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What is the difference between acoustic and hydraulic leak detection?


plumber fixing pipe

The technologies for leak detection have advanced greatly in the past few years. There’s no longer a need for archaic and time consuming processes, such as cutting and capping or relaying the whole pipeline, which is greatly improving customer service. Whittling down to two of the most efficient ways of leak detection, acoustic and hydraulic, it can be difficult to ascertain which will be the most effective for your business.

Acoustic leak detection

The old fashioned acoustic way of listening for vibrations to detect a leak has had a face lift with the addition of electronic circuits. This method was traditionally for plumbing experts, detecting the faintest change in sound to detect the leak’s location and understanding the difference between the leak noise and ground noise. However, this has been made easier with electric probes that make the difference in noise levels more obvious and easier to address. However, the pipe route needs to be known to make this method reliable and effective.

Hydraulic leak detection

Ferret leak detector

Hydraulics, on the other hand, are a relatively new leak locating technology. This works quite differently to acoustic detection by using the pressure in the pipe to move a leak device down the length of the pipe. This small device fills the pipe and therefore stops when the pressure drops, in other words, when it has found the leak. This method does all the hard work for you, using a small ECU system that monitors the flow rate and pressure, controlled by simple push buttons. This method allows you to pinpoint the exact location of a leak within millimetres, allowing for fast and effective leak detection.

Understanding the differences between acoustic and hydraulic leak detection can mean the difference between providing your customers a much more efficient service. The Ferret leak locator is the future of leak detection technology and means you can plan for shorter job times and fit more tasks into the day!

For more information on the Ferret leak locator, please give us a call on 0800 292 2835 or you can fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.

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