An ominous leak beneath the building, water mysteriously surfacing in the parking lot and potentially costly demolition and repair costs.
What’s a school to do?
If you’re the Anna, Texas, middle school, you call local professionals from Spencer Plumbing Co. – with their new Gen-Ear™ water leak locator system.
Gen-Ear blends the latest in filter, headphone and sensor technology for the most advanced acoustical leak detection system available. Excellent for a broad range of applications, the versatile Gen-Ear quickly and accurately locates leaks in cast iron, copper, steel and PVC lines. It also pinpoints similar problems in a wide variety of work, soil and surface conditions.
New Technology Quickly Pinpoints Leaks
School officials guessed that the prime problem originated beneath the structure’s main slab. But water bubbling up in the parking lot simply compounded the mystery.
“The school thought we’d bust up the building slab and parking lot just to locate the problem,” recalled Bryan Spencer, owner of Spencer Plumbing. “But our Gen-Ear showed them exactly what, and where, the troubles were.”
Spencer’s equipment quickly found two distinct problems: one was minor, another was major.
Gen-Ear water leak locator system makes plumber a hero.
“We fixed the relatively small inside leak without any major disruption,” he said. “Then we traced the source of serious concern to an open field near the school.” Spencer showed how the outside leak was actually channeling water down a ditch and, eventually, under the parking lot where it surfaced.
“We pinpointed the real problems so clearly and quickly that the customer saved thousands in unnecessary demolition and repair work,” Spencer said.
That sort of swift service and professional precision, he claimed, not only enhances his company’s reputation, but also boosts profitability by cycling jobs more quickly.
“We fix problems faster, and get more jobs done in less time. Everyone’s happy.”
Seamlessly Blends with Business
More than 40 years as a plumbing professional taught Bryan Spencer that investing in new technology boosts business and cements customer satisfaction.
“Why use old ways when new technology gets the job done faster and better?” he asked. “Our customers deserve fast results for their hard-earned money.”
That’s why Spencer Plumbing’s owner made Gen-Ear a key part of the business. Located 30 miles north of Dallas, his company serves a significant number of residential and commercial customers with slab-on-grade construction. The Gen-Ear, Spencer observes, is ideal for pinpointing leaks beneath concrete.
It also compliments the company’s Gen-Eye™ video inspection systems. “Between the two, we locate problems fast!” he added.
Reliability Builds Confidence
“We’ve always trusted General tools,” Spencer noted, citing not only his Gen-Eye systems, but his many General drain cleaning machines. “So when I learned about Gen-Ear, we knew we could make it part of our service.”
Spencer said that the new equipment’s learning curve proved surprisingly short. “Once we learned to identify different types of leak sounds, we began using the system right away.”
General’s filter and advanced amplification technologies are key. The Gen-Ear’s built-in, preset audio filter combinations remove ambient noise interfering with accurate leak detection. So instead of traffic, wind or machinery sounds, operators hear the whoosh or hiss of water leaks through high-quality headphones.
The system’s special sensor detects the gurgling or hammering of cracked pipe, as far as 8 feet below ground. The ground sensor pinpoints problems through hard surfaces such as concrete, asphalt or tile. It features wind-proof, shock-resistant housing to reduce unwanted noise, as well as to maximize job-site reliability. The probe rods locate leaks beneath soft surfaces including grass or carpet, and also functions as a contact for above-ground pipes or hydrants.
Total Package Convenience
A safety switch in the amplifier mutes sudden loud noises when the button is released. To extend battery life, the system automatically shuts down when headphones are removed and the power light blinks when batteries are low.
All Gen-Ear components come in a rugged, heavy-duty carrying case. For especially difficult problems, the sound-amplification manifold adds air to the line, increasing pressure and amplifying sounds to speed the leak detection.
“Our Gen-Ear is proving itself all the time,” said Spencer. “It’s serving our customers – and our business – very well.”
Contact the Drain Brains® at General at 800-245-6200 or by email [email protected].
You can also contact us via our easy form on this page. Lastly, view stores and dealers near you where you can purchase the Gen-Ear LE water leak locator system or other innovative General plumbing technology tools.
