Leak testing my drysuit, myself....

[wgw04024]

The last couple of dives this weekend I was getting a bit wet. Somewhat new to the drysuit, although I am really enjoying it. It's DUI with a factory plastic zipper. Could I simply put that on without undergarments, and walk into my local pond to ensure that it doesn't leak, or where it is leaking if it is? It's somewhere around the zipper, and maybe I didn't snug it down 100%, or it needs more wax.

I could bring it to the shop, but between the time and cost, ugh.

Is this something other people have done, or is there a better way to leak test it one self?

TIA.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

The last couple of dives this weekend I was getting a bit wet. Somewhat new to the drysuit, although I am really enjoying it. It's DUI with a factory plastic zipper. Could I simply put that on without undergarments, and walk into my local pond to ensure that it doesn't leak, or where it is leaking if it is? It's somewhere around the zipper, and maybe I didn't snug it down 100%, or it needs more wax.

I could bring it to the shop, but between the time and cost, ugh.

Is this something other people have done, or is there a better way to leak test it one self?

TIA.

I used to get the suit fully dry, plug the wrist and neck seals, insert a hose in one of those openings and fill it with water. Any leaks will become obviously very quickly!

 

[lexvil]

Simple way; put on light color undergarments, like common grey sweats, walk into pond/pool, squeal down to make sure the whole suit is under, as soon as you feel some wet or at 5 minutes get out towel off the outside of the suit and take it off, look for wet spots.

Slightly less simple way; plug the openings with what you can find that the seals will seal on pressurize the suit and sprat a soap mixture on it and looks for bubbles.

Stop putting wax on the plastic zip.

 

[davehicks]

The simplest and often good-enough method is to use a flashlight. Go into a room with no windows, close the door and turn off the lights. Have a dive light and a silver sharpie (or any color you can see on your suit). Put the divelight inside the suit and move the head around the areas you suspect have a hole. If you see a pinprick of light, circle it with the Sharpie. Use some aquaseal and optionally some patching material to cover the spots with the holes. (glue and patch on the inside of the suit)

If you leak test the suit in a pool or hot-tub or whatever, put on some light-colored sweats that will clearly show the water spots from leaks.

 

[wgw04024]

Thanks for the suggestions/reinforcement.

So don't wax the whole zipper, just the end then eh?

 

[inquis]

So don't wax the whole zipper, just the end then eh?

Brass zips get waxed. Plastic zips get silicone grease (or similar, like Ti-Zip) at the closed end.

 

[sea_ledford]

You can use appropriately sized inflated balloons to block the wrist seals, for the neck I use a medium Norwegian buoy. Balloons tend to pop out of the neck seal for me.

Inflate the suit and spray with soapy water to find the leaks.

Additional benefit: you can stand up the inflated suit and leave it in a dark room to scare the bejesus out of anyone that turns on the light. Probably yourself included once you forget it's in there!

 

[lizardland]

Leak testing is extremely easy to do and will give you much more accurate results.

The way I do it... Turn the suit inside out and close the zip by putting your hand through the neck. A couple of plastic beakers in the cuffs, electrical tape them in place. To close off the neck I use a small plastic bucket (one of those big tubs that yoghurt comes in) into which I have glued a valve from a paddleboard. Stick the bucket in the neck and tape it in place as well. Inflate the suit with a pump until it's fairly firm. Give the suit a good soaking with just plain water. You may actually hear the leak at this stage. Get a spray bottle with a water/soap solution in it (I use one of those ones you pump up to pressure and pull the trigger, it makes life easier) and liberally spray the suit. Give it a rub with your hand as you go, add more water if it looks dry. If you do this outside you may need to go round to your neighbours afterwards and explain why you are fondling a large inflatable headless human. Leaks will bubble, it's very obvious. Keep the pressure up with the pump as you are doing it. Mark any leaks with a wax crayon. And photograph them as you go, they will be harder to see when the suit dries.

It probably takes longer to write this than actually do it. Making the bucket with the valve is a bit of hassle but it is an excellent tool to have. It makes suit testing so much easier.

 

[macado]

All sorts of methods you can use but first try the easiest approaches and check some basics first.

How wet is wet? Are your ungarmented completely soaked? Is water sloshing in your boots? Are you seeing areas of dampness around your neck or stomach?

First, as others said, inspect the inside of the suit with a flashlight. Depending on the material you will see light coming through where there are holes or abrasion marks. You could have a small pin hole somewhere.

Pay close attention to the teeth of the zipper and where it is glued or sewn into the suit. Make sure material is not delaminating, cracked or pulling away from the suit. I've seen plastic zippers teeth crack or the material de-laminate.

Sometimes being wet in the chest / stomach area can also come from a loose fitting or rolled neck seal. If it is a zipseal then also make sure it's inserted properly and there are no pin holes in the seal. It's rare but if the zipseal is not properly inserted has pulled out a little bit it can look like a zipper leak.

It could also be a loose inflation valve on the suit although DUI doesnt typically use gaskets, they use a bead of RTV silicone. You should still make sure the valve is tight on the suit and doesnt spin off easily. This is easy to test/check.

While I prefer the inside out method for locating leaks you can also do a decent job by plugging the wrist seals with bottles or glasses, put a big container/vase or bowl in the neck seal and then inflate the suit on the outside and spray with soapy water.

 

[OTF]

Plug wrists and neck with plastic bottles, inflate, use a spray bottle of soapy water to detect bubbling leaks. If that doesn't do it, turn it inside out and do the same. Inflating it inside out requires a wrist or neck plug with a LP fitting, or temporarily removing the inflator button and installing it "inside out". Use chalk or a marker to mark the leak (can be annoying when wet with soapy water). This method can detect anything down to very small pinhole leaks with high precision.

Pro tip: if you leave your soapy water spray bottle sitting for months it might get icky so either use it all up or put a tiny bit of disinfectant like steramine in there.