How to Find Where a Leak Is Coming From

Few things can be as frustrating as not being able to find where a leak is coming from. In many cases, you do not need fancy leak detection equipment or professional assistance to pinpoint the source of that pinpoint leak. The low-tech method of using copious amounts of a soapy water solution applied to the piping involved can give you all of the accuracy required to find where that leak is coming from. As a bonus side effect, your pipes will look cleaner.

Squeeze bottle Soap Water Rag

Instructions

- 1
  Fill the plastic squeeze bottle with one part concentrated dish soap to 10 parts tap water and shake the bottle vigorously until the solution is well mixed. According to an article on leak testing cited by the Environmental Protection Agency, soapy water is an accepted alternative leak detector.
- 2
  Identify the likeliest sources of a possible leak on your pipeline assembly. This would be places on the piping with the suspected leak such as joints, elbows and welds.
- 3
  Spray your soapy water solution over the identified areas in the previous step, sparing no expense and cleaning any excess drippings with your rag.
- 4
  Observe the areas sprayed with the soapy water for bubbling. Any leaks will cause the soapy water to bubble. Apply more soap solution to the areas where bubbling is observed to confirm your leak. If no bubbling is observed, expand the application to all parts of your pipe assembly and monitor for bubbling.

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