Leak Detection versus Replacement

When determining whether to pursue leak detection, cost of detection and repair versus cost of replacement should be considered. I arrived at a water line several days back, a local leak detection company had been searching the leak for two days, with minimal success. The leak detection bill was nearly $1900.00 which included helium sniffers and ultrasonic searching. I looked at the water line and quickly determined I could replace the entire line for the less than the leak detection bill and could provide a warranty for the line. The leak detection company had guessed that the leak was below three gigantic trees and had circled an area of about 200 square feet. There was not a sign of surface water in the area and the gas main was running in the same area. I was intimidated by the thought of cutting down the gigantic and digging with a backhoe right on top of the pipe. We decided to replace the pipe. In this case, the customer should have considered the costs before going with leak detection. Factors such as age of pipe, location and depth of the existing pipe, destruction of landscaping, and time frame should all be considered.

Mike Whitman Atlantis Plumbing
www.atlantisplumbing.com