🧿1. How to Quickly Locate a Leak

A leak may be obvious in the presence of heavy water flow. However, if the leak is less obvious or located underground, the following methods are necessary:

1. Visual and auditory initial diagnosis (most direct):

Ground level observation: Check the ground above the pipe for unusual accumulation of water, ground subsidence, unusually lush vegetation (due to abundant water), or bubbling.

Auditory diagnosis: During quiet hours (such as late at night), use a listening rod or electronic leak detector to touch an exposed part of the pipe (such as a valve or fire hydrant) and walk along the pipe. The leak will emit a continuous hissing or gurgling sound, which can be accurately located by its volume and direction.

2. Professional Leak Detection Equipment (Precise Location):

Electronic leak detector: As mentioned above, this is the most commonly used professional equipment. It amplifies the sound of leaking underground pipes, helping technicians pinpoint the leak from the road surface with an accuracy of less than 1 meter.

Correlation instrument: Used for precise location of long-distance pipelines. Sensors are placed at both ends of the pipeline. By analyzing the time difference between the sound of a leak and its arrival, the exact location of the leak is calculated. This method is unaffected by ambient noise and is highly accurate.
3. Sectional Pressure Testing (Assisted Identification):
If a section of pipeline is suspected of leaking, close the valves at both ends of that section and perform a separate pressure test. If the pressure continues to drop, this section has a leak, and the aforementioned method can then be used to further investigate.

Key Points for Quick Action: Upon detecting signs of a leak, immediately close the upstream and downstream valves of the relevant section, stop the water supply, and drain any remaining water from the pipeline. This will facilitate repairs and prevent water waste and secondary disasters (such as road collapse).

🧿II. Procedures After Locating the Leak

Once the leak is located, repairs should be carried out according to safe and standardized procedures:

1. Safety First, Be Prepared:

Valve Closure: Completely close the control valves upstream and downstream of the leak to completely shut off the water supply.

Site Enclosure: Set up prominent cordoned areas, warning lights, and roadblocks to ensure site safety. Drain and Ventilate: Open a nearby drain valve or fire hydrant to drain any remaining water from the pipe. If working underground or in a tunnel, forced ventilation must be implemented, and hazardous gas and oxygen levels must be monitored.
2. Excavate a working pit:
Centered around the leak, dig a pit large enough to accommodate the repair clamp and allow for easy access.
Excavate carefully to avoid secondary damage to the pipe, and provide adequate support for the pit walls to prevent collapse.
3. Clean and Clear the Leak:
Use tools to thoroughly remove dirt and debris around the leak.
Use an angle grinder, wire brush, or other tool to polish the pipe surface at the leak, removing all rust, old coatings, and dirt until the metallic sheen is exposed. This is crucial for ensuring the leak repair clamp's sealing effectiveness.
4. Select and Install Emergency Repair Parts (such as the repair clamp):
Select the appropriate repair clamp based on the pipe diameter and damage.
According to the product instructions, properly apply the repair clamp to the cleaned leak.

5. Tightening and Testing:
Using a torque wrench, tighten all bolts on the leak repair clamp evenly in diagonal order, ensuring that the seal is evenly stressed and reaching the specified torque value.
Slowly open the upstream valve and pressure test the repair section. Carefully observe the leak repair clamp for leaks, and also check other areas for problems.
After confirming there are no leaks, backfill the work pit and restore the site.

🧿 III. Advantages of Using Leak Repair Clamps

Leak repair clamps (also called leak repair clamps or clamps) are the preferred method for repairing leaks in ductile iron pipes. They offer significant advantages:

1. Fast and Efficient:
No welding or maintenance required; simply install. From preparation to installation, it typically takes only 1-3 hours, minimizing water outages and quickly restoring water supply.
2. Easy to Operate:
The technical threshold is low; ordinary maintenance personnel can operate with minimal training, and no specialized qualifications, like welding, are required. 3. Safe and Reliable:
No Hot Work Required: This eliminates the potential safety risks of electric shock and explosion associated with welding in damp, confined spaces.
Excellent Sealing: High-quality leak repair clamps utilize rubber seals and mechanical fastening to withstand normal pipe operating pressures, ensuring a long-lasting seal.
4. Highly Adaptable:
Can handle a variety of damage types, including holes, cracks, and longitudinal or circumferential fractures.
Available in standard and extended sizes, these clamps cover various pipe diameters and varying degrees of damage.
5. Economical:
Eliminates the cost of large machinery and specialized labor.
Due to the short water outage duration, the impact on social production and daily life is minimized, resulting in significant indirect economic benefits.

The housing is typically made of metals such as ductile iron and carbon steel, which are corrosion-resistant and high-strength. It can last the same life as the original pipe, eliminating the need for frequent repairs. 

The following are Baoshuo brand oil-resistant pipe repair clamps, high-temperature-resistant pipe repair clamps, acid- and alkali-resistant pipe repair clamps, stainless steel pipe repair clamps, high-pressure-resistant pipe repair clamps, and large-diameter pipe repair clamps.

Summary

For leaks in ductile iron pipes, the standard and efficient repair process is "quickly locate → safely prepare → clean the surface → install the leak repair clamp." Using leak repair clamps is the key to fast, safe, and economical repairs, and is a proven technology widely used both domestically and internationally. For major damage or overall pipe deterioration, it may be necessary to replace the entire section.