leak in buried wet return

Steve_210

 to find a leak under the floor. what the best way,

1 flood the boiler

2 infared thermoter (we have)

3 infared camra (do not have can it be rented?

any other suggestions

Danny Scully

Residential House

Is this in a residential house?

Steve_210

no

no its an apartment building approx 30 units

Danny Scully

Assuming

I'm assuming the water level keeps dropping?

Steve_210

yes

yes

Jamie Hall

This may be a stupid question

but... let's suppose you actually do find the leak under the floor.  How are you going to fix it?



The problem with finding a leak in a return line is that the water in a wet return isn't all that hot, usually (unless the system has been running for a while).  However, it is just possible that you will be able to find a warm area with your IR thermometer.  Scan along where you think the return is, and it may (or may not) show up.



But, to back to the first question.  If you are reasonably certain that the return is leaking under the floor somewhere, may I suggest that finding one leak may only be the start?  Is there a convenient way to replace the whole line, perhaps just above the floor?  Remembering that a wet return can go up and down some, so long as it stays wet (that is, below the boiler water level) everywhere (you would want a way to drain the low points, if it does go up and down, though).