Water is an extremely precious commodity and a little wastage is also unacceptable. When there is leakage in a home, it becomes very important to find its source and employ the right techniques to detect it. Checking around the home is obviously the first step. While leakages from the flush tank or sink can be fixed without incurring a large cost, roof or wall leakages can probably burn a hole in your pocket and can be time-consuming too.
Getting to the source of the leakage is a job for waterproofing contractors in Mumbai but this is not easy, especially if the only tell-tale signs are damp patches and seepage. A peripheral check can certainly help to locate the area of leak and the following ways can help you to do it:
- If you live in an apartment, check the inner and outer walls for wet patches or drips and if you live in an independent home, then look for wet patches on the ground.
- Roof leaks can be difficult to locate so one way is to trace it from the seepage on the wall or ceiling upto the roof.
- Leakages also occur due to incomplete joints and surfaces that have not been waterproofed properly, so make sure you have checked these well.
- In areas of frequent foot traffic, tiles could crack and floors could sag, thus leading to leakages.
- Places where vertical and horizontal joints meet, the expansion joints are extremely vulnerable and need proper inspection.
- Sealants around the sink, wash basins, bath tubs and toilets can harden and crack, thus leading to water leakage. In such cases, it is best to carry out complete waterproofing, instead of patchwork, which is temporary.
What are the various testing methods of pinpointing the exact leakage spot?
- ASTM Method: This method is used to check if any leakage has occurred through windows and external walls. Water penetration through skylights, doors and curtain walls can also be checked through this method.
- Flood Testing: To check for leakage on low-slope roofs, a method called flood testing is applied and proves quite effective too.
- Leakage Mapping: This method is specially used to detect leakage at window joints. 0.2 MPA of dynamic water pressure is applied through a nozzle at each joint for a fixed duration and at short intervals.
There also many latest, non-destructive techniques to check for leakages like the water-leak detection system using thermal imaging, vacuum box testing and electronic vector mapping. Agencies that carry out external waterproofing in Thane use Acoustic leak detection and co-relator leak detection for quick and accurate leakage detection. Ignoring these leaks can prove to be a costly mistake and should be attended on priority.
