I have been trying to track down a bumping noise that repeats several times a second. Usually lasts for a second or two. I have checked the toilets, etc and think it may be from a main line leak. There is no pressure regulator. Main line is PVC 1120 with gasketed joints. I turned off the water at the house inlet and checked the meter. The triangle was not moving, at least not fast enough to see. I came back after an hour and the triangle had moved about 1/6 of a turn (or maybe more but the meter hand had not moved enough to see).
So I am wondering if I have a small leak somewhere that is vibrating and causing the noise. Would a pressure test of the line to the street help determine the issue? It is a 500 foot run - any way to narrow down where the slow leak might be short of digging down midway and cutting the line to cap and test each section? Maybe some sort of sound detection of the vibration?
At the time the PVC seemed like the way to go. Now I am thinking perhaps I should have used 200 PSI black poly. Anyone have experience with leaking gasketed joints? The line has been in for about 5 years. The line was hit and repaired with the same type gasketed couplings during some yard work near the house about 3 years ago. About 2 years ago some of the line near the street was rerouted, again with the same type materials and joints. The main line has never been pressure tested. What is an appropriate way to test this (pressure, etc)?
Is it standard/best to run the large PVC or poly pipe into the basement and reduce it there or to reduce the pipe outside and bring in the smaller pipe? Currently it is reduced to 1" copper just outside the house and the copper comes through the basement wall. How is the pipe sealed around? With just concrete or some sort of larger sleeve? I don't want to have to mess with this again...
So I am wondering if I have a small leak somewhere that is vibrating and causing the noise. Would a pressure test of the line to the street help determine the issue? It is a 500 foot run - any way to narrow down where the slow leak might be short of digging down midway and cutting the line to cap and test each section? Maybe some sort of sound detection of the vibration?
At the time the PVC seemed like the way to go. Now I am thinking perhaps I should have used 200 PSI black poly. Anyone have experience with leaking gasketed joints? The line has been in for about 5 years. The line was hit and repaired with the same type gasketed couplings during some yard work near the house about 3 years ago. About 2 years ago some of the line near the street was rerouted, again with the same type materials and joints. The main line has never been pressure tested. What is an appropriate way to test this (pressure, etc)?
Is it standard/best to run the large PVC or poly pipe into the basement and reduce it there or to reduce the pipe outside and bring in the smaller pipe? Currently it is reduced to 1" copper just outside the house and the copper comes through the basement wall. How is the pipe sealed around? With just concrete or some sort of larger sleeve? I don't want to have to mess with this again...
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