What depth of vacuum should be maintained during leak testing?

Maintaining a vacuum of 20 inches during leak testing is important for ensuring the integrity of the system being tested. A vacuum of this depth is sufficient to identify any potential leaks effectively without causing damage to the system components. The level of vacuum helps in creating a differential pressure scenario that compels air to move through any leaks present in the system, making them easier to detect.

In leak testing, if the vacuum level is too low, it might not provide the necessary pressure differential to reveal smaller leaks, which could lead to an undetected failure down the line. On the other hand, using an excessively high vacuum could risk damaging certain components of the system or yielding false positives due to the stress imposed on seals and joints. Therefore, a 20-inch vacuum strikes the right balance, being widely accepted in industry standards for effective leak detection while ensuring system safety.