FAQ

We sell a full range of leak detection equipment, ranging from a simple ground/contact microphone to a digital leak noise correlator.

Water leak detection equipment can be broadly divided into three categories:
1. Sound - the detector allows the identification of the leak noise produced by pressurized water escaping the pipe. This is the oldest and most widely used method.
2. Tracer gas - the detector picks up traces of a gas, normally Helium or a mix of Nitrogen (approx 97-98%) + Hydrogen (2-3%). Good alternative to sound in noisy environments or small leaks.
3. Temperature - the detector identifies small temperature differences in the ground caused by the water leaking - only works when there is enough differential between the water and the ground around it. Useful in hot water systems where there is enough temperature diferential.

1) SOUND - Listening sticks, ground microphones, correlating loggers, leak noise correlators.
PROS: easy to use, reliable results, technology very well understood having been in use for many decades.
CONS: small leaks, or plastic pipe, or low pressure don't produce enough noise to be picked up from some distance away at a nearby valve or hydrant, or to travel effectively through the ground.Noise generating features in the water pipe such as partially closed valves, and Tees, many times will show up as a leak.

2) TRACER GAS
PROS: Only looks for the presence of gas on the ground, independent of ambient noise. Very effective at identifying small leaks, or leaks in plastic pipe.Helium and mix of Nitrogen+Hydrogen are safe to both humans and are inert (no chemical interaction with gaskets, pipe material or the water).
CONS: need to inject Helium or Nitrogen+Hydrogen upstream into the line.May require service to be interrupted.Practical for pipe diameters up to approx. 10-12 inchesTime consuming.

3) THERMAL IMAGING
PROS: Very easy to use.
CONS: There must be enough temperature difference between the ground and the leaking pipe in order for the system to detect the leak area.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for Utility Locating is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to identify buried utilities (pipes and cables) and other objects of interest such as reinforcing bars (rebars). This nondestructive method uses radio-frequency bursts in the microwave band (MHz), and detects the reflected signals from subsurface structures.

There are three methods to locate non metallic water lines:
GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar
Detectable Rodders and/or Sondes
Pulse Wave method (RD500 + TransOnde)

GPR is a non-intrusive technology that uses short bursts of radio frequency signal to probe the ground for the presence objects such as buried utilities. Its effectiveness varies with the type of ground and the size of target utility - smaller diameter pipes are more difficult to detect at greater depths.

Detectable rodders and sondes are a very efficient way to locate non metallic lines, and provide an easy way to locate AC or PVC pipe. They both require insertion of the device into the pipe. The detectable rodder has accessories available to facilitate its insertion into live water lines.

The Pulse Wave method utilizes a "mechanical vibration" which propagates along the water itself to locate the pipe. This small vibration in the water makes the pipe wall vibrate, which in turn propagates through the ground to the surface where a specialized pick up device (Radiodetection RD500) allows to locate the presence of the underground water line.

Contact our Sales Department for more information on these methodologies - 908-722-7774

Our inspection cameras can inspect pipes from 1.5" to 100+".
Push rod cameras range from 1.5" to 24", crawler cameras from 6" to 100+".

With a tethered camera, maximum range is 1000 ft for a crawler system.
Push rod cameras range from 100 ft to 500 ft.

You locate a camera head in the same way that you locate a Sonde:
the Receiver's blade has to be parallel to the camera head or sonde;
the frequency on the Receiver has to match the camera or sonde's own frequency;
the SONDE ICON must show in your receiver's display.

Typical frequencies for cameras or sondes are 512 Hz or 33 kHz. If your frequency does not show up in your Receiver's display, then you may have to enable it through the Receiver's Menu options. For more details on how to access the Receiver's menus please refer to the Receiver's User Guide or contact Eastcom for help.
Pinpointing the location of the camera or sonde is a two (2) step process, the Receiver's "blade" has to be parallel to the camera/sonde, and in the PEAK mode.

STEP #1
Due to the shape of the signal that a camera or a sonde emits, you will be locating three (3) peaks spread out longitudinally along the path of the camera/sonde, the center peak being much stronger than the two outer peaks (which are also called "ghosts").

STEP #2
After locating the center peak walking ALONG the path of the camera, you now need to start locating ACROSS the path. Move in one direction ACROSS and see if your bar-graph grows or falls. Follow the direction of growth until you find the absolute peak.
The camera or sonde will lay directly underneath the center peak response. Observe the DEPTH that your receiver indicates.
Please contact Eastcom if you have any questions or you need help in locating a camera or sonde.

Different diameter cameras and different rods have varying capabilities depending on the user's needs.
To negotiate a 4" Trap you need a small diameter head and a somewhat flexible rod. Our "Plumbers System" has a 1" camera and a rod that is flexible enough to go through a 4" trap.
The larger camera heads and stiffer rods can be pushed much farther than the Plumbers System, but are not flexible enough for a 4" trap.
Please contact us for more specific answers.

