Compressed air leak survey with an acoustic camera
Compressed air is one of the most expensive forms of energy in a plant – and leaks waste it around the clock. Our compressed air leak detection service locates leaks with an acoustic camera while production is running: every finding is tagged, and you receive a report with severity ratings and an estimate of what the leaks cost per year.
Measurement work 149 €/h excl. VAT (min. 2 h) · report included · Finland, abroad and ships by arrangement
Why survey compressed air leaks?
Every leak forces the compressor to run longer to keep the network pressure up. Leaks continue at night and at weekends if the network is left pressurised, and they grow as fittings, hoses and seals wear. Energy-efficiency guides commonly estimate that leaks account for a significant share of a typical plant's compressor output.
A survey turns an invisible cost into a prioritised repair list. Because the report shows each leak on a plan, with an image and a tag number, repairs can be planned and their effect verified with a follow-up survey.
What we survey
- Main and branch pipework, joints and drops
- Quick couplings, hose reels and hoses
- Filters, regulators and lubricators (FRL units)
- Valves, cylinders and pneumatic actuators
- Condensate drains and dryers
- Machines and production lines
How does the acoustic camera find it?
Air escaping through a small gap produces turbulent flow and ultrasound. The acoustic camera shows the leak as a coloured sound map on the camera image, even in a noisy hall and from several metres away.
For each finding the camera also gives an estimate of the leak size. Combined with your compressor data and electricity price, the report gives an estimated annual cost for the leaks – an estimate to help prioritise, not a flow measurement.
How the survey works
Preliminary information and estimate
Tell us about the site, the system, its operating pressure or vacuum and the size of the area. We estimate the survey time and send a cost estimate.
Survey during operation
We walk the system's pipework, joints, hoses, valves and equipment with the acoustic camera. The system must be pressurised or running – there is no need to stop production.
Findings tagged and photographed
Each finding is marked on site with a numbered tag and photographed so that it is easy to find for repair.
Report
You receive a report with the findings on a floor-plan map, an image of each finding, severity 1–3 and a recommended action. The report is included in the price and can be delivered in English or Finnish.
Repair
Repairs can be offered case by case depending on the site – or your own maintenance team can carry them out based on the report. A follow-up survey verifies that the leaks have been fixed.
Who is it for?
Manufacturing plants
Compressed air networks, production lines and pneumatic machinery.
Ships
Working and control air systems, starting air lines and pneumatic controls in the engine room.
Food and packaging
Packaging machines, blow-off nozzles and pneumatics.
Workshops
Networks, quick couplings and hose reels.
Mines and quarries
Compressed air networks and pneumatic tools.
Ports and terminals
Workshop and terminal compressed air systems.
Report
Every survey comes with a report, included in the price. The report follows the same structure as our compressed air leak survey reports and can be delivered in English or Finnish.
- Floor-plan map with numbered markers. Each finding is marked on a plan of the site (or a general arrangement drawing of the vessel). The number matches the tag attached on site.
- Image of each finding. The finding is circled in the acoustic camera image, so whoever does the repair finds it immediately.
- Severity 1–3. 1 = minor, monitor; 2 = moderate, repair as planned; 3 = major or a safety risk, repair immediately.
- Recommended action. What to do at each location and in which order – the most severe first.
The images are from an example compressed air leak survey report (company, images and figures are illustrative). The example PDF is in Finnish – your report can be delivered in English. Reports for other systems have the same structure; for compressed air leaks the estimated cost of the leaks per year is also calculated.
Price
Sites vary a lot, so pricing is based on time spent. Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit – for example the compressed air network, gas lines and a vacuum system.
| Measurement work (minimum 2 h) | 149 €/h |
|---|---|
| Report (English or Finnish) | included |
| Travel in Finland | Zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme, elsewhere in the estimate |
| Outside Finland and on ships | Travel, accommodation and travel time quoted per job |
Prices exclude VAT. VAT is applied according to the applicable rules (for example, the reverse-charge mechanism may apply to VAT-registered business customers in other EU countries) and confirmed in the quote. You receive a cost estimate before ordering.
Leak repairs: in Finland, compressed air leak repairs 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts; other repairs case by case.
Ask whether acoustic imaging suits your site
Tell us about the site and what you want to find out, and we will tell you honestly whether an acoustic camera will help – and if it will not, we will say so.
+358 43 211 0516Cost estimate
Request a cost estimate – compressed air leaks
Tell us about the site or vessel, its size, the location (country, city or port) and what you want to find. We estimate the survey time and usually send a cost estimate on the same or the next working day.
+358 43 211 0516Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 (Finnish time)
Frequently asked questions
How is a compressed air leak survey carried out?
We walk the compressed air network with an acoustic camera while the system is pressurised and production is running. Each leak is photographed, tagged on site and marked on a plan. You receive a report with severity ratings, recommended actions and the estimated annual cost of the leaks.
Is the leak cost in the report exact?
No. The leak size is the camera's estimate, not a flow measurement. Combined with your compressor data and electricity price it gives a realistic order of magnitude for prioritising repairs.
Do we need to stop production?
No. The network must be pressurised for the leaks to make a sound, so the survey is done during normal operation.
Do you repair the leaks you find?
Repairs can be offered case by case depending on the site, and the price is agreed separately. In Finland, compressed air leak repairs are charged at 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts. Your own maintenance team or ship's crew can also carry out the repairs based on the report.
How much does an acoustic imaging survey cost?
Measurement work is 149 €/h excl. VAT, minimum 2 hours, and the report is included. In Finland, travel costs are zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme and quoted elsewhere. For assignments outside Finland and on ships, travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job before you order.
Is there an example report?
Yes, there is an example compressed air leak survey report (PDF). The example is in Finnish, but your report can be delivered in English.
Acoustic imaging for other systems too
Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit. All acoustic imaging applications · ships and marine
Gas leaks
Nitrogen, argon, CO2, helium and other pressurised gas pipework – including shielding gas lines in welding shops.Read moreVacuum leaks
Vacuum lines, pumps, suction cups, vacuum tables, packaging machines and vacuum sewage systems.Read moreSteam leaks
Leaks in steam lines, valves, flanges and condensate lines – located from a safe distance.Read more