Leak Detection in Edmonds, WA
Hidden water leaks inside wall cavities, beneath concrete slab foundations, or under front yard lawns can waste thousands of gallons of water and rot building framing before surface signs appear. Our specialized technicians find hidden leaks accurately without destructive guesswork.
Warning Signs of a Concealed Water Leak
Not all plumbing leaks manifest as dramatic geysers. In many Edmonds homes, pinhole leaks in aged copper or failing galvanized joints seep quietly for months. Watch for these subtle warning signs:
- Unexplained Spikes in Your Water Bill: If your monthly City of Edmonds water bill doubles without changes in household occupancy or irrigation habits, pressurized water is escaping continuously.
- Continuous Spinning Water Meter: Turn off all indoor faucets and appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker). Check your water meter outside. If the small low-flow dial or digital flow rate is actively ticking, you have a pressurized leak.
- Warm Spots on Tile or Hardwood Floors: When a hot water supply pipe buried beneath a concrete slab foundation ruptures, hot water warms the flooring above, creating noticeable warm patches.
- Musty Odors & Mold Mildew Growth: Damp air, discolored baseboards, peeling paint, or bubbling wallpaper near plumbing stacks often conceal ongoing slow leaks.
- Sound of Running Water Behind Walls: Hearing a steady hissing or trickling sound when no plumbing fixtures are in use points directly to a pressurized line puncture.
Non-Invasive Diagnostic Technology
Tearing open multiple walls or breaking up finished hardwood floors to guess where a leak is located is costly and unnecessary. We deploy state-of-the-art non-invasive technology:
- Ultrasonic Acoustic Listening Devices: High-sensitivity ground microphones and acoustic amplifiers detect the high-frequency hiss produced by water spraying under 60 PSI through a microscopic pinhole in buried copper or PEX tubing.
- Thermal Infrared Cameras: FLIR thermal imaging cameras detect minuscule temperature differentials behind drywall, ceilings, and under tile surfaces, pinpointing hot-water slab leaks with surgical precision.
- Helium Gas Tracer Detection: For small, deep subterranean leaks under driveways or extensive slabs, we introduce inert, food-grade helium gas into the de-watered pipe. Helium escapes through the fissure and rises through concrete, where electronic sniffing sensors detect it at the exact surface coordinate.
Comprehensive Pipe Repairs & Restorations
Once the exact location of the leak is determined, our team performs precise, minimally invasive repairs. For localized copper breaches, we perform targeted spot repairs. If an older home in Five Corners or Westgate shows pervasive galvanized internal corrosion or multiple pinhole leaks, we provide options for complete whole house repiping to permanently safeguard your home.