Beginning of Hydraulic Test for Leak Detection in Houston

A hydrostatic test begins with locating the sewer cleanout or installing one if required. Prior to the early seventies, cast-iron piping was used for the sanitary drainage system under residences. Many of these older homes had multiple sanitary systems exiting from beneath the foundation in different locations and joining together in the yard before connecting to the city sewer main. Each of these independent sanitary systems must be tested separately, requiring time to locate and possibly excavate each exit from beneath the foundation. Homes constructed after the early 1970’s generally use plastic piping (ABS and PVC) for their sanitary drainage, have only one exit from beneath the foundation, and typically have a readily accessible main cleanout. In general, a four- or five-bathroom home constructed using plastic sanitary piping can be tested more quickly and less expensively than a one-bathroom home constructed using cast-iron sanitary piping. PVC pipes usually fail because of significant foundation movement, mature tree roots growing into pipe joints, original poor construction.

Install Cleanout

After a cleanout has been located or installed, and a sewer camera has been used to inspect the system, a test-ball is inserted into the piping and inflated near the perimeter of the foundation.

Piping is Filled

The piping is then filled with water, and the water level is monitored at a first floor shower or commode flange. A falling water level indicates a leak on the system. Additional tests (isolation and flow) are necessary to determine the location of the leak(s) and whether or not the leak(s) allows drainage to escape the piping under normal service conditions.

Cost of Hydrostatic Test

The cost of a hydrostatic test through an existing cleanout averages between $250 and $400. The variance in the basic hydrostatic test price depends on the following factors: How difficult was it to locate the cleanout? Was in necessary to remove and reset a commode to observe the water level during testing? How extensive was the video pipe inspection? What type of documentation was requested (written report, photographs, drawings, copy of video inspection)? On older homes with multiple independent cast-iron sanitary systems, many of which will require locating and excavating, the hydrostatic testing of all the independent system may easily double or even triple the average price. In general, regarding time requirements, houses constructed since the early 1970’s typically require about two hours for hydrostatic testing. Houses constructed prior to the early 1970’s may take anywhere from two hours to an entire day, depending on the number of independent sanitary systems and the need for excavations, cleanout installations, and removing and resetting commodes.