Detection & location
Compressed air leak detection
Compressed air leak detection in Québec: point-by-point pinpointing, loss estimation and a prioritized repair list. A service distinct from the air audit.
Leak detection locates the compressed air losses across your network — from the compressor to the point of use — and quantifies what they cost you. It is often the fastest and most cost-effective way to cut your air consumption.
It is a service distinct from the compressed air audit. The audit measures your system’s energy performance — before and after an efficiency project — and is used to access financial-incentive programs; leak detection targets the losses directly and is routine maintenance. The two complement each other, but answer different needs.
Once the leaks are located, you receive a prioritized list of repairs to carry out — often achievable with simple parts: quick couplings, hoses, seals and drains.
On a typical industrial network, 20 to 30% of the compressed air produced escapes through leaks (U.S. DOE · Compressed Air Challenge). Finding and fixing them is one of the most cost-effective efficiency actions — and the fastest to pay back.
When leak detection is warranted
- A compressor running at night or on weekends, with no production
- Audible hissing near fittings, hoses or valves
- Unstable pressure or a drop at the end of the line
- High or rising compressed-air electricity bill
- Temptation to add a compressor to fix “running out of air”
- And more, depending on your installation
How we proceed
- Survey of the network under real operating conditions (under pressure, in production)
- Point-by-point leak location: fittings, hoses, valves, drains and points of use
- On-site tagging of leaks to make repairs easier
- Estimation of the lost flow and the associated annual cost
- Prioritized list of fixes — from the quickest win to the most complex
What you receive
- An inventory of located leaks, with their estimated magnitude
- The estimated annual cost of the energy losses
- A repair list prioritized by payback
- Parts recommendations for the fixes
Estimate your leak cost — and the savings within reach
Three inputs are all it takes. The simulator applies industry statistics (U.S. DOE) to put a dollar figure on your leaks and on what you can recover quickly.
1 — Your system
2 — Your leak rate
3 — What it means
Assumptions: ~0.8 kW/HP at full load; ~4 SCFM/HP at ~100 psi. Leak statistics: U.S. DOE / Compressed Air Challenge — a plant without a repair program typically loses 20–30% of its compressed air to leaks; a well-managed system stays under 10%; about half of all leaks (couplers, hoses, drains) can be fixed without major investment. Leak repair is a maintenance activity: it is not eligible for Hydro-Québec incentives (which target energy-efficiency projects). Indicative estimates; actual results vary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between leak detection and a compressed air audit?
Leak detection targets the losses on your network directly and is maintenance. The compressed air audit measures your system’s energy performance, before and after an efficiency project, and is used to access financial-incentive programs. They are two distinct services that complement each other.
Is leak repair eligible for a subsidy?
No. Leak repair is considered maintenance and is not eligible under Hydro-Québec’s Solutions efficaces program, which targets energy-efficiency projects. Leak detection remains one of the most cost-effective actions nonetheless, regardless of any financial support.
Does production have to stop during detection?
No. Detection is performed on a network in operation, under pressure, without interrupting production.
How many leaks can be fixed quickly?
A good share of a network’s leaks can be fixed with simple parts — quick couplings, hoses, seals and drains. The prioritized list you receive separates the quick fixes from the heavier interventions.
Let’s talk about your compressed air system
A free consultation to pinpoint your fastest wins.