I have a slow leak in some sweated copper.
I'm replumbing part of my house - part of a new boiler install and hydronic system. I've started to test for leaks in my work, and on a complex part of the project, going from 1" -> 3/4" -> 1/2" with branches off each, totaling about 40' long, including the new water fill for the boiler, I've got a slow leak that I cannot find. I have a schrader valve with a pressure guage (up to 30 PSI) that I got at HD (I know - maybe that's the problem). Anyway, I pressurize up to 30, and I get a slow drift maybe about 1-2 PSI per hour. It drops over days to about 2-3 PSI and stops there. I've soaped every soldered joint, and a few PTFE-taped threaded joins in the boiler fill section, and I cannot find any bubbles forming. Is there another method for finding a leak? Do I need to use water, and look for drips? That seems like it might be more obvious. Help!
I'm replumbing part of my house - part of a new boiler install and hydronic system. I've started to test for leaks in my work, and on a complex part of the project, going from 1" -> 3/4" -> 1/2" with branches off each, totaling about 40' long, including the new water fill for the boiler, I've got a slow leak that I cannot find. I have a schrader valve with a pressure guage (up to 30 PSI) that I got at HD (I know - maybe that's the problem). Anyway, I pressurize up to 30, and I get a slow drift maybe about 1-2 PSI per hour. It drops over days to about 2-3 PSI and stops there. I've soaped every soldered joint, and a few PTFE-taped threaded joins in the boiler fill section, and I cannot find any bubbles forming. Is there another method for finding a leak? Do I need to use water, and look for drips? That seems like it might be more obvious. Help!