Customer compares new high tech HD-LDF™ and Snoop®

One of our industrial customers, based in Utah, buys Heavy-Duty Leak Detection Fluid from us by the 55 gallon drum. We send it to him pre-diluted and ready to use in a 4:1 dilution. That’s our stronger formulation which is perfect for tackling tough jobs, very slow leaks, and difficult surfaces or angles.

We worked closely with this customer to determine that this dilution would be best for them. They like the more viscous solution blend because it covers large areas, for example over a large flange, and therefore gives more reliable results.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

What product did you use for leak detection prior to HD-LDF?

We were using Snoop, available from Grainger, prior to discovering HD-LDF.

Have you tried methods of leak detection other than thin film testing?

We have tried a sonic tester, but our building/facility is too loud for that to work very well.

How do you apply the leak detection fluid in your facility?

We use a 32 oz squeeze bottle, like this one, to apply our leak detection fluid to areas suspected of having a gas leak. They’re technically called “wash bottles” and are available for sale through Grainger, here.

We've tried regular pump spray bottles (the type of bottle something like Windex comes in), but they do not work at all for our application. They create bubbles as you spray and do not give a good coating or fill up the flange gap we are checking.

Tell us a little bit more about the application process, and what a gas leak looked like for you.

We pressurize our systems with both air and Argon, depending on where we are in our process.

Bubbles form around the site of a gas leak within seconds, or up to 1-2 minutes for very small leaks to create enough foam to be easily visible. Large leaks create large bubbles, small leaks create small bubbles, and tiny leaks create foam.

How to identify a gas leak

You know you've got a leak somewhere, you just need to figure out where. One of the most accurate and simple ways to identify a gas leak is by using the thin film leak detection method, which we outlined in detail in this blog post.

Now, you may wonder what an actual leak looks like, and how you'll know you've found one when using the thin film leak detection method. Here's a short video showing exactly what a gas leak looks like. We've coated the source of the leak with a thin film of Heavy-Duty Leak Detection Fluid (HD-LDF). Check out all those big, long-lasting bubbles. This is why our HD-LDF solution is so amazing - there's no missing that leak, because the bubbles point it out like a beacon!

Our competitors' products (like Snoop) create smaller foamy bubbles that don't last as long, which means they make gas leaks much more difficult to identify. The bubbles are smaller and pop much more quickly. That means you'll have much less time to identify the leak before our competitor's solution stops working and no longer accurately indicates the source of the leak.

Our product, Heavy Duty Leak Detection Fluid Concentrate (HD-LDF-C) starts at $9.99 for a 16 oz bottle of concentrated solution that you can dilute to your specifications. Read more about how to do that in this blog post.

Check out our product catalog here.

Our product is a concentrate. What does that mean?

Today we'll discuss the fact that HD Leak Detection Fluid (HD-LDF-C) is a concentrate, and what that means. We've also got a coupon for you at the end, so don't miss that!

Our concentrated formulation, which comes in a 16 fl oz bottle, gives us a few advantages:

• We are able to save money on shipping, because we're shipping less water. Water is heavy, and the costs to ship it get passed along to you, the consumer!
• A concentrated product can be diluted to any strength you need for your leak detection purposes. Traditional leaks, slippery surfaces, vertical areas - we've got them all covered with one bottle of HD-LDF-C! We'll discuss this in more detail, below.

How dilution works:

HD-LDF-C is meant to be diluted with tap water, bottle water or distilled water for your specific needs.

For gas leaks in a traditional environment, our recommended starting point for dilution is 7:1. Start with one 16 fl oz bottle of HD-LDF-C, which is 2 cups of solution, then add 14 cups of water. Final result is one gallon of high tech leak detection fluid. Keep in mind - there's no reason you need to prepare the entire bottle at once. Feel free to save some for later!

Some difficult applications require a more viscous solution. In that case we recommend a 4:1 dilution. This more viscous solution is ideal for vertical surfaces,large gaps,slippery materials of construction, and other challenging requirements.

Now let's look at price:

When we compare the cost of HD-LDF-C to Snoop, HD-LDF-C is the clear winner:

• Snoop retails for $5 for an 8oz bottle of pre-diluted product. It's not flexible, it's not heavy duty, and it's not cheap!
• When HD-LDF-C is diluted at 4:1 for tricky applications, the cost is $1 for 8 oz.
• When HD-LDF-C is diluted at 7:1 for standard applications, the cost is even less!

Try HD-LDF-C today. Purchase by the bottle or in our convenient four bottle refill pack. Save even more when you purchase a whole case of 24.

Use coupon code LDF to save an additional 10%. This is a time limited offer, so order today.

Viscosity Test: Snoop vs. HD Leak Detection Fluid

Viscosity is another extremely important characteristic in a high tech leak detection fluid. Watch the next two videos (they’re only 10 seconds each) and you will be able to see what viscosity is!

The first video shows you how Snoop pours from a small beaker. If you watch closely, Snoop pours like water; drip, drip, and drip. Water is not a viscous liquid and neither is Snoop.

