Pipe pressure test step by step, logged automatically with your phone camera
The technician pressurises the line, glances at the gauge every few minutes, then tells the customer “the pressure dropped”. The customer saw nothing and the technician wrote nothing down. A pipe pressure test is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for a leak, but it is wasted if it is not documented.
In this guide you will review the correct test steps: isolation, pressurising, hold time and the effect of temperature. Then you will learn to use the Pressure Test Logger in Kashf Pro: it photographs the gauge at fixed intervals, reads the value automatically, plots the drop curve and gives you a verdict and a report you can share.
What is the Pressure Test Logger and what does it give you?
It is a tool in the Kashf Pro app that turns your phone into a data logger for the analogue or digital pressure gauge you already own.
You mount the phone in front of the gauge and it takes a picture every 30 seconds, every minute or every two minutes. Each picture is read automatically on the server and stamped with the server's time, not the phone's. You get a curve, the starting and current values, the drop in bar, its rate in bar per minute and per hour, and a verdict on the line.
Who is this tool for?
- Leak detection technicians who isolate lines and test them with a manual test pump.
- Plumbers and pipework contractors who hand over new installations and want written proof of the acceptance test.
- Maintenance supervisors who need a consistent record of their team's tests.
When do you use it?
- To confirm a leak on a specific line after the bill, the meter or a thermal image has pointed to a problem.
- To divide up the network: test the cold and hot lines and each branch separately to find out which one leaks.
- After the repair: to prove to the customer that the line now holds.
- At handover: for new pipework before the tiles go down.
Where do you use it?
At any point where you can fit a pressure gauge: in place of a removed mixer, at a branch valve, on the pump line or on the tank supply line. In Saudi villas the internal network usually starts after the booster pump that draws from the tank, so isolate the pump before testing.
The app runs in the phone's browser at /pro/app/ and needs camera permission.
What do you need before you start?
- A Kashf Pro account: a free trial once per mobile number, then a plan or usage credits. Limits are shown on the plans page.
- A manual test pump and a gauge whose range suits the test pressure, ideally with clear graduations in 0.1 bar steps.
- A stand or clamp for the phone that holds it in front of the gauge for the whole test.
- A charger or enough battery: the screen stays on.
- A stable internet connection: every picture is sent to be read on the server.
How to use it correctly, step by step
Pressure Test LoggerSubscription — free trial available
The camera opens and you place a box over the gauge face. When you start, the app takes a picture immediately and then one at each interval you chose, sending only the selected area to be read automatically.
The automatic reading rejects anything it does not trust. A value is accepted if it is between 0 and 40 bar and the reading confidence is above the threshold set by the operator (75% by default). If the gauge reads in PSI, the value is converted to bar. An unclear picture is logged as “Unclear image” and is not added to the curve.
The calculation is deterministic, from the first point to the last:
- Drop = starting reading − current reading.
- Rate = drop ÷ minutes elapsed.
- Verdict: before 15 minutes, “Test too short / running — a verdict needs at least 15 minutes”, with the current rate. After that: a drop of 0.5 bar or more = “Clear drop — leak likely”. More than 0.1 and less than 0.5 at 1 bar/hour or faster = “Continuing drop — possible leak; extend the test to confirm”. More than 0.1 at a slower rate = “Slight drop — extend the test or re-pressurise”. 0.1 bar or less = “Pressure steady — the line is probably sound”. Each verdict states the drop, the duration and the rate in bar/hour.
Recording stops automatically at the end of the duration, and the app asks the browser to keep the screen on.
Steps for correct use
- Prepare and pressurise the line
Isolate the line: switch off the pump and close the supply valve and the outlets. Fill the line and bleed the air from the highest point, then pressurise it with the manual pump. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for it to settle, and top up the pressure if it has dropped slightly.
- Mount the phone and open the camera
Open /pro/app/#/tool/pressure and tap 📷 Open camera. Mount the phone on a stand directly facing the gauge, with no light reflecting on the glass. Move the box so it covers the whole gauge face, including the scale and the needle.
- Name the line and choose the interval and duration
In the Line field type a clear description such as “Hot — first floor”. Under Every choose 30 seconds, one minute or two minutes, and under Duration choose 15, 30 or 60 minutes. Below the options you see the number of readings in the test (duration ÷ interval + the starting shot), and durations that exceed the limit of 61 readings per test, such as 30 seconds with 60 minutes, are disabled.
