Find hidden water leaks before they damage your foundation.

Leak detection is about finding a leak without tearing into walls and floors to look for it. The goal is to pinpoint the source so any repair can be limited to the smallest area possible.

The first clue is often your water meter. Turn off every fixture and appliance, read the meter, wait fifteen to thirty minutes and read it again. If the numbers change, water is going somewhere. If you also shut the main valve to the house and the meter stops, the leak is inside; if it keeps moving, the leak is likely between the meter and the home.

Other clues include a sudden increase in your water bill, the sound of running water when nothing is on, low water pressure, warm spots on a floor, damp or stained drywall, a musty smell, or mold growth. Not every clue means a hidden leak, but several together do.

Plumbers use several methods to locate leaks. Pressure tests isolate sections of pipe to see whether they hold pressure. Acoustic listening devices pick up the sound of water escaping a pipe. Thermal imaging can show temperature differences that point to moisture. Tracing tools help follow a pipe path behind a wall or under a slab.

Each method has limits, so we often combine them. A pressure test tells us which line is affected, listening narrows the area and other tools confirm the spot. The goal is to be confident before anyone opens a wall.

Once the leak is found, we explain what happened, what the repair involves, what finishes may be affected and what it will cost. You get a written quote before work begins.

Water damage continues after the leak is stopped. Wet insulation, drywall and flooring need to dry, and mold can begin to grow within a couple of days in damp materials. Fans and dehumidifiers help, and larger losses may need a restoration company. Take photos for your insurer.

Slab leaks deserve special mention. They can cause warm floors, cracks, lifting flooring and large water bills. Our guide on slab leaks versus pipe leaks explains how they differ from other leaks, and our slab leak repair page covers repair options.

Do not ignore a small mystery bill increase. A leak that wastes a little water every day adds up over a month. Our guide on lowering your water bill covers the meter test in more detail.

If you have found a leak and need it repaired, see our leaking pipes and pipe repair pages.

What to do while you wait for service: shut off the main valve if water is actively flowing, move belongings away from wet areas, turn off power to wet areas only if you can do so safely and take photos of the damage and the meter reading. These steps limit damage and give us useful information when we arrive.

Why early detection saves money: a leak found while it is small usually means a smaller repair, less drywall and flooring to replace and less risk of mold. A leak found after months of seepage can mean structural drying, replaced materials and a much larger bill. Checking your meter once a month is a simple habit that can catch a problem early.

What we need from you: tell us when you first noticed the problem, where you see water or stains, what your water bill looked like compared with last year and whether the meter moves with everything off. If you have a recent plumbing repair or remodel, mention that as well, because it can point to the source.

What we leave you with: a clear explanation of where the leak was, what caused it, what we repaired and what to watch for. If we find other worn parts, such as old shutoff valves or supply lines, we point them out so you can plan ahead, but we do not add work without your approval.