These EPA statistics are real eye-openers:
• A leaking toilet can waste up to 90,000 gallons of water in 30 days. At today’s rates, that can add up to $500 to a single water bill.
• A single, pin-hole sized leak in a pipe or faucet fitting can waste almost 360,000 gallons of water in a year. If the hole is in a metal pipe, at 40 psi, water is lost at a rate of 2,500 gallons in just 24 hours.

And, money isn’t the only thing you’ll save if you take care of those sneaky leaks in your home. Undetected leaks can cause your floors to buckle or allow mold to take hold – problems that can be expensive and difficult to reverse.

Here are a couple of ways you can become a “leak detective” in your home:

• Check your water bill during the winter months. If your family of four is using more than 12,000 gallons of water per month, chances are you have a serious water leak.

• Run a water meter test. Pick a time when you will not use any water for a two-hour period, and jot down the readings on your water meter. Check the meter again at the end of the two-hour period. If the reading has changed, you probably have a leak. So, how do you begin tracking down the leak? Well, you can eliminate the toilet tank as the source of the leak by shutting off the valves under all the toilets in your home or building, and then conducting the meter test again for at least 30 minutes. If the numbers on the meter don’t change, you probably have a toilet leak. If they still change, even when the toilets have been shut off, then you may need a leak detection specialist to pinpoint the source of the leak.

• Conduct a dye test. If you suspect a toilet leak, place a couple of drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Do not flush the toilet for 15 minutes. If the color shows up in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. (Flush the toilet immediately at the end of this test to avoid staining the tank and bowl.)

These simple tests won’t cost you a penny, but they can save you a lot. And, repairing water leaks promptly makes sense, not only for your budget but for our water supply, too.

If you need help tracking down the source of a leak, the trained technicians at American Leak Detection can help. We use state-of-the-art technology and equipment to detect leaks, using the most non-invasive leak detection possible, to minimize disruption and expense in repairing even the most difficult leaks.

January 04, 2011 // Franchising.com // Palm Springs, CA – Palm Springs based American Leak Detection, Inc., a leader in the accurate, non-invasive detection of water and other leaks, has received top honors from Entrepreneur® Magazine.

For the ninth straight year, Entrepreneur® Magazine ranked American Leak Detection No. 1 in its category in its Franchise 500. Entrepreneur® Magazine researches and analyzes hundreds of franchise companies to determine the best in specific industry categories. Companies are judged on many factors including financial strength, stability, growth rate, number of years in business, with an independent CPA review of financial data.

“Given the serious water availability and infrastructure issues throughout the world, our mission is to create a leading environmental services and technology company focused on water intelligence, detection, conservation and remediation,” says Stan Berenbaum, CEO of American Leak Detection. “We are proud to be recognized, proud of our commitment to the environment and thankful for our dedicated customers, employees, franchisees and business partners.”

Entering its 36th year of business, American Leak Detection operates a network of highly trained leak specialists in the United States and seven other countries who specialize in the accurate, non-destructive detection of hidden water, sewer and other leaks. With a growing interest in franchising opportunities, American Leak Detection possesses a franchising competitive advantage with its operating history, proven system, brand recognition and the worldwide demand for its product and service solutions.

“We believe strongly in helping solve our customers’ water problems and are excited about the tremendous growth opportunities ahead,” added Berenbaum.

For more information about American Leak Detection or its franchise opportunities, go to www.americanleakdetectionfranchise.com.
About American Leak Detection
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Palm Springs, California, ALD is a 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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“With local residents working on curtailing costs and environmental resources, fixing water leaks should be considered a priority for the community,” said Jimmy Carter, owner of American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts. He goes on to put things in perspective by noting that a leak the size of a pinhead can waste 360,000 gallon of water a year – an amount enough to fill 12,000 bathtubs to the overflow mark.