- Start recording and touch nothing
Tap ▶ Start recording. The first picture becomes the starting reading. Watch the log below the curve: each line shows the time, the value and the confidence percentage. If “Unclear image” appears, adjust the lighting or the box without moving the gauge.
- Read the verdict and save the report
At the end of the duration recording stops automatically, or tap ■ Stop. Review the start, current value, drop, rate and verdict. Tap 💾 Save result (it needs at least two points) to get a report link for the customer.
How to read the result
The curve
- A steady horizontal line: the line holds under test conditions.
- A steady straight decline: a continuous leak. The steeper the slope, the larger the leak.
- A fast early drop that then levels off: usually plastic pipe expansion, trapped air or the water cooling. Re-pressurise and repeat the test.
- Jumps up and down: erratic readings from reflections or a shaking stand, or temperature changes in a line exposed to the sun.
The verdict
- “Clear drop — leak likely on this line”: move on to locating the leak on this line only: acoustic listening, thermal imaging after running the hot water, or tracer gas.
- “Continuing drop — possible leak; extend the test to confirm”: a drop below 0.5 bar but at a fast rate (1 bar/hour or more), which is common in short tests. Extend the test to be sure.
- “Slight drop — extend the test or re-pressurise”: do not decide yet. Re-pressurise and extend to 30 or 60 minutes. A slight drop that repeats at the same rate means a small leak.
- “Pressure steady — the line is probably sound”: move on to the next line. Remember the verdict only applies to the isolated line.
- “Test too short / running”: less than 15 minutes have passed, so there is no verdict yet.
The rate of drop
The “bar/minute” figure is useful for comparing two lines, and the verdict text states the rate in bar/hour. The verdict depends on the total drop first and then on the rate: a drop of 0.4 bar in 15 minutes (1.6 bar/hour) is classed as “continuing”, while 0.4 bar in 60 minutes is classed as “slight”, even though it deserves follow-up.
How to run a pipe pressure test correctly
Pressure and duration
- Test pressure: the common rule is about 1.5 times the working pressure, within what the pipes, fittings and water heater can withstand according to the manufacturer. Do not pressurise a water heater, filter or float valve that cannot take it.
- Settling time: plastic pipes such as PPR expand under pressure, so the needle drops slightly in the first few minutes. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, top up the pressure, then start recording.
- Minimum duration: the tool gives no verdict before 15 minutes, and the shortest duration in the list is 15 minutes. For a small leak or an acceptance test, use 30 to 60 minutes.
The effect of temperature
Water in a closed line is almost incompressible, so a change of just a few degrees in its temperature is enough to move the pressure noticeably.
- Hot line: if you test it straight after use, the water cools and the pressure drops without any leak. Test it once it has cooled.
- Rooftop pipes: in summer they heat up in the sun and the pressure rises, then falls at sunset. Test them at a time when the temperature is stable.
Trapped air
Air compresses, which makes the needle sluggish and erratic and hides the drop. Bleed the air from the highest point before pressurising.
Dividing up the network
If the whole network loses pressure, close the branch valves and test each branch on its own. That is how you move from “there is a leak in the house” to “the leak is on the hot line of the second bathroom”.
A worked example: a villa with a high bill
The meter confirmed a leak after the meter, and the roof tank is not overflowing.
- You switch off the pump, isolate the ground-floor cold line, pressurise it to 6 bar, wait 10 minutes and top up the pressure.
- You choose one shot per minute for 30 minutes.
- The result: 6.0 → 5.2 bar, a drop of 0.8 bar and a rate of 0.027 bar/minute. The verdict: “Clear drop — leak likely on this line”.
- You test the hot line the same way: 6.0 → 5.95 bar, “Pressure steady”.
- You narrow the search to the ground-floor cold line and listen along its route until you pinpoint the spot.
You save both reports and send both links to the customer, who now has numerical evidence of where the problem is before anything is opened.
Common mistakes that spoil the result
- Starting before it settles: the initial drop from pipe expansion is read as a leak.
- Leaving the pump or the supply valve open: the pressure is topped up, so the line looks sound.
- A valve passing internally: a worn isolation valve lets water through, producing a drop that is not from the line. Check the valve, or isolate with a plug.
- A gauge with too large a range: a 0–25 bar gauge will not show a 0.2 bar drop clearly. Choose a gauge with the test pressure in the middle of its range.
- A shaking phone or reflected light: readings get rejected or become erratic. Use a solid stand and shade the gauge glass.
