Precision Tracer Gas Leak Detection for Difficult Pipe Leaks

The Ultimate Diagnostic Solution for "Unfindable" Leaks

While acoustic ground listening and infrared thermography solve 90% of water leak scenarios, certain plumbing failures defy conventional methods. In non-metallic plastic pipes like PEX and PVC, sound waves dissipate quickly. Similarly, if a pipe leak is very small (a micro-pinhole losing only a few ounces of water an hour) or buried deep beneath sand and saturated muck, acoustic noise is virtually non-existent.

Tracer gas testing solves this challenge using quantum chemistry. By utilizing molecular hydrogen—the smallest and lightest molecule in the physical universe—we can pinpoint leaks through concrete slabs, thick asphalt, clay, and marble tile floors with unmatched accuracy.

How the Tracer Gas Process Works

1. Evacuation of the Pipeline: The compromised water line is isolated and cleared of standing water using dry, oil-free compressed air.
2. Forming Gas Injection: A specialized forming gas mixture consisting of 95% industrial-grade nitrogen and 5% hydrogen is introduced into the pipe under controlled low pressure. This mixture is non-combustible, non-toxic, and NSF/ANSI safe for drinking water pipes.
3. Molecular Migration: Because hydrogen molecules are tiny and lighter than air, they rapidly escape through the smallest micro-fissure and travel straight upward through solid concrete, tile grout, and compacted soil to the surface.
4. PPM Sniffer Detection: The technician sweeps the surface using a high-sensitivity molecular hydrogen gas sniffer probe. The detector senses hydrogen at parts-per-million (PPM) concentrations, leading the operator directly to the peak gas reading.

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