Once you connect the controller to your Windows PC/laptop using the USB cable provided (it is a standard USB 2.0 Type A to B), it becomes an external drive to the computer. You can then open Windows Explorer and search the drive for the video file (.mp4) in the JOBS folder (JOBS\"name of customer"\"name of site"\etc...
Once located, it can be manipulated like any other file under Windows.
Snapshots taken at this job will also be available in the same directory as .jpg files.

You locate a camera head in the same way that you locate a Sonde:
the Receiver's blade has to be parallel to the camera head or sonde;
the frequency on the Receiver has to match the camera or sonde's own frequency;
the SONDE ICON must show in your receiver's display.

Typical frequencies for cameras or sondes are 512 Hz or 33 kHz. If your frequency does not show up in your Receiver's display, then you may have to enable it through the Receiver's Menu options. For more details on how to access the Receiver's menus please refer to the Receiver's User Guide or contact Eastcom for help.
Pinpointing the location of the camera or sonde is a two (2) step process, the Receiver's "blade" has to be parallel to the camera/sonde, and in the PEAK mode.

STEP #1
Due to the shape of the signal that a camera or a sonde emits, you will be locating three (3) peaks spread out longitudinally along the path of the camera/sonde, the center peak being much stronger than the two outer peaks (which are also called "ghosts").

STEP #2
After locating the center peak walking ALONG the path of the camera, you now need to start locating ACROSS the path. Move in one direction ACROSS and see if your bar-graph grows or falls. Follow the direction of growth until you find the absolute peak.
The camera or sonde will lay directly underneath the center peak response. Observe the DEPTH that your receiver indicates.
Please contact Eastcom if you have any questions or you need help in locating a camera or sonde.

For all locating purposes, water is NOT a good conductor of electricity. Drinking water is approx. 100 million times lessconductive than Copper. It is not possible to use a Pipe and Cable Locator to locate a non-metallic pipe or duct, unless a DuctHunter (detectable rod), a FlexiTrace, or a sonde are inserted into the pipe. More information HERE.

Pipe and Cable Locators locate only metallic pipes or cables. For example a Copper or galvanized steel water service line, cast iron water mains, a steel pipeline, a telephone cable, a power line.

They work by locating an electromagnetic field, a “radio frequency” field that propagates from an underground conductor. For more information about the Theory of Locating, please refer to the Publication entitled “ABC & XYZ of Locating Buried Pipes and Cables” which can be downloaded from our website HERE

You can use a ground extension wire to help you reach a good ground. Otherwise look for signs with metallic posts, fences, guard rails, a manhole’s rim, or other metallic structures that may be contacting the ground underneath the pavement. You can also try to wet the pavement with water and place a metal plate over it, then use this metal plate as your ground. The latter may require you to use a higher frequency on your locator (33 kHz or higher).

The transmitter will indicate the quality of your connection to both the target line and also to ground. Some transmitters produce an audible tone that changes to a lower pitch once a good connection is made. Others show its output in units of electrical current – mA (mili Amps). If you make all connections and the transmitter’s tone does not change, or your current output shows 0 mA, then your connection is not good.

Make sure the RED alligator clip makes good electrical contact with your target utility, and that the BLACK alligator clip makes good contact with ground. It is often necessary to use a small wire brush to remove rust and improve contact. If the ground is very dry, pour some water around the ground stake enhance the conductivity of the soil.

If your locator offers multiple frequencies, then start somewhere mid-range. For example if your locating kits offers 512Hz - 8kHz - 33kHz - 65kHz, then start at 33 kHz and see if it works for your particular locate site. If it does not, move up or down the available frequencies based on the general rules that follow.

LOWER your frequency if:
There is too much bleed-over to adjacent utilities.
You need to increase your locating range.

INCREASE your frequency if:
Your are using induction mode ("dropping the box").
You are dealing with a bad conductor such as Cast Iron pipe or a broken tracer wire.
You want to locate a mains as well as service laterals.

Here are some steps you can take. (Also refer to “My locate signal is not good, what can I do?” elsewhere in this FAQ Section.)
1) Make direct contact with the target utility (unless locating cables which may be energized, DO NOT TOUCH ANY ENERGIZED CONDUCTOR).
2) Make sure that the points of connection are clean.
3) Extend your leads completely AND at 90 degrees with respect to the target line.
4) Increase the output of your transmitter and verify its audible indication or mA readout.
5) Use a lower frequency if available.

