Leak testing and leak detection is a broad field and includes various methods for detecting environmentally damaging or hazardous leaks in process industries and distribution networks, water leakage in buildings and swimming pools, and methods used in manufacturing to ensure product performance and safety. For this introduction to leak testing methods and a look at advances in technology, we’ll limit our discussion to the latter.
Leak testing methods can be broadly categorized as subjective and non-quantifiable or non-subjective and quantifiable. Immersing the test piece in water and looking for bubbles is a simple method of leak testing. It is totally subjective and at best, the quantifiable result obtained by collecting bubbles is unreliable.