Leak Detection
Water leak detection is a highly popular service. We use water almost everywhere. Yet, it always implies some danger. Your plumbing, pipes, and appliances might be subject to water leakages. Natural disasters could lead to flooded houses. In any case, if you have even the tiniest water leakage, it could grow into a serious problem. Water leaking through a hole can damage your house interior, including its furnishing. It can lead to swelling and rotting of your flooring. Finally, it could increase the level of humidity, which can result in the appearance of mold and fungus inside your house.
In some cases, missed water leaking can provoke rust growing on metal surfaces, or even destroy concrete walls.
These aftermaths are not visible sometimes, but they are dangerous for the whole household. So, timely leak detection can help you to avoid serious problems.
Water Leak Detection Services
Finding a leak on your own can be tricky if, for example, water is oozing out of pipes underground, or if a leak occurs in a hard-to-reach place, for instance, your pool. You may not even guess that your roof is leaking or that dampness has already started reigning in the basement. In apartments, it is usually easier to detect a water leak, but, in private houses, it could become an unpleasant surprise for the owners.
How can you tell if there is a water leak in your house or a pipe leak in your apartment?
There are several indirect signs that indicate a leaking pipe, a hidden floor leak, or a wall leak:
- The first indicator is wet spots on your floor, plaster or wallpaper.
- The second situation that can alert you to probable leaks in your water or heating pipes is the noise of a jet of water under the floor. If it sounds like a faucet is under your house (but it's not actually there), you probably have a water leak in your pipe.
- But, more often, you can hear a weak background noise. In this case, specialists with a special scanner will be able to pinpoint the very place of a breakthrough or a defect in the pipe.
- Finally, a significant increase in your water bill could be a sign of a leaking pipe. As water is being consumed continuously, the amount of the bill will go up. If you notice an increase that you cannot explain, either your water company is cheating on you or you have a leak!
If you suspect a water leak in your home, do not hesitate. It is better to use water leak detection services without any delay and to fix the problem as quickly as possible.
What is a water leak detection service? First of all, it is a professional visit to your home. The procedures are the following:
- You appoint a convenient time for the specialist's visit.
- On the appointed day, the serviceman arrives at your house fully equipped with all the necessary tools.
- The serviceman or team of pros conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of all the water-carrying systems to determine if there are any leaks in them.
- Well-qualified specialists of water leak detection services always leave the house clean after all the work has been completed.
- If a leak has been found, the technician will draw up a plan for its elimination.
Timely applying to water leak detection services will help you save money and keep your property intact.
Leak Detection Equipment
To provide high-quality water leak detection services, special leak detection equipment is needed. Today, there is no need to dig the ground in your yard, dismantle the tiles in the bathroom or uninstall the flooring to inspect the piping and water supply. To do this, special scanners are used. This method is called non-invasive water leaking detection and it allows to find the breakdown in a quick and economically sound way.
One more type of equipment used for water leaking detection is using a tracer gas - a special compound, which is non-toxic. When this gas is pumped into pipes, it begins to bubble or fizz in the places of leakage. If the place of leaking is in a hard-to-get location, special electronic listening equipment is used.
Modern water leaking detection equipment is a digitally-based, high-precision toolkit, which helps to detect leaks easily and without any trouble for house owners.
Leak Detection Cost
We do know how important it is to reduce costs for your plumbing and piping repair, so we've collected average prices for leak detection services in the US in 2024 to make you aware of potential future expenses.
2024 Leak Detection Cost
Type of Leak Detection | Average Cost |
---|---|
Slab Leak Detection | from $630 to $4,400 (depending on the complexity of the location) |
Pool Leak Detection | from $100 to $500 |
Roof Leak Detection | from $500 to $3,500 |
Underground Leak Detection | from $500 to $2,500 |
All the prices can vary from state to state and they depend much on several factors including the number of leaks, the type of leak detection equipment used and the complexity of all the work done.
Slab Leak Detection
Slab leak detection is a must for every household. If the leak is considerable, it can lead to concrete destruction, which will end with a costly renovation of the whole slab. That's why if you have noticed some strange spots of dampness on the slab or it smells like mold, it is high time to determine the location of the slab leak to avoid a disaster.
