Leak Testers
Leak testers offer a wide range of methods and mechanisms designed to detect and measure predominantly liquid and gas leaks in industrial, commercial and domestic settings. Food production, medical, automotive and industrial systems frequently use leak testers. Some manufacturers test products and their components before they are released to consumers to ensure quality control. Unlike leak detectors, testers generally do not monitor systems, instead they are used as a diagnostic when a given system is running at less than optimal levels. Appliances using refrigerants and methane gases should be tested at the first sign of decreased productivity as the release of these materials can be hazardous to health. Leaking gases can also lead to loss of money and eventually to appliance failure. Testers do not identify the substance that is leaked and so are often used in conjunction with liquid or gas analyzers.
As many methods and techniques for leak testing are available, the specifications of the mechanism to be tested should be considered. Pressure decay, mass flow, helium accumulation, vacuum decay and colorimetric development are some of the many testers available. Some of these systems recognize changes in pressure or flow, while others use chemicals to produce visible reactions at the site of a leak. The most simple leak tester, the bubble test, involves submerging a pressurized test subject in water or coating it in a soapy substance, and bubbles emerge from the site of the leak. Although the bubble test is effective and inexpensive, it is not applicable to sensitive equipment. Leak testers should be carefully chosen for more sensitive equipment and situations.