Damage to both your potable and sewer water pipes is nearly inevitable with foundation repair. Your home endures a large amount of stress and pressure during this process, so you must ensure everything, including your plumbing, is in tip-top shape.
At Jim’s Plumbing Now, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners test and repair their plumbing following foundation repair because we know how important it is.
Founder Jim Parker is the President of the National Foundation Repair Association (NFRA), partnering with various top-notch foundation repair companies across the Dallas and Fort Worth area to bring you high-quality, stress-free plumbing solutions no matter your issue.
We’re here to help educate you on what a hydrostatic test is, why it’s necessary after foundation repair and more.
What Is A Hydrostatic Test?
A hydrostatic test ensures that there is no damage or leaking in your plumbing after having your foundation repaired. Hydrostatic tests can still be performed if you have not had any foundation repair.
There are two types of hydrostatic tests. One is for your potable water and another is for your sewer drainage:
Potable water is the water coming into your home, such as your drinking water, and the water that flows through your showers and sinks. Sewer drainage is the water that is outgoing from your home, such as the water after washing your hands or flushing the toilet.
Testing your sewer drainage is especially crucial. If there are leaks in the plumbing of your outgoing water, then that water builds up underneath your home, creating a sewer dump under your foundation.
Having both water systems tested following foundation repair is important to ensure water is coming in and out of your home properly.
How Is A Hydrostatic Test Conducted?
A hydrostatic test for drainage systems is conducted by plugging your plumbing system, filling it with water and seeing if the water level drops. Let’s dive deeper into how this test is conducted for potable water and drainage systems.
Hydrostatic Pressure Test On Potable Water Systems
Attach Pressure Gauge To Hose Bibb
First, a pressure gauge is attached to a water line in one area or a room in the house. This pressure gauge will be used to measure the water pressure and tell the plumber whether there is a leak.
Turn On The Water System
Next, the potable water system is turned on to get a reading for your house’s water pressure.
This can take around 15 to 20 minutes to get an accurate, full reading and ensure the integrity of the potable water system.
Measuring The Water Pressure And Determining A Leak
Once the pressure is accurately measured for the potable water, the plumber will then shut the water off at the meter.
After shutting the water off, the water pressure should hold at the same PSI reading (pound-force per square inch).
If the PSI reading drops on the water meter, there is most likely a leak, and further inspection is needed.
Hydrostatic Test On Sewer Drainage Systems
Plugging The System
First, a plumber will plug your sewer draining system from the exterior with a plumbing test ball.
This test ball creates an air-tight seal on the drain, completely blocking any water from escaping.
Filling The System With Water
Next, the entire plumbing system is filled with water. Some plumbers use an external garden hose to fill the drain from the outside. Others will run showers and faucets within your home. It doesn’t matter how the system is filled, as long as it gets filled.
Hydrostatic means “standing water,” so we are testing how well the water stays still and standing. Because the system is plugged, the water should have nowhere to go.
15-Minute Test
Once the system is full, the plumber will let the water stand for around 15 minutes while watching the levels.
If water levels lower during this time, that indicates there is a leak somewhere in the system. If water levels remain, the system passes the hydrostatic test, and typically no further action is required.
Then, the water is drained, and the next steps are taken if the hydrostatic test fails.
What Happens After A Hydrostatic Test Fails?
If a hydrostatic test fails on either the potable water system or the drainage system, the next step is to use a camera to inspect the plumbing. This will pinpoint any cracks, defects in the piping or root intrusion.
Typically, drain cameras can only move through about 70% of your piping. If no cracks or leaks are detected using the camera, pinpoint isolation tests are performed for each draining system from the interior. This consists of isolating the plumbing of the testing area and performing a hydrostatic test only for that area to find the leak.
Isolation tests can take up to five hours on average depending on the size of the home.
Once the source of the leak is found, the plumber will provide a proposal for a repair plan detailing how the leak will be accessed and repaired.
This can consist of three ways to repair the leak: an interior breakout, tunneling to the leak from the outside or rerouting the water system.
After the leak is repaired, a hydrostatic test is performed again to ensure it was repaired properly and no other leaks are detected. Then, a city inspector must check the plumbing using hydrostatic or pressure testing as well.
The inspector will also ensure code-approved materials are used to make sure the plumbing is up to code and that it will last.
The Dangers Of NOT Having A Hydrostatic Test After Foundation Repair
Understanding the benefits of a hydrostatic plumbing test paints one-half of the picture. To know why you really need this test after foundation repair, you need to know the risks that come with NOT having a hydrostatic test.
Three major problems can come with not having a hydrostatic test: undetected leaks, foundation damage and swelling in your home.
- Undetected leaks: The purpose of a hydrostatic test is to find potential leaks in your plumbing. If no hydrostatic test is performed, you could have leaks in your plumbing you don’t even know about, causing the following two problems.
- Foundation damage: If there are leaks in your sewage drain system, the water ends up building up under the foundation of your home. This makes the soil mushy and causes more foundation movement over time.
- Swelling interior: When water builds up under your home due to leaking in your plumbing, this can cause swelling underneath your floors or in your walls. This leads to damage in the internal frame and interior of your home.
If you have leaks in your plumbing that go unaddressed, you put your home at risk for more damage, not only to your pipes but to your entire home.
The longer you leave any plumbing issues alone, the more costly it will be in the future. This is why taking the proper steps to ensure the stability of your plumbing and your home after foundation repair is vital.
Choosing A Reputable Plumbing Company For Your Hydrostatic Plumbing Test
Now that you know what a hydrostatic test is, how they are conducted for both potable and sewer drainage systems and the benefits and risks of having one, you better understand why a hydrostatic test is necessary after having your foundation repaired.
The first step to ensure a successful foundation repair and hydrostatic test is finding a trustworthy foundation repair and plumbing company to work with.
Many foundation repair companies partner with local plumbing companies to take the hassle and stress off of you to find one for yourself. If you find a reputable foundation repair company, chances are you’ll also work with a trusted plumbing company.
Jim’s Plumbing Now works with various high-quality foundation repair companies across the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, guaranteeing stress-free foundation repair, hydrostatic testing and plumbing repair.
When you have a plumbing repair in your home, let our team at Jim’s Plumbing Now take a look and solve the problem!