Flowing water leads to excessive moisture in the basement, which carries several dangers at once:
- wetting of the slab,
- negative changes in sanitary and hygienic conditions,
- damage to the items stored in the basement,
- corrosion of communications.
All these lead to extra costs. You can avoid paying extra by applying to a slab leak detection service.
Pool Leak Detection
Do not allow water leaks to spoil your summertime. Pool leak detection services can help you to keep your pool intact. You can provide preliminary diagnostics of pool leaks yourself. Just fill the pool with water and make a mark of the water level on the poolside. Check it out in several hours. If the water level becomes lower, a leak can be the reason for this decrease.
The next step should be made by a pro. It is pool leak detection with accurate localization of the leak. The serviceman will do the following:
- Check the entire pool surface. Perhaps, there are some cracks, chips, and scratches somewhere.
- Turn off the filtration system completely as it is necessary to wait until the water level completely stops changing.
- If the water level has changed and remains in the area of the skimmer, most likely, the problem is located there.
- If the water stops moving at the level of the pool lighting fixtures, the leak is somewhere in that area.
- If a large water flow is noticed during the operation of the pump, the problem is in the return water supply.
- Check the pump filter, and how tightly it is fixed.
With the help of pool leak detection services, you can enjoy your pool time without any hassle.
Roof Leak Detection
Finding roof leaks is not always easy. The fact is that the roof area is usually large enough. And water can flow under the roof in one place, but flow out completely from another one. Various techniques are used to competently perform roof leaks detection, including inspection with thermal imagers, video endoscopy, electric or liquid methods for detecting roof leaks. At the same time, experienced servicemen take into account the following factors:
- the type of roof,
- its bias,
- the time that has passed since the last rain until the start of the leak,
- the condition of ventilation, ebb tides and abutments,
- the presence of visible defects in the roof,
- violation of installation instructions.
Either way, a quality roof leak detection service can help you avoid costly repairs or replacement of the entire roof covering.
Underground Leak Detection
Sometimes a water leak does not manifest itself for a long time, and it can only be detected by indirect signs, for example, a pressure drop in the heating boiler, or light wetting in the area of the plinth or junction of the ceiling and the wall.
It may seem that there is nothing to worry about, but this is until the time the leak manifests itself in full force. Leaks in underground pipelines are dangerous due to soil erosion and subsidence of foundations, not to mention inappropriate water consumption.
Hidden underground leak detection is the most difficult type of non-destructive testing. Quite often, even an experienced engineer cannot determine the location and source of the leak.
To provide the underground leaking detection service, special skills and equipment are needed. The serviceman firstly draws up a plan demonstrating the location of underground pipes not to miss a single foot of piping to be tested. Then, special equipment is used to detect the integrity of pipes without direct intervention. After the leak has been detected, the serviceman can provide you either with its local repair or with a thorough plan on how to fix it.
Leak Detection FAQ
How to Detect Water Leaks in the Bathroom?
As the bathroom is usually a room where high humidity is normal, there are other signs of water leaking on the premises. They are sudden puddles on the floor, strange sounds coming from the bathroom piping and plumbing, a specific smell of dampness and mold. If you have noticed at least one of these signs, it is better to apply for water leaking detection services ASAP.
How to Find a Water Leak Inside a Wall?
If you suspect your piping is leaking inside the wall, the first step to be done is to compare your water bills for the last few months. If there is a considerable difference in your water consumption, the reason could be hidden in the water leaking inside the wall. Water leaks in the wall are accompanied by increased humidity and dampness. In any case, the help of a dedicated serviceman will be needed to accurately detect the location of the leak without breaking the wall.
How to Find a Water Leak Under the Concrete Floor?
As usual, detecting leaks in the basement or in a slab is a die-hard task. Yet, it is possible to do it with the help of professional water leak detection servicemen. They use special hi-tech equipment, including ultrasound scanners, electric listening devices and sensors.
Is Leak Detection Covered by Insurance?
The service of leak detection is not covered by the standard insurance policy provided for homeowners. You can apply for a special policy, covering water damage, to get compensation in case of a leak detected.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage Caused by Broken Pipes?
Normally, insurance companies cover water damage caused by broken pipes, in case the leak has happened suddenly and accidentally, e.g. your pipe has burst. If the damage has happened due to poor maintenance or delayed repair, it won't be covered by an ordinary homeowners insurance policy.