has moved at all within this time with no water being used in the house, there is a leak somewhere.This means there is a water leak on the domestic or pressurized hot/cold water lines inside or below your house.
4.If there is no movement there is NO LEAKS.If there is any movement then you need a Leak Detection to locate the problem before the problem escalates.
·Check your pool for leaks by performing a Bucket Test.This is a simple test that takes a period of 24 hours.You will need a 5 gallon bucket, tape or a permanent marker to perform this test.
1.Place the bucket on the first or second step of the pool.Ensure that the bucket is immersed in the pool at least five inches.
2.Mark the water level inside the bucket with tape or a permanent marker.
3.Let the bucket sit for a period of 24 hours.
4.After 24 hours, you want to compare the two water levels (inside/out).The inside of the bucket will represent the normal evaporation rate and the outside of the bucket will represent the how much you pool is losing.
5.Measure the two distances and they should be the same.If they are different, that tells the homeowner how much the pool is losing compared to evaporation, indicating there is a leak.Call for a Leak detection ASAP.
·Pool/Spa Electricity: Another concern is electricity for the pool light or the equipment.
1.Outside the pool visually look at the light to try to determine if there is water inside the pool light.If there is water in the light, you want to turn off the electricity feeding that light immediately.Now you need a leak detection to locate the source of the leak or electrical problem.
2.Your pool has a GFI (ground-fault circuit-interrupters) that is suppose to trip the electric system if there is a short or problem. If cause of failure these pre-cautions are important to avoid injuries or death.
3.There may not be sufficient current flowing in the water to blow a fuse, but sufficient to kill you. Some electricity will flow directly to earth and some will flow through the water. In fact, there will still be an electric potential difference in the vicinity (probably the whole pool) of the exposed conductor. Consequently, some of the electricity will flow through the pool water, some will flow through the person in the pool, and some will flow through to earth.
4.Call the professionals at American Leak Detection if you have any questions.
619-233-0382 or 760-432-6417 Toll Free 800-619-5325
Heres an example of what happens to a pool during our recent earthquake Sunday April 4th:
This is a question we hear everyday. One of the best ways to determine if you have a leak or just normal evaporation is to perform a “bucket test”. This is a simple and fairly accurate way to make this determination. Remember that this is designed to be completed in 24 hours and will be disrupted by rain. The following link will send you to our site and describe the proper way to complete the test.
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania May 7, 2009 — Water is our planet’s most precious resource, yet, each day, six billion gallons of clean, treatable drinking water is wasted throughout the world due to crumbling infrastructure. And with the arrival of the new American Leak Detection business in the local area, the experts hope to not only offer their leak detection services, but educate the community on the importance of leak management.
American Leak Detection, the leading leak detection franchise, arrived in the area in May and will serve the Northeast Pennsylvania area.
“Most people view leaks as an inconvenience, but in reality they are a bigger problem than one realizes. Besides water being wasted, leaks can cause structural damage to their property that if gone unnoticed can be quite costly in the long run,” said Steven Schry, owner of the new American Leak Detection business. “We’re very excited to be a part of the local community and save both homeowners and businesses from the hassles that leaks can cause.”
American Leak Detection is known as the world leader in the accurate, non-destructive detection of all types of leaks. According to Schry, company sets the standard for non-invasive leak detection for residential, commercial and municipal markets using proprietary methods and technology. The company’s experienced specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and methodology to locate concealed pipe leaks of all kinds, in all kinds of places, Schry said.
“It is very exciting to be welcoming a new franchise location to the Northeast Pennsylvania area. Our expansion is an indication of the success we are experiencing as a company, and therefore, demonstrates our superior service and industry knowledge,” said Stan Berenbaum, president of American Leak Detection.
For more information on American Leak Detection serving Northeast Pennsylvania, please contact Steven Schry at 570-855-2349 or visit www.americanleakdetection.com.
The deteriorating economy has caused homeowners to make saving money a priority, but what many residents do not realize is a major, unnecessary expense is lurking right under their roofs. Water leaks, caused by faulty faucets, shower valves and toilets, waste thousands of gallons of water. These problems can result in hundreds of dollars washed down the drain.
To encourage property owners to investigate possible water leakage in their homes, American Leak Detection is commemorating “Fix-A-Leak Week.” Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the national awareness campaign takes place from March 16th to 20th, and is designed to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.
According to American Leak Detection, the most common leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets and other leaking valves. The EPA estimates that by fixing these types of commonplace leaks, homeowners can save more than 10 percent on their water bills. American Leak Detection recommends residents perform simple maintenance tests on all their household plumbing fixtures including faucets, showerheads, and toilets, as well as outdoor irrigation systems and hose spigots.
For people ready to tackle the job, American Leak Detection offers the following checklist provided by the EPA:
Check the meter – Examine the water meter before and after a two-hour period during which no water was used; if the meter does not read exactly the same, a leak is likely present.
Replace valves – Bad faucet or shower valves may not allow water to be completely shut off.
Replace faulty toilet flappers and float assemblies - An inexpensive rubber part, the toilet flapper, is often to blame for toilet leaks, as mineral build-up can cause the part to decay. A float not adjusted correctly or not working properly can cause water to overfill the tank and rise above the over-flow tube. Fortunately, replacing the flapper is an easy, inexpensive do-it-yourself project.
Examine irrigation systems – Each spring, check the irrigation system to make sure it was not damaged by frost or freezing. Older valves have a tendency to wear out and allow water to run through the valve and to the open side or the sprinkler side.
Tighten spigots – Check for leaks where garden hoses connect to the spigot; if it leaks while running, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer, and use pipe tape and a wrench to secure the bond.
Check pool/spa - An Auto Fill running constantly could indicate a leak. Perform a Bucket Test to confirm water loss. Normal evaporation is usually 1/8″ to 1/4″ with auto fill off.
Take notice – A warm spot on the floor or high gas bills could indicate a hot water leak under the home.
Listen - Hearing water noise in walls at night with no water running could also indicate a leak under the home.
American Leak Detection utilizes specially trained experts and quality equipment to detect leaks before they require major home repairs. The company implements its own proprietary methods and technology to ensure the most non-invasive leak detection possible. Commercial and residential service is available.