According to Carter, members of the local community should be constantly vigilant of the water use in their homes. He says the following steps should be taken regularly to accurately monitor for possible water leaks:

- Check for changes to the water meter when there is no water being used – mark the indicator on the meter; don’t use any water for an hour; then check the meter. If the indicator moved, a leak may be present.
- Compare water bills from month to month to see if the bill escalates over a period of weeks or months.
- Inspect walls or floors for wet, spongy, moist or discolored areas.
- Examine building foundation for cracks, uneven growth of vegetation or earth shifts.
- Conduct a “Bucket Test” to check pools and spas for water loss. A loss of one-eighth inch or more of water in 24 hours is suspicious.
- Monitor the pool’s automatic filler; if it is continually releasing water, there may be a leak.

“If members of the local community notice any of the above symptoms occurring at their home or business, they should contact a professional immediately,” said Carter. “Left unaddressed, water leaks can cause costly damage to a building’s structure that may require labor-extensive repairs.”

American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts specializes in the accurate, non-destructive detection of hidden water, sewer and other leaks. Using proprietary equipment and methods, leaks are located without destroying walls or digging holes, thereby avoiding unnecessary property and other damage.

For detailed directions on the Meter Test and Bucket Test, please visit www.americanleakdetection.com. For more information about American Leak Detection serving Massachusetts, please contact Jimmy Carter at 800-755-6697.

About American Leak Detection
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Palm Springs, California, American Leak Detection is dedicated to resource protection and eco-friendly services. American Leak Detection is the world leader in the accurate, non-destructive detection of all types of leaks including hidden water and sewer leaks. From swimming pool cracks to concealed plumbing systems, the smallest leak is located with the most advanced, sophisticated electronic devices – without bashing holes in walls or digging up the deck or yard. For the last nine years, American Leak Detection has been ranked #1 in Entrepreneur® magazine’s “Maintenance Products and Services” franchise sector. In February 2008, The Wall Street Journal included American Leak Detection on its list of the 25 top high-performing franchises. For more information on American Leak Detection, call 800.755.6697 or visit www.americanleakdetection.com.

I have a large (man-made) pond in my back yard. While I believe it’s leaking, I don’t know for sure. Can it be tested?

Dear Claudette,

Absolutely. Modern leak detection technology has made it possible to test large water-holding structures such as ponds and fountains for leaks.
Depending on the amount of the water loss, the size of the circulating system, and the condition of the pond interior, an experienced and well-equipped leak detection company (like American Leak Detection) can give you a summary and estimate of the work involved and thereafter locate leaks in the pond.

There are four ways that your plumbing will develop a leak under a slab:

1. Corrosion from soil chemicals
2. Abrasion from long term vibration
3. Pressure from human error or shifting ground
4. Construction defect

Slab leaks from corrosion:

Underground pipes make contact with soil on the exterior of the pipe and water on the inside. Water balance and a charged ground could induce electrolysis in metallic pipes, causing corrosion from the inside or outside of the pipe and eventually causing holes in the pipe.

Hot water lines will more likely corrode from the outside in due to the reaction of the heat and the contents of the soil surrounding the pipe.

Cold water lines generally deteriorate from the inside out due to electrolysis being created on the inside of the pipe.

Electric lines running beneath the slab can also energize metallic pipes and induce electrolysis resulting in corroded pipes.

Older homes with copper pipe usually suffer from chronic plumbing failures due to corrosion. Sometimes the situation calls for a complete repiping of the plumbing. Less invasive repairs can be made with an in-place pipe coating depending on the state of the pipes and the construction layout.

Slab leaks from abrasion:

As water travels through plumbing, vibrations, expansion and contracting may cause the pipe to rub against concrete, gravel, rebar, or other pipes depending on the construction. Over time, the constant vibration and abrasion of the pipe will grate the pipe until it springs a leak.

If pipes are insulated and constructed with stabilizing supports, the vibration can be minimized, prolonging the life of the pipes while protecting if from being exposed to excessive wear.

Additionally, bad joints and lack of coupling adhesion can lead to abrasion at the joints, leading to faster and higher volume leaks.

Slab leaks from pressure:

Underground pipes may experience high levels of pressure from earthquakes, or poor construction. Pipes can be crushed or creased under this type of pressure, depending on the area of pressure. Creased pipes may cause a restriction in flow and low pressure. Additionally, a crease, bend or crimp in the pipe will allow uneven wear and the water will eventually create a hole at the problem areas. Crushed pipes can cause massive leaks over time that wash the soil from under the foundation, putting your property at risk of greater damage.

