Plumber Capabale of using Acoustic Tool to find Under-house Leak (Anywhere in Thailand?)

[ElephantEgo]

I have a got a nightmare problem with my house, since there is a water leak from a pipe under it and we cannot locate the exact spot in order to break the tile, fix the leak and close it again.

In the worst case scenario, we have to break many tiles, ripping up floors and walls to find the damn leak.

 

In the best case scenario, a skilled plumber can use an acoustic leak-finding tool (like a microphone on a metal rod, connected to a headphone) to pinpoint the leak and make a precision repair like a surgeon.

I have not been able to find a plumber capable of this skill in Phuket. (I did buy a cheap version of this tool online and try to find the leak myself, I did not find any obvious spot).

 

Does anyone know of this service being offered here in Phuket? Or anywhere in Thailand?

 

It could make sense for me to fly in the right repairman, instead of making a huge mess to find this leak!

[Dan O]

Unless there is heavy spraying flow you wont hear anything. So to chase a leak in this manner, while one option, may be unproductive.

[HauptmannUK]

I think you are wasting your time with this plan.  If its a leak from a domestic PVC pipe it will generate very little acoustic energy.  PVC damps the noise and moreover any sound generated will be at quite low frequencies - few hundred Hertz.  One possibility might be to seal the outlet end of the leaky length of pipe and introduce compressed air. Escaping gases generate more acoustic energy and at a higher frequency.

Edited September 13, 2023 by HauptmannUK

[Swiss1960]

I had the same problem with a leak under the house and no plumbing plans... no chance in hell finding it.

 

I ended up replumbing the whole house, now all pipes go around the house directly into showers /kitchen, and at the same time I had stop valves installed for every room and appliance.

 

Luckily, I could find the same tiles for all rooms, so I didn't have to retile any of the rooms.

[Olav Seglem]

At this very moment have the same problem as you.

I HOPE its outside the house.

My builder said he had a tool to "listen" to the leak.

Should come today, but resceduled, mainly because goverment pump broke down yesterday so no water and they (of course) need least 2-3 days to fix it.

"This is Thailand"..

Edited September 13, 2023 by Olav Seglem

[Pitak Chirachat]

Mr. Tong 0988022844

He's based outside Bangkok. But read below story that I posted beginning of the year in a Hua Hin Facebook group. But before moving on you have to understand that he travels with his pick-up truck and brings everything along including concrete to plug any hole he may need to make. So flying in may not be the answer. So here we go with the story:

 

Water main break. 

On January 31st I wrote here about our water main break. Philip M. was so kind to introduce me to Mr. Tong. Here is my update and comment to Philip about Mr. Tong's visit earlier this morning.

 

Hi Philip. Mr. Tong is his name, said he'll be with us 09:00 am this morning but the bell was already ringing at 08:20. He came straight from home in Samut Prakarn. He came with presumably his wife or girlfriend. We talked a bit and around 08:30 he started looking for the leak. They worked in a team. He was going around the house while shouting to her to open or close the valve. He had a much more modern listening device then the team from Hua Hin that earlier failed to find the leak and wanted to break the floor all over in and out of the house.

20 minutes later he looked a tiny bit concerned until he went to check the last place, the outdoors bathroom. Et voilà. He was confident to have found the right spot. Ironically, I asked the previous team whether they wouldn't want to check in there and they said no. 

So after a bit drilling we could see the pipes and plenty of water around the pipes. After that he cut the pipes and showed me the broken one. Finally he put new pipes in place and closed the whole again properly with concrete. Finally, cleaning up the place. The whole operation from start to end took around 1 hour 20 minutes. A job well done. I transferred Baht 9,500 and he was on his way back. 

Thank you one more time for the introduction. 

And I can recommend Mr. Tong highly. He is a very seasoned professional and expert in his field.

 

 

[ElephantEgo]

15 hours ago, Olav Seglem said:

At this very moment have the same problem as you.

I HOPE its outside the house.

My builder said he had a tool to "listen" to the leak.

Should come today, but resceduled, mainly because goverment pump broke down yesterday so no water and they (of course) need least 2-3 days to fix it.

"This is Thailand"..

Where are you based? Please keep us updated about your situation?

[ElephantEgo]

12 hours ago, Pitak Chirachat said:

Mr. Tong 0988022844

Since we dont have such a handy man here in Phuket, I might just call him and ask his rate for coming down here. I am glad to know that someone, anyone, is able to do some of this type of work here.

[ElephantEgo]

Quick update: It will end up being 40,000 THB for him to come down to Phuket and fix the problem for a day. If he is not able to fix it, the fee will only be 10,000 THB for his traveling.

[Woof999]

18 minutes ago, ElephantEgo said:

Quick update: It will end up being 40,000 THB for him to come down to Phuket and fix the problem for a day. If he is not able to fix it, the fee will only be 10,000 THB for his traveling.

I think that sounds very reasonable. I'd go for it in a heartbeat.

[brianthainess]

Had a similar probe one time, I just took a feed from outside direct through the wall to a shower, toilet, and sink  and closed off the 'under cement' pipe, then laid PVC pipe inside but that was just in a bathroom. 

[patman30]

On 9/13/2023 at 9:58 PM, ElephantEgo said:

a skilled plumber

this is your problem, skilled/qualified plumbers don't really exist here like in other countries
i had same issue in my last house and no way was i going to dig up all my marble floor on a guess
in the end i just ran a new pipe around the house in the roof overhang
and brought it in where i could as i had spare floor tiles for the bathroom it fed
 

Edited September 17, 2023 by patman30

[ElephantEgo]

On 9/13/2023 at 11:36 PM, HauptmannUK said:

I think you are wasting your time with this plan.  If its a leak from a domestic PVC pipe it will generate very little acoustic energy.  PVC damps the noise and moreover any sound generated will be at quite low frequencies - few hundred Hertz. 

I agree that if the flow of the leak is very low like a drip, it would not cause much sound. Ours had a tiny flow for years until it got worse and started to make an impact on our water bill.

 

Recently, when our bill went from 300 to 1800 THB the flow was pretty loud on the device, once pinpointed by their experience and skills I listened to it and the sound was a clear hissing.

Mr. Tong just left my house just now. He was able to find the leak in about 30 minutes and have it all fixed and sealed up within 90 minutes! Amazing!

Edited September 21, 2023 by ElephantEgo

[HauptmannUK]

15 minutes ago, ElephantEgo said:

 

 

Recently, when our bill went from 300 to 1800 THB 

Crikey, that was a big leak!