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Has anyone tried acoustic imaging for water leaks inside walls? I live in a multi-floor 1900s Victorian. A leak can affect several units, and tracing the source

Has anyone tried acoustic imaging for water leaks inside walls? I live in a multi-floor 1900s Victorian. A leak can affect several units, and tracing the source can mean opening walls or floors in multiple places, and coordinating access has been getting harder with less WFH. Could one of these tools help map water pipe routes and trace a leak, or are they only going to be useful for air and gas leaks?

iamniels 3mo ago
For a water leak a sound imaging device is not going to help you. You should definitely try a thermal camera. Any moisture will create small temperature differences which are easily picked up by a thermal camera.
- cluckindan 3mo ago
  Moisture camera. Now there is an idea.
  - fc417fc802 3mo ago
    Initially I scoffed, but then I recalled that certain RF bands are disproportionately absorbed by water and this is used for certain sorts of atmospheric imaging by satellites. So you'd need a moisture "light" and an RF camera. Other than being cost prohibitive it sounds like an awesome toy.
    - archi42 3mo ago
      It still works pretty well in the IR band. I know that one from experience due to storm damage to our roof ;-) A leak only turns invisible if the water has the exact same temperature as the wall and there is no meaningful evaporation happening (as that cools the affected area). Of course don't let me stop you from actively probing your all using RF. Though also there you might have good chances with IR, since wet $stuff should behave differently than dry $stuff ;-)
    - deleted 3mo ago
      [deleted]
- _trampeltier 3mo ago
  Flir has some thermal cameras with 'special moisture' modes. In the end, wet areas are just colder.
KaiserPro 3mo ago
WArning I am not an expert There is a man call leak detective, who hunts for leaks in the UK. one tool he has is shutting off the water and filling the pipes with gas and using either sound or gas detector to pin down leaks. A lot of the time he just listens though.
- greggsy 3mo ago
  Up until the 90’s airline in flight entertainment use stethoscope style earphones. My dad used to steal them for his workshop as a way to hear for leaks in various parts. Our ears and eyes are very high bandwidth sensors.

iamniels 3mo ago

For a water leak a sound imaging device is not going to help you. You should definitely try a thermal camera. Any moisture will create small temperature differences which are easily picked up by a thermal camera.

cluckindan 3mo ago
Moisture camera. Now there is an idea.
- fc417fc802 3mo ago
  Initially I scoffed, but then I recalled that certain RF bands are disproportionately absorbed by water and this is used for certain sorts of atmospheric imaging by satellites. So you'd need a moisture "light" and an RF camera. Other than being cost prohibitive it sounds like an awesome toy.
  - archi42 3mo ago
    It still works pretty well in the IR band. I know that one from experience due to storm damage to our roof ;-) A leak only turns invisible if the water has the exact same temperature as the wall and there is no meaningful evaporation happening (as that cools the affected area). Of course don't let me stop you from actively probing your all using RF. Though also there you might have good chances with IR, since wet $stuff should behave differently than dry $stuff ;-)
  - deleted 3mo ago
    [deleted]
_trampeltier 3mo ago
Flir has some thermal cameras with 'special moisture' modes. In the end, wet areas are just colder.

KaiserPro 3mo ago

WArning I am not an expert There is a man call leak detective, who hunts for leaks in the UK. one tool he has is shutting off the water and filling the pipes with gas and using either sound or gas detector to pin down leaks. A lot of the time he just listens though.

greggsy 3mo ago
Up until the 90’s airline in flight entertainment use stethoscope style earphones. My dad used to steal them for his workshop as a way to hear for leaks in various parts. Our ears and eyes are very high bandwidth sensors.