Pipes need to be spaced and insulated properly in order to avoid being crushed or creased. Many times a crushed or creased pipe can be repaired without a full repipe of the home.

Construction Defect:

During construction, faulty workmanship may not only require rework, but also may result in damage to construction work performed by others.

Jimmy Carter, Senior Director of Field Services of American Leak Detection, was interviewed for the article linked above, and we had the chance to ask Jimmy about certain quotes from the article to provide more insight on the state of the infrastructure.

- nation’s water infrastructure system 2009 grade of D-.

Jimmy Carter: “Due to our water system’s age coupled with supply and demand issues, our water infrastructure is in desperate need of repair. Typical systems lose as little as 4-5% while some systems reach as high as 40 to 60% of unaccountable water that could be due to leaks, theft or non-metered usage.  Loss not only means waste, but also the expense of treatment and lost revenue.

Homeowners hate to see their water bills go up, but may not understand the bigger picture from the water district side. The cost for treating the water, upgrading infrastructure by replacing old lines, keeping the supply for new construction of new potable and non-potable systems, increasing production at their treatment plants, and dealing with issues such as the smelt belt in our California aqueduct systems are just some of the many issues water districts must face that would impact customers.

“2002 analysis – funding gap for replacing aging pipes would be an estimated 27 billion a year over 20 years.

Jimmy Carter: “This is a serious concern for our nation.  Our government needs to make it a priority for funding as well as resources.”

Water utilities should drive toward the goal of getting water loss down to about 4%.

Jimmy Carter:  “It requires continuous and proactive attention to meters and distribution pipe integrity.”

- water audits and leak detection activities play a key role in doing so.

Jimmy Carter: “I think that states it clearly.”

Long-term, the country’s objective in managing water loss is moving toward identifying and managing failure before it occurs or at least manage losses early on …

Jimmy Carter: “Again, being proactive is the key to keeping a sound water distribution system.”

- 10% of the nation’s pipes exceed 80 years old, 30% are between 40 and 80 years old, and 60% are under 40 years old.

Jimmy Carter: “As our water system ages, we need to continue to replace degraded pipes and meters. It would be ideal to have a catalog of pipe ages so we can prioritize the replacement of the pipes in the most efficient way.”

– most critical criterion for pipe replacement is the leak in the pipes.

Jimmy Carter: “Corrosion, ground shifting and poor quality management lead to the majority of leaks.”

Water leak surveys can be somewhat time consuming and may seem costly, involving expenses in human labor and high-cost transportation. But over all the survey is really going to give the system a through inspection of their system, allowing them to create needed repairs and account for any water loss issues.

Jimmy Carter: “Bottom line, when reacting to emergency leaks, the cost is higher as opposed to a having a long-term plan of system maintenance that includes proactive leak surveys.

We work with several water districts that have us conduct leak surveys on an annual basis or when they know a certain section has a leak. This scenario really helps identify unaccounted water loss and helps the districts get their systems back to a tighter check status.”

Remote sensing is the way it must go… The technology eliminates the human factor. You install very inexpensive sensors along the pipe, and it’s very
easy to install.

Jimmy Carter: “The current cost for these sensors are not affordable for small systems. The sensing systems are great for large systems that can afford the up-front investment. Also, human involvement is still required to interpret the information, send out the crews to verify the location, and make the repair. American Leak Detection is working with many rural water distributors to help them cut down their water loss.”

Part of the challenge of performing leak surveys is that distribution systems may not always have accurate maps of their system

Jimmy Carter: “While some districts have current, documented maps, we have found that many utility maps are not always current or indicate types of materials and pipe diameters. Part of what we do is verify the location of the pipes underground before we attempt a leak detection or correlation.”

Leak Detection can take some detective work…

Jimmy Carter: “Leak detection is a game of solving the mystery of the source of the leak. On occasion, they are easy, but you can’t assume anything. With every detected leak, we verify the information before penetrating the ground to dig up the pipe.”

