How Hydrostatic Excavating Works

Hydrostatic excavating is a method of pressure testing the integrity of plastic piping systems.  It is helpful in determining if there are any joint leaks or cracks which will cause problems.  Keep reading to learn about how this process works.

In order to use hydrostatic testing, the pipe will need to be back-filled properly beforehand.  It is very important that air pressure is not used for testing purposes.  This is often a mistake which can lead to disastrous consequences if done improperly.

Testing using air pressure is more convenient since it takes less time.  However, it is just not safe since it can easily cause the pipe to explode if too much air pressure is used.  It is best for water to be used for the purposes of hydrostatic excavating. 

The pipe will need to be back-filled with water.  Any openings in the pipe will also need to be sealed with caps or plugged properly before testing can begin.  If there are any leaks present, then they will be very easy to locate thanks to the water.  This is not the case if the pipe is being tested with air pressure instead.

Before the hydrostatic testing process begins, it is also important for the lines to be flushed.  This will help remove air which stayed inside the pipe while it was being filled with water.  If any air is present, then it will make the testing results much less accurate.

It is best for the pipe to be filled with water relatively slowly.  This will dramatically lower the amount of air which stays inside the pipe, thereby making test results less accurate.

There may be a problem using hydrostatic excavating on pipes which are too long.  Therefore, it may be necessary to test the pipe in sections.  The pipe will need to be sealed in sections so each section can be tested separately.  After one section has been drained, then the next section will need to be filled with water and sealed off properly before testing can begin.

Hydrostatic excavating can be used to detect any leaks present in a pipe.  Any openings in the pipe will need to be sealed off properly and the pipe filled with water before testing can begin.  Although some companies choose to test using air pressure, it can easily be dangerous since too much air pressure can cause the pipe to explode.  The ease of using air pressure certainly does not outweigh the potential hazards.