How Often Should You Run a Helium Tracer Gas Survey for Underground Pipe Leaks

One of the most common questions plant owners ask about underground piping isn't whether to test, it's how often, and increasingly, with what method. Helium tracer gas testing is the most precise way to confirm and locate a leak, and building a testing cadence around it gives you both reliable detection and a manageable excavation footprint when repairs are needed.

Why Build the Program Around Helium Tracer Gas

Unlike acoustic or correlator surveys, which can miss small leaks or struggle on plastic and low-pressure lines, a helium tracer gas survey delivers a direct, unambiguous reading and pinpoints the leak within inches. That precision matters most when you're deciding how often to test, since a method prone to false negatives can quietly let small leaks grow between surveys.

Factors That Shorten the Interval

• Piping older than 20-25 years, especially unlined steel or older cast iron

• Lines running under roadways, foundations, or other critical infrastructure

• Any history of prior leaks or repairs in the same run

• Corrosive soil conditions or a high water table

A Reasonable Starting Baseline

For most industrial facilities, an annual or biennial helium tracer gas survey of critical underground lines, fire loops, and cooling water piping is a reasonable starting point. Facilities with newer, well-documented piping and low-risk routing may be able to extend that interval, while older or higher-risk systems often warrant more frequent checks.

Event-Triggered Testing

Beyond a set schedule, certain events should trigger an out-of-cycle helium tracer gas survey: a noticeable jump in makeup water usage, nearby excavation or construction work, unexplained pressure loss, or any settling or soft ground observed near a known pipe route.

Building the Program

The most effective approach combines a baseline helium tracer gas survey to establish current condition, a defined retest interval based on risk, and event-triggered checks in between. Because the method pinpoints leaks precisely rather than just flagging a general area, it also keeps excavation costs down whenever a repair is needed.

Ready to get ahead of leaks before they cost you? Contact StrongForce, Inc. at 833-735-3257 or info@StrongForceInc.com to schedule a helium tracer gas survey or speak with one of our field engineers.