- A short interval for a long duration: 30 seconds with 60 minutes exceeds the reading limit, so the tool disables it. Choose one minute with 60 minutes.
- Testing on the roof at midday: heat changes the pressure more than a small leak does.
The honest limits of the tool
- Automatic reading needs an AI provider connected to the server. If none is connected, “Automatic reading is not available right now” appears and no points are plotted.
- Reading limit: each test allows 61 readings, and each new test opens a single, separate use that stays valid until the end of the longest duration (60 minutes) whatever the session length in the settings, so a long test does not open extra uses.
- The verdict uses only the first and last points, and its thresholds are fixed (0.1 and 0.5 bar, and 1 bar/hour for the rate). They do not account for the test pressure, the pipe type or the temperature, so read the curve yourself.
- No temperature compensation: the tool does not know the water temperature. Interpret the drop in light of the conditions.
- Pictures are not kept: reading pictures are deleted after they are read, and the shared report contains the numbers and the verdict without photos of the gauge. If you want photographic evidence, take start and end photos yourself.
- The test proves a leak exists on the line, not where it is. Pinpointing it needs listening, thermal imaging or tracer gas.
- The result supports your decision and does not replace it.
When do you need to escalate?
You are the technician, but these cases deserve escalation:
- A second opinion from Kashf: the line loses pressure and you cannot find the point by listening or thermal imaging, or the line is buried under large floor areas. The Kashf team, which works in Saudi Arabia, inspects electronically without breaking, combining pressure testing with acoustic sensing, thermal cameras and safe tracer gas, and hands over a documented technical report. Book from the order page or on WhatsApp at +966544027180.
- A licensed structural engineer: if the leak has gone on long enough for cracks, sinking tiles or rusting rebar to appear. See leak damage to concrete.
- Safety first: never exceed the pressure rating of the pipes and the water heater, and disconnect the heater's power before isolating its line.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a pipe pressure test last?
The tool gives no verdict before 15 minutes after the settling stage. For a small leak or an acceptance test on new pipework, run it for 30 to 60 minutes. A longer test reveals slow drops and reduces the effect of fluctuations.
What pressure should I use in a pipe pressure test?
The common rule is about 1.5 times the working pressure, provided it does not exceed what the pipes, fittings and water heater can withstand according to the manufacturer. Choose a gauge with the test pressure in the middle of its range so small differences show clearly. Pressure above the rating can damage a sound joint.
Why does the pressure fall in the first minutes and then hold?
Usually because plastic pipes expand under pressure, because of trapped air, or because the water in a hot line is cooling. So wait 5 to 10 minutes after pressurising, then top up and start recording. If the drop continues at the same rate after that, it is a leak.
How much pressure drop means a leak?
The tool treats a drop of 0.5 bar or more as a likely leak, a drop between 0.1 and 0.5 bar as slight and worth extending the test, and 0.1 bar or less as steady. These are general thresholds. Read the curve: a steady, continuing decline is stronger evidence than a final reading on its own.
Does the app read both digital and analogue gauges?
Yes. It reads the needle against the scale or the number on the display, and converts PSI to bar automatically. A reading is only accepted if the confidence is high enough and the value is between 0 and 40 bar. Good lighting, no reflections and a box covering the whole gauge face increase the number of accepted readings.
Can I turn the screen off while recording?
No. The app takes pictures with the camera and needs the screen on, and it asks the browser to stop it switching off. Do not switch to another app during the test, and plug in the charger for long tests. If recording is interrupted, re-pressurise and start again.
What is the difference between a pipe pressure test and a meter test?
A meter test tells you whether water passes through the meter with the outlets closed, and usually covers the line from the meter to the tank. A pressure test isolates a specific line and proves that it leaks, which makes it useful for the internal network after the pump and for dividing a house into branches.
Are the gauge photos kept in the report?
No. Reading pictures are deleted after they are read automatically, and the report contains the line name, start and end values, duration, drop and verdict. If you want to attach photos, take start and end pictures yourself and send them to the customer with the link.
Why did recording stop before the end of the duration?
Recording stops at the last planned shot or at the end of the duration. If it stopped earlier, it is usually because your plan's limit for the tool ran out or because you left the screen. Durations that exceed the 61-reading limit are already disabled in the list. Also make sure your connection is stable, because every picture is sent to be read.
This guide is educational. It explains estimation tools that help you understand a situation and decide what to do next; confirming a leak and pinpointing it always requires an on-site inspection with instruments. Structural questions are for a licensed engineer to decide.