What are the Different Types of Leak Tests?

Whether it’s through a manufacturing defect such as a crack or broken seal, or simply an imperfection in the product design, any gas or liquid that unintentionally flows through an object signifies a leak. Leak tests are used to identify a leak exists and measure the size of the leak.

While we’d like to believe every product on the market can offer a 100% leak-free guarantee, most manufacturers allow for a specified “leak limit” when approving products good for public use. It’s within this scale that a leak test is used to determine if the product or system is functioning properly. 

There are several types of leak tests: pressure, pressure decay, mass flow, trace gas, flow tests, etc. How you decide which one to use depends on the product or system you are testing. For example, a mass flow test is highly effective in detecting small leaks in gas meters, appliances and exhaust systems. So, the next time you’re worried your car radiator is leaking coolant, you’ll know exactly which leak test would yield the most accurate results. 

Industry-Specific Leak Tests

With a greater understanding of what a leak test is, it’s easy to realize just how many products and systems would need to be tested before becoming available on the market. At Uson, we work with four major industries that need our services:

Automotive

Whether you’re a car owner or a mass commuter, it’s assumed the majority of us experience modern transportation every single day. The engines, fuel injectors, transmissions, even the cooling systems of cars and buses need to be tested and retested before going to market. 

Uson tests the power steering, axles, cylinder heads, engine cavity, brake calipers, emission controls, exhaust systems, and fuel systems among a number of other components to ensure you get where you’re going in a safe, reliable way. 

Medical

Whether it’s for a regular check-up or a serious surgery, patients need to know the medical equipment being used can provide the best care. Uson works with leading medical device manufacturers to ensure the peak performance of a wide range of components and assemblies like aspirators, blood bags, bottles and flasks, catheters, centrifuges, well plates and even chemotherapy pumps. 

Going to the doctor’s office can be stressful enough, but because of extensive leak testing, you can rest assured the equipment has been vetted by the experts. 

Industrial

In such a fast-paced economy, there is an expectation to deliver more models, more options, and more units in just about every market. Industrial companies specifically rely on tests to identify any product flaws, machinery faults and recalls down the line. Imagine the headache of a constantly leaking faucet or a fire sprinkler leak. Luckily, Uson created ways to avoid that.

Leak tests are used on a variety of household and daily systems manufactured in the industrial realm: Beverage dispensers, camping equipment, coffee makers, dishwasher components, faucets, and garbage disposals. 

Packaging

Think of all the various items packaging manufacturers are asked to box, bottle or bag. Whether it’s the plastic encasing your kid’s applesauce or a sterile package for a surgical product, almost everything we consume comes in a package. 

For this industry, leak testing is not a luxury expense, it’s a necessity. Finding the most effective way to package goods like medical devices, coffee and cooked meats is the challenge Uson solves.

We Need Leak Tests

Leak testing is an integral step in the manufacturing process. As consumers, we have certain standards we expect when buying or using a product and without leak tests, we’d not only be disappointed, but we could also be putting ourselves at risk. We can only attribute the safety and assurance we feel when using everyday objects with the leak tests performed before releasing products to the public.