Acoustic Leak Detection
Acoustic Leak Detection
Is your water line leaking? We can help!
Northern Utility Services has the tools and expertise to find the leak in your water line. We own the most advanced leak detection equipment in Alaska, and have successfully located hundreds of leaks all over the state. Our professionally trained leak detection technicians have the experience and the tools to locate a leak within 5 feet of accuracy*.
If the water line between your house and your water source is leaking, we can ensure that you dig in the right place and don’t waste thousands of dollars and ruin your entire yard trying to find the leak. With our service you can have confidence that you will be able to dig in the right place the first time.
How does leak detection work?
As part of our service, we provide an Initial consultation to learn the details of your unique situation. Next, we utilize a correlator to pinpoint leak locations. Acoustic Leak Noise Correlation is a method for finding and pinpointing leaks in pressurized water pipes.
A leak in a pipe under pressure creates noise that travels along the pipe. The correlator uses sensitive microphones to listen to the noise created by the leak. Then, by utilizing sophisticated software, the leak can often be located within feet or even inches.
Possible Complications:
Although we are experts at finding leaks, many variables can cause inconsistent or inaccurate results. By eliminating these variables, leak detection efforts are more likely to provide accurate results. These variables are:
1. Pipe types, locations and depths. If location, or pipe routing is unknown, Northern Utility Services is equipped to locate underground piping. However some pipe materials can be difficult or impossible to locate, and as a result, only a general leak location may be possible.
2. Ambient Noise. Although our equipment employs sophisticated noise filters, ambient noise can affect the results of leak noise correlations. By locating leaks at night, or by shutting off running nearby equipment, we can ensure more accurate results.
*5ft is the average deviation between the leak location and the correlation software’s estimated leak location. Larger deviations can occur due to the complications listed above, but the deviation can often be less than 5ft if conditions are ideal.