Three (3) changes and one (1) move:
1) Change Your Ground
2) Change Your Frequency
3) Change How You Apply the Signal
4) Move Your Transmitter

The RD8100 adds the following features to the RD7100:
1) Broader range of frequencies
2) Power filters (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th harmonic) for areas with heavy AC interference
3) Five (5) user programmable frequencies between 50Hz and 1000Hz
4) Multiple Current Direction frequencies for difficult locates in congested areas
5) High Frequency Current Direction (4 kHz-CD) for high impedance lines such as tracer wire, detectable tape, and other target lines. (Requires T10 transmitter)
6) Broad peak mode for very weak signals or deep target lines (over 30 ft)
7) Optional long range Bluetooth link between Receiver and Transmitter (up to 1400 ft) for remote control of transmitter’s functions. (Requires Bluetooth enabled Transmitter)
8) Optional Built-in GPS with internal memory to store up to 1000 locate points.

Rechargeable batteries make sense for users that use the locator several times per week. We developed that chart that follows to help you determine if Rechargeable Batteries make sense to you.

5 Watt vs 10 Watts, but it is a bit more than that.
Tx10 offers the 4 kHz-CD frequency to use with RD8100-PDL.
Furthermore, more power will allow you to locate further away from the transmitter and still get a good locate signal, very useful if you locate pipelines or cables with few access points to connect the transmitter’s leads.

The performance of all clamps is identical, clamp size is dictated by your application.
You may encounter space limitations when trying to go around a cable, a conduit, or a pipe.
4” is the standard clamp, most widely used.
5” is becoming the new standard due to its ability to do everything that the 4” clamp does, plus being able to fully clamp around a 4” conduit.
2” clamp is useful when working in small spaces such as a street light post, an electrical cabinet, or other small pedestal or enclosure.

A Transmitter is a radio frequency generator that produces a signal that, when applied to a target conductor that needs to be traced underground, can be located from the surface with a compatible Receiver.
One can think of a Transmitter as analogous to an AM/FM radio station. It generates a radio signal, that travels through the air, and then reaches a Receiver (your car radio) that transforms it into music/news/etc.
In a Pipe and Cable Locator, the transmitter's signal travels along the metallic utility that we need to locate, and the receiver picks up that signal off the buried utility.

You locate a camera head in the same way that you locate a Sonde:
- the Receiver's blade has to be parallel to the camera head or sonde;
- the frequency on the Receiver has to match the camera or sonde's own frequency;
- the SONDE ICON must show in your receiver's display.

Typical frequencies for cameras or sondes are 512 Hz or 33 kHz. If your frequency does not show up in your Receiver's display, then you may have to enable it through the Receiver's Menu options. For more details on how to access the Receiver's menus please refer to the Receiver's User Guide or contact Eastcom for help.
Pinpointing the location of the camera or sonde is a two (2) step process, the Receiver's "blade" has to be parallel to the camera/sonde, and in the PEAK mode.

STEP #1
Due to the shape of the signal that a camera or a sonde emits, you will be locating three (3) peaks spread out longitudinally along the path of the camera/sonde, the center peak being much stronger than the two outer peaks (which are also called "ghosts").

STEP #2
After locating the center peak walking ALONG the path of the camera, you now need to start locating ACROSS the path. Move in one direction ACROSS and see if your bar-graph grows or falls. Follow the direction of growth until you find the absolute peak.
The camera or sonde will lay directly underneath the center peak response. Observe the DEPTH that your receiver indicates.
Please contact Eastcom if you have any questions or you need help in locating a camera or sonde.

This feature built into the Radiodetection "Tx" Series transmitters (Tx-3, Tx-5, and Tx-10) is very useful when dealing with poor conductors such as broken tracer wires, cast iron pipes. high resistance cables, and also poor ground conditions. It allows the user to temporarily increase the output voltage from 30 V up to 90 V. Many times this allows more mA to be "injected" into the target line to be located. Check out our YouTube video demonstrating how to use this feature:  https://youtu.be/g0eWzKpjScY

Current Direction -CD- is a locator feature patented and introduced by Radiodetection in the early '90s to help identify target utilities buried in areas where identifying a specific line is difficult.
This special subset of frequencies, available on certain models of Radiodetection locators, allows the Receiver to identify the direction of flow of the signal along a buried utility line by showing a Forward or Backward arrow on the display.
The underlying concept behind CD is that the transmitter "injects" its signal into the target line (the line we need to locate), so this signal flows AWAY from the transmitter and BACK, along earth or other conductors, towards the earth stake.
Then if the locator is standing above the target line, the receiver will show a direction of signal flowing AWAY from the transmitter, and any other indication of buried utilities in the area should be pointing BACK to the ground stake.
It was first used by telecommunications companies to precisely locate armored fiber optic cables in congested rights-of-way.
A more detailed explanation of this tool can be found on Page 83 of the Publication  “ABC & XYZ of Locating Buried Pipes and Cables” which can be downloaded from our website HERE