Leak detection can, and sometimes should, extend all the way into the residential, commercial, and industrial operations.

Jimmy Carter: “Many water utility customers have leaks that the utility cannot service. The utility can only provide service up to the meter. The pipe on the other side of the meter is the customers’ responsibility. Many utilities recommend our service to their customers to help them solve the customer’s leak problem.”

- 83% of the 53,000 community water systems serve fewer than 3,300 people.

Jimmy Carter: “Many water systems are in rural areas serving agriculture. These agricultural water distribution systems lack the funds to place automatic leak sensors. They need help from their respective state water association to underwrite the funds to allow them take measures to reduce their water loss.”

These smaller systems face huge financial, technological, and managerial challenges in meeting a growing number of federal drinking water regulations…

Jimmy Carter: “The future federal drinking water regulations will be difficult to uphold for the small water utilities. They will be burdened with huge fines if they cannot get their water loss down to the federal minimum.”

Small municipal entities can get help through their state’s rural water association…

Jimmy Carter: “American Leak Detection has been working closely with California Rural Water Association to train their circuit riders and association members in the generalities of leak survey work and water loss auditing.”

The greatest reason for performing leak detection on the infrastructure now is to determine unaccounted-for water loss and reduce lost revenue.

Jimmy Carter: “Unaccounted-for water loss can be for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s simply an accounting error or possibly faulty meters, but many times it is leakage in the pipes.

Water agencies are doing a great job of educating home owners and business owners on ways to conserve water by providing
water conservation tips, 20 gallon challenges, irrigation systems
that are more water friendly, and recommendations for landscapes that require minimal water. Water conservation programs, leak surveys, and new monitoring technologies all help to protect one of our most precious resources – water.”

Depending on the amount of water loss, the size of the recirculating system, and the condition of the pond interior, a good leak detection company should be able to give you a summary of all the work involved and a reasonable estimate for the leak detection.

There are occasions when a full repipe is a good choice. For instance, we would strongly consider a repipe if there had been several leaks on the same line in a short period of time. The objective of quality leak detection is to identify the problem first and proceed to choose the best, most cost effective, and least destructive repair method.

If you want to make the best choice, you should have all of your options before you. What if the leak is outside the home? By taking incomplete advice, you might pay for a repipe of the indoor plumbing and still have the leak problem. If a company is not willing to provide you with accurate, valid information about the leak location and some reasonable repair offers, you should be concerned with the soundness of their advice.

• Be sure to check all your exterior hose bibbs to be sure that one hasn’t been left on. Unfortunately, we occasionally find that this is the problem. You don’t want to have to pay a service call from a leak specialist for something so simple.
• To check for toilet leaks: Place a dye tablet, food coloring, milk, half and half, or milk of magnesia into a toilet tank full of water. Wait for a few minutes to see if it seeps down into the bowl area. If it does, you will need to repair or replace the flapper valve.
• If you have a two-piece toilet (separate tank and bowl), take some toilet paper and work it into the open area between the tank and the bowl. Check for water prior to and after flushing. If it is dry prior to flushing, recheck again after flushing. If it is wet, this will confirm a leak occurs during the flushing cycle.
• Turn on all of the faucets, one by one. While the water is running, move the faucet handle back and forth. Look for water leakage around the valve stem and faucet spout. Check your outside hose bibs too.
• When checking the faucets, be sure to look at the drain piping under the sink as water flows through the drainpipes.
• If you have lever operated water-stopping devices (plugs) in sinks and tubs, work them open and closed while the water is running. Look for leaks in these movable parts where they connect to the drain system.
• Be sure to run the dishwasher and garbage disposal and check for visible leaks during usage.
• Look at walls where pipes stick out. Look for discoloration, moisture, and sponginess.
• Hopefully, the water heater is equipped with a safety relief valve (known as a temperature/pressure valve). Be sure to check the exit end of the valve or valve piping for leaks or drips. If the valve is equipped with a hand operated check lever, flush the valve for a few seconds ONLY if it is piped to a safe area that will not run water onto floors or walls. The valve should not leak. If it does, replace it.

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