Heavy-Duty Leak Detection Fluid has more viscosity than Snoop and enhances contact time to provide a more reliable and accurate read. The next video demonstrates this characteristic when we pour HD-LDF from the same small beaker. Notice how each drop is elongated, drawn out with the entire focal length of the video camera being taken up by the long, viscous drop. Now that’s an excellent example of a viscous solution! HD-LDF-C resists flow much better than Snoop so it will do a better job of detecting leaks in difficult places.

So far, we have established the following when comparing HD-LDF-C to Snoop:

• HD-LDF-C bubbles last 10 times longer than Snoop
• HD-LDF-C is a much more viscous solution as compare to Snoop.

Next time we'll talk about price!

HD Leak Detection Fluid Concentrate™ is available at $9.99 for one 16 fluid ounce container. HD-LDF-C is a concentrate. Each bottle makes one gallon. Dilute with water.

HD-LDF-C is non-toxic, non-flammable, freeze protected and freeze thaw stable. HD-LDF-C does not contain free amine, chlorine or ammonia. HD-LDF-C is made in the USA.

Order now: Online Store. Or, if you are a distributor, dealer, retailer or other re-seller, request access to our private product catalog.

Purchase Orders:

1) Fax Purchase Order: 866-255-0476

2) Email Purchase Order: info .at. leak detection fluid .dot. com

3) Call: 612-419-2923

Save time, save money and get the job done right the first time with HD-LDF-C.

“If you can’t find a leak with this stuff, you don’t have one.”

Product Comparison: Snoop® Liquid Leak Detector vs. Heavy-Duty Leak Detection Fluid™ Concentrate

Let’s compare Heavy-Duty Leak Detection Fluid™ Concentrate (HD-LDF-C), manufactured in the USA by Extreme Bubbles, with Snoop® Liquid Leak Detector, manufactured by Swagelok.

Successful thin film leak testing depends on bubbles, so today we'll focus our product comparison on bubble life.

When you apply a thin film of leak detection fluid, in the presence of a leak, a bubble will form. You want the bubble to last long enough for the operator or tester to see the bubbles. Therefore, a leak detection fluid that creates long lasting bubbles is better than one that creates short lived bubbles.

Let’s look at some laboratory test data, comparing bubble life between HD-LDF-C and Snoop. The lab test method was as follows:

With this test method you create a bubble, about the size of a grapefruit. Next, you time how long the bubble lasts. Run a large number of these “bubble life” tests. Then, throw out the highest value and the lowest value. Add the bubble life times of all bubble tests and divide by the number of tests. The answer you have calculated is the average life of a bubble, produced by each of the two test products.

Here are the results, measured in seconds:

• Snoop's average bubble life was seven (7) seconds.
• HD-LDF-C's average bubble life was an amazing sixty seven (67) seconds!

Our bubble life was almost ten times longer as compared to Snoop!

The extremely long bubble life means that HD-LDF-C is easier to use, more reliable and more accurate.

HD Leak Detection Fluid Concentrate™ is available at $9.99 for one 16 fluid ounce container. HD-LDF-C is a concentrate. Each bottle makes one gallon. Dilute with water.

Order now at our online store. Or, if you are a distributor, dealer, retailer or other re-seller, request access to our private product catalog.

Purchase Orders:

1) Fax Purchase Order: 866-255-0476

2) Email Purchase Order: info .at. leak detection fluid .dot. com

3) Call: 612-419-2923

Save time, save money and get the job done right the first time with HD-LDF-C.

“If you can’t find a leak with this stuff, you don’t have one.”

The best method for locating industrial gas leaks

One of the easiest and most accurate methods of locating leaks is called Thin Film Leak Testing.

About Thin Film Leak Testing

This method of testing is very accurate and cost effective. Here's why: Thin Film Leak Testing does not require extensive operator training, does not involve expensive equipment that requires maintenance and calibration, provides immediate results and is extremely sensitive. It's able to detect very small leaks; as small as 7 milliliters per year can be accurately identified with a high tech professional grade leak detection fluid.

What makes a good product?

The most important characteristic in determining a quality formula for use in leak detection applications is viscosity. A viscous fluid is sticky and adhesive, which allows it to remain on the surface and facilitate the formulation of bubbles.

Viscous is good, but thick is bad because it will inhibit the formation of bubbles. The ideal leak detection product should be viscous but not thick, forming a thin layer of clingy soapy solution, even on vertical surfaces or slippery materials. This enables the easy formation of bubbles, which is the most foolproof way of identifying a gas leak.

HD Leak Detection Fluid Concentrate™ is available at $9.99 for one 16 fluid ounce container. HD-LDF-C is a concentrate. Each bottle makes one gallon. Dilute with water.

HD-LDF-C is non-toxic, non-flammable, freeze protected and freeze thaw stable. HD-LDF-C does not contain free amine, chlorine or ammonia. HD-LDF-C is made in the USA.

Order now at our online store. Or, if you are a distributor, dealer, retailer or other re-seller, request access to our private product catalog.

Purchase Orders:

1) Fax Purchase Order: 866-255-0476

2) Email Purchase Order: info .at. leak detection fluid .dot. com

3) Call: 612-419-2923

Save time, save money and get the job done right the first time with HD-LDF-C.

“If you can’t find a leak with this stuff, you don’t have one.”