There are three methods to locate non metallic water lines:
GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar
Detectable Rodders and/or Sondes
Pulse Wave method (RD500 + TransOnde)
‍
GPR is a non-intrusive technology that uses short bursts of radio frequency signal to probe the ground for the presence objects such as buried utilities. Its effectiveness varies with the type of ground and the size of target utility - smaller diameter pipes are more difficult to detect at greater depths.
Detectable rodders and sondes are a very efficient way to locate non metallic lines, and provide an easy way to locate AC or PVC pipe. They both require insertion of the device into the pipe. The detectable rodder has accessories available to facilitate its insertion into live water lines.
The Pulse Wave method utilizes a "mechanical vibration" which propagates along the water itself to locate the pipe. This small vibration in the water makes the pipe wall vibrate, which in turn propagates through the ground to the surface where a specialized pick up device (Radiodetection RD500) allows to locate the presence of the underground water line.
Contact our Sales Dept for more information on these methodologies - 908-722-7774

PASSIVE MODES (Power-Radio-CPS-CATV) Other than the RD8100 and RD7100-PL, Radiodetection Pipe and Cable Locators will not show a depth estimate in the passive modes.

ACTIVE MODES (Transmitter injecting an active frequency) In any of the active modes, it will be possible to get a depth reading provided that:
- the receiver is above the target utility, and
- the compass shows the line between 12 and 6 on the clock

Provided that the electromagnetic field is not distorted or deformed, depth readings are accurate to within 3%.

In practical terms, factors affecting this accuracy are:
- method of signal application (Direct Connection will generally yield best results, followed by the Signal Clamp);
- characteristics of the utility being located;
- locate frequency being used;
- strength of signal being injected into the target utility.
‍
Check our "Ways to Check Depth" FAQ for further details.

The accuracy of a depth reading can be affected by external factors, it is called Field Distortion.
There are many potential sources of Field Distortion: a congested underground, the use of a high frequency, or "dropping the box" - using induction mode to inject the signal onto the target utility.
‍
What can a user do to verify whether a depth reading is good or not? Here is a list of things to try:
- If you have a NULL mode in your locator, verify that the signal "nulls out" close to where the Peak Response is.
- Make sure that the line is straight where you take your reading (± 5 steps).
- Make sure that you get a steady Signal response (± 10 steps).
- Make sure that you don't pick up adjacent lines that also carry your signal (± 3-4 steps side).
- Lift receiver approx. 1 ft and confirm new reading increases by 1 ft.
- Take several depth readings slightly offset left-right and then pick the shallowest one.

Different types of markers have different nominal detection ranges:
- "PEG" style markers - 39 inches;
- UniMarker discs - 60 inches (5 ft);
- OmniMarker balls - 60 inches (5 ft).

You locate a camera head in the same way that you locate a Sonde:
- the Receiver's blade has to be parallel to the camera head or sonde;
- the frequency on the Receiver has to match the camera or sonde's own frequency;
- the SONDE ICON must show in your receiver's display.

Typical frequencies for cameras or sondes are 512 Hz or 33 kHz. If your frequency does not show up in your Receiver's display, then you may have to enable it through the Receiver's Menu options. For more details on how to access the Receiver's menus please refer to the Receiver's User Guide or contact Eastcom for help.
Pinpointing the location of the camera or sonde is a two (2) step process, the Receiver's "blade" has to be parallel to the camera/sonde, and in the PEAK mode.

STEP #1
Due to the shape of the signal that a camera or a sonde emits, you will be locating three (3) peaks spread out longitudinally along the path of the camera/sonde, the center peak being much stronger than the two outer peaks (which are also called "ghosts").

STEP #2
After locating the center peak walking ALONG the path of the camera, you now need to start locating ACROSS the path. Move in one direction ACROSS and see if your bar-graph grows or falls. Follow the direction of growth until you find the absolute peak.
The camera or sonde will lay directly underneath the center peak response. Observe the DEPTH that your receiver indicates.
Please contact Eastcom if you have any questions or you need help in locating a camera or sonde.

There are three methods to locate non metallic water lines:
- GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar
- Detectable Rodders and/or Sondes
- Pulse Wave method (RD500 + TransOnde)

GPR is a non-intrusive technology that uses short bursts of radio frequency signal to probe the ground for the presence objects such as buried utilities. Its effectiveness varies with the type of ground and the size of target utility - smaller diameter pipes are more difficult to detect at greater depths.

Detectable rodders and sondes are a very efficient way to locate non metallic lines, and provide an easy way to locate AC or PVC pipe. They both require insertion of the device into the pipe. The detectable rodder has accessories available to facilitate its insertion into live water lines.

The Pulse Wave method utilizes a "mechanical vibration" which propagates along the water itself to locate the pipe. This small vibration in the water makes the pipe wall vibrate, which in turn propagates through the ground to the surface where a specialized pick up device (Radiodetection RD500) allows to locate the presence of the underground water line.

Contact our Sales Dept for more information on these methodologies - 908-722-7774