There are hundreds of thousands of miles of pipes laid across the country. They carry water, gas, oil, and a variety of other substances between homes and businesses. 

These pipes live in harsh conditions. Even if they are buried in the ground they are subject to temperature changes, exterior pressure, and chemical contaminants. Any leak or even a crack in these pipes can cause a major disaster. Depending on what the pipe is carrying it can deprive homes of essential utilities for days. Or, it can result in a chemical spill that is hazardous to people and the environment.

This is why the pipes need to be comprehensively inspected on a regular basis. Unfortunately, when the pipes are in constant use this can be difficult. Fortunately, dye penetrant testing can be used to inspect the pipes without disrupting or interfering with their use.

Magnetic dye penetrant inspection involves using wet magnetic particles. These flow over the pipe with the aid of a magnetic. At the same time, a UV light is used to inspect the pipe, highlighting cracks, chips, and other potential surface issues.

These readings can be used to determine if there is a break in the pipe or likely to be one soon.

Unfortunately, sometimes a sewer pipe is so badly damaged that no trenchless sewer repair is available. Pipes that are back-pitched, meaning the original contractors failed to use the right slope for your sewer line to your city connection, cannot also be fixed using trenchless methods. If this is the case, you will need to think of using conventional sewer repair methods.

The Importance of Comprehensive Testing

Visually inspecting pipes has its place but this in-depth testing technique is important. The key benefit is the early observation of potential issues. These can be flagged to be monitored closely or they can lead to repairs being conducted before the issue becomes an actual problem.

When you’re dealing with hazardous items, such as oil, a spill can have seriously detrimental effects on the surrounding environment. Undertaking these comprehensive inspections doesn’t just tell the world you’re doing your bit to protect the environment, it allows you to actually protect the environment.

These inspections can also highlight the overall condition of your pipework. While small areas can be defective for a number of reasons if you notice issues in many sections of the pipework you’ll need to investigate further.

It can be that the pipes are simply old and need to be replaced. But, there are other factors that can influence the pipe deterioration rate. You need to be aware of what these are and how they may affect all your pipework. 

The good news is that a dedicated team of people can conduct a comprehensive inspection for you, without disrupting your daily operations. 

One of the most common pipe issues isn’t sinister, it is simply nature. Water, oxygen, and metal pipes mix to create rust. When the rust builds up enough a hole, or crack will form in the pipe. Magnetic dye penetrant testing can spot these issues before they are visible to the human eye. This allows you to protect your existing pipes without the need to replace them.

That’s not just good for the environment, it's beneficial for your bottom line. As a business that is just as important as complying with regulations and saving the environment.

partnered post • cc-licensed image by Sten Dueland