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Air leak detection – Get our money back guarantee!

Check for compressed air leaks with our ultrasonic air leak detector. We guarantee that the leak test will save money - or get your money back!

Air Leak Detection

The main purpose of an air leak detection test is to build a profile of the energy wasted through air leakage within your compressed air system. By finding, logging, quantifying and costing air leaks you can prioritise the remedial work required to reduce your energy costs.

The best, and most widely used approach is to use ultrasonic leak detection equipment. It operates without interrupting plant operation, reaches system areas that are hard to access, and locates all air leaks.

Portrait of Neil Frater

I have been carrying out compressed air leak detection audits for over 18 years and have never come across a site which didn’t have any savings to be realised!

Neil Frater, Energy Efficiency Manager

I have been at a London power station carrying out a leak detection test that I recommended to the customer. There were lots of leaks adding up to thousands of pounds in costs. The new ultrasonic leak detection camera that we use at Atlas Copco is accurate and easy to use, also giving the customer a picture to locate the leaks for repair.

Service Engineer , Atlas Copco Compressors

What can I expect from a leak detection test?

Leak detection report

We will arrange for a fully qualified engineer to visit your site with our state-of-the art acoustic leak detection camera. Even though the air leakage detection has to be done on a live system there will be no interruption to your production. Every leak found will be tagged and logged by our engineer. Afterwards you will receive an itemised, written report which shows the results in a clearly understood and actionable format. 

Atlas Copco always carries out risk assessments and method statements prior to a site visit and our engineers are equipped with the appropriate PPE. Read more about safety.

Our step by step leak detection process

Leak tag

Step 1: Assess the air network 

Walk the line to understand the distribution of the compressed air pipework network and usage.

Step 2: Audit the air network 

Take an ultrasonic leak detection test. It not only recognises the compressed air leaks, it carries out on-board analysis to pinpoint the exact source of leak and size of leak in litres/minute. 

Step 3: Identify and tag the leaks 

Each individual weatherproof tag will carry an identification number stating the date and severity of the leak in l/min. 

Step 4: Report the results 

The report will list the leaks and show: 

• Site location 

• Photographs of leak

• Tag ID 

• Severity of leak (l/min) 

• Cost of leak £’s 

• Position of leak 

• Cost to repair 

Step 5: Prevent future leaks 

Take a proactive approach to monitoring and controlling leaks on an ongoing basis.

Guaranteed results: We will reimburse the cost of the leak detection survey if we don’t find any leaks that would cover the cost of the test once they're fixed!

What will happen after the leak detection test?

Once you have had time to read and digest the findings in the report, we will send a quotation to repair the air leaks. Atlas Copco can also, if required, develop a monitoring and control programme to suit your individual needs. Our aim is to offer a solution that will reduce the cost of generating compressed air and therefore lead to a direct increase in your company’s profits.

How does Atlas Copco’s leak detection kit compare to others?

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We use a state-of-the-art acoustic imaging camera which can help detect leaks in compressed air systems up to ten times faster than traditional methods. The camera takes measurements with 124 microphones to form a very precise acoustic image. The camera’s frequency range extends to ultrasonic frequencies, meaning that it can locate sound sources precisely, even in a noisy industrial environment. The acoustic image is transposed in real-time on top of a digital camera picture to provide real-time sound visualisation of the source of the leaks.

The cost of air leaks

All compressed air systems have leaks. These have several causes, including corrosion holes, poor pipe connections and bad seals. According to the British Compressed Air Society, the average leakage rate is 25% but some plants lose as much as 80% of their compressed air due to leaks. Just imagine filling up your car and then watching a quarter of your fuel drip on to the road through a leaky fuel line as soon as you start driving!

Generating compressed air only to lose it to leaks is of course is a waste of money. The Carbon Trust estimates that a hole of just 3mm in diameter in a compressed air pipe can create a leak that costs up to £1,000 per year in wasted electricity costs. The benefit of fixing leaks will be a lower energy cost and it may also reduce the running hours of your compressors, which may in turn also reduce maintenance costs. It is unfortunately almost impossible to guarantee that all leaks can be repaired, and it is inevitable that over time, new leaks will occur.

Best practice advice is that the percentage of compressed air lost to leakage should be less than 10% of your total compressed air production. We therefore recommend that your system is checked for leaks at least once a year. This proactive approach should enable you to keep a tighter control of the system and potential energy wastage.

Read more in our article Why compressed air leak detection matters – and how to maximise its benefits

Some users are simply not aware of the extent of any onsite leakage, or the associated cost; others are concerned that any audit will be disruptive and time-consuming. Yet, when done correctly, auditing can be efficient, fast and hassle-free, while highlighting opportunities for energy-saving and process improvements.

Neil Frater, Energy Efficiency Manager
Annual costs of air leaks

Examples of companies who have reduced their energy bill after detecting and fixing their compressed air leaks

  • A global manufacturer of connectors and sensors saved £48,000
  • A producer of health, hygiene and home products saved £40,000
  • A leading multinational automotive manufacturer saved £22,000
  • One of the UK’s largest food companies saved £45,000

The leak detection report was attached to a site layout plan, marking where each leak was. This showed us where to carry out the remedial work. The Atlas Copco engineer was a star and is more than welcome on site anytime.

Jim Rattray, Castle Precision Engineering

Watch our 'Which compressed air audit is right for your production facility?' webinar:

This webinar is presented by Energy Efficiency Manager, Neil Frater.

On average 20-40% of compressed air produced is lost to leaks. Let us show you how to reduce this!

This webinar looks at why most compressed air systems have leaks, explains the different air audits and leak detection possibilities, and will help you discover which one is right for your production facility. 

Sign up to watch this on demand webinar!

Terms and Conditions of the Money Back Guarantee

The money back guarantee is valid if you book and pay for a leak detection test directly from Atlas Copco Compressors. The money back guarantee only applies if we do not find any energy savings following the leak detection test. 

Air leak detection – Get our money back guarantee!

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