I suspect I have a very slow main line leak but only when the line pressure is high. This is a 500 ft line from the water meter to the house. Pressure runs about 70 PSI normally. Is there a standard way to test this other than just watching to see if the meter moves? I know they use air for low pressure testing of drain lines but air pressure is not recommended for PVC. All the PVC is buried so there isn't a danger of flying plastic bits - I think this is the main reason for not using air pressure in PVC lines. Can I do this with air? Long ago I worked briefly in a calibration lab that had hand operated, positive displacement liquid pumps to put pressure on gauges for calibration. They looked a little like a grease gun. Is there some similar thing for applying liquid high pressure to water lines for testing? What pressure is used when testing pressure lines?
I am thinking I could shut off the line at the meter and add additional pressure from the house side to test. For the extra pressure I could use an oil-less air compressor or perhaps rig up a PVC telescopic repair coupling and C-clamp or arbor press as a positive displacement pump.
I am thinking there must be an industry standard way to test water lines and want to know more about how it is done.
I am thinking I could shut off the line at the meter and add additional pressure from the house side to test. For the extra pressure I could use an oil-less air compressor or perhaps rig up a PVC telescopic repair coupling and C-clamp or arbor press as a positive displacement pump.
I am thinking there must be an industry standard way to test water lines and want to know more about how it is done.