Water leak dye.

[ancora]

Looking for a DIY leak detector dye to find a water leak in my head/holding tank area. Perhaps some water-based paint?

[Northern Spy]

You can buy water dye in liquid or tablet form. Used in public works application. I actually have some tablets from my past tracing underground storm drain tie-ins to outfalls. Probably the same stuff they use in holding tank overboard detection.

Ask a public works guy. Got mine from Acklands-Grainger.

For low volume, could use food coloring at a high dose.

Can also buy a cheap UV flashlight which might help with some color detection.

[Comodave]

What type of water leak are you having? Is this rain water leaking in or head water leaking out of the system? Depending on what type of leak you have depends what to use to help find it.

[Northern Spy]

Good point. I was thinking plumbing.

[Comodave]

I was thinking maybe the head system.

[syjos]

What kind of toilet?

What is holding tank made of?

Connections with hoses, PVC pipe or combination?

[RonR]

https://www.grainger.com/category/to...t/tracing-dyes

[wkearney99]

The trouble with dyes is then you have a clean up job in addition to fixing the leak.

I find it helpful to use strategically placed bits of paper towel or tissue. Taped in place, if movement is an issue. They'll deform when they absorb water, making for an obvious marker. Then use the remaining dry part to swab up the rest. Brown paper towel also works. But stuff like colored construction paper should be avoided as most aren't colorfast, leading back to the original clean up problem.

[psneeld]

From a trusted advisor...


"NAPA, Walmart, they sell flourescent dye for tracing coolant leaks. Track with little UV flashlight.



https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7652663 "