Portable pipe leak monitoring

Detecting leaks in district heating and cooling networks is crucial, but underground pipelines are often difficult to inspect, allowing problems to develop unnoticed until major damage occurs.

Wioniq’s portable leak detection device enables rapid, on-site assessments of alarm wire loops. Technicians can quickly identify breaks or leaks in real time, ensuring faster response, lower maintenance costs, and reliable system performance across the network.

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Challenges

Risks of unmonitored manholes

Hidden Leaks and Energy Loss

District heating and cooling systems rely on vast underground pipe networks that are difficult to access and inspect. Without proper monitoring, small leaks or corrosion can go undetected for long periods.

Escaping hot or chilled water doesn’t just waste energy — it reduces overall system efficiency and increases operational costs. Over time, these unnoticed leaks can spread, accelerating wear on the network and shortening the lifespan of critical components.

Damage and Costly Repairs

Undetected leaks pose a serious and critical threat to surrounding infrastructure. Escaping water can lead to ground erosion, flooding, and damage to nearby utilities or roadways.

Pressure drops caused by leaks affect the performance of connected buildings and systems, leading to uneven heat distribution or complete service interruptions. By the time a problem becomes visible, repairs often require costly excavation and emergency work, resulting in prolonged downtime and significant financial loss.

Environmental and Operational Impact

Unmonitored pipe networks not only affect system performance but also have environmental consequences. Lost water and heat contribute to unnecessary energy consumption and carbon emissions, while heat transfer to the surrounding soil can disrupt local ecosystems.

From an operational standpoint, a lack of real-time data forces utilities to rely on manual inspections and reactive maintenance — a slow, resource-intensive approach that limits efficiency and increases long-term costs.

How It Works

Quickly connect the portable unit to alarm wire loops to identify leaks or breaks in real time.

Step 1

Real-Time Data Collection

Smart sensors installed in manholes continuously collect critical data such as temperature, pressure, humidity, and liquid levels. This real-time monitoring ensures that even the smallest deviations are detected immediately, providing a constant flow of accurate information from the field. The system operates autonomously, delivering reliable data around the clock — the foundation for proactive maintenance and faster response.

TDR Curve – Insulation Monitoring

The system captures a TDR curve to assess the insulation condition of the district heating pipe. By sending a pulse through the conductor and measuring reflections along its length, the TDR curve makes it possible to identify moisture ingress, impedance changes, and early-stage faults. Any deviation in the curve pattern provides a clear indication of developing issues inside the pipe.

Pipe insulation resistance

Insulation resistance measurement in district heating pipes involves the use of built-in alarm/monitoring wires (such as copper pairs) in the pipe insulation, assessed with specialized resistance meters, checking for moisture ingress or cable breaks via insulation resistance and loop resistance measurements, and increasingly today supplemented with portable or automated TDR (advanced waveform analysis) measurements for overall status and accurate fault location in meters.

replacement and reconstruction of the heating system pipelines on the street in the city

Step 2

Wioniq Platform & Instant Alerts

All collected data is sent directly to the Wioniq platform, where it’s processed and visualized in real time. The intuitive dashboard gives a clear overview of all connected units and their status. When thresholds are exceeded or unusual activity is detected, instant alerts are sent via SMS, email, or integrated systems — enabling quick, informed decisions and minimizing downtime.

Energy IQ - Connect, monitor and control - All in one place.

The Wioniq IQ Platform EnergyIQ connects your sensors, devices and control systems in a single, intuitive interface. It processes real-time data, turns it into actionable insights and lets you take control instantly, whether in the cloud or on-premises.

Insights Through Historical Data & Trends

All collected data is securely stored and analyzed over time, turning real-time monitoring into valuable insights. By identifying trends and recurring patterns, the platform helps predict potential issues before they occur. Historical data supports smarter maintenance planning, reduces operational costs, and drives long-term system reliability.

FULL PROVIDER

Complete support. Every step.

Installation to operation

With Wioniq, you’re never on your own. We support you through every stage — from initial setup to full operation — ensuring your monitoring system performs flawlessly from day one.

Assistance when you need it

Our dedicated team helps with installation, configuration, and data interpretation. We make sure your system is optimized, accurate, and delivering the insights you need.

Built for reliability and results

Combining robust hardware, a powerful platform, and committed service, Wioniq delivers a complete, dependable solution for smart infrastructure monitoring.

WIONIQ DISTRICT HEATING APPLICATIONS

Related applications.

Pipe leak monitoring system

District heating and cooling networks rely on underground pipes that are often difficult to access — making leaks costly and hard to detect. Wioniq’s real-time monitoring provides continuous insight across the network, enabling early leak detection and precise localization. This proactive approach reduces energy loss, prevents damage, and ensures reliable system performance.

Manhole monitoring

Manholes in district heating systems are hard to access and monitor, making it difficult to detect leaks, flooding, and pressure or temperature issues.

Contact us

Get in touch with us today and learn how our innovative solutions can transform your operations by putting actionable insights in your hands.

Dan Wärja

Commercial Manager

Wioniq Nordic

+46 702 38 50 04

dan.warja@wioniq.com