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ABC Plumbing

Leak Detection · Acoustic and thermal

Leak Detection

A bill that suddenly jumps, a damp patch on the wall or the sound of water when everything is off can all point to a leak you cannot see. We find it with instruments, so we open only the spot that needs opening.

Call 1-800-555-0199

CSLB #C-000000 · Licensed & insured
Office open 7 days a week. Emergency plumbers on call 24/7.

When to call

Signs you need leak detection

  • A water meter that keeps moving when every fixture and appliance is off
  • A water bill that jumped with no change in how your household uses water
  • Warm spots on the floor, or hot water that takes a long time to reach the tap
  • A musty smell, peeling paint, bubbling drywall or new cracks in tile and baseboards
  • The sound of running or hissing water when everything is turned off
  • Low water pressure throughout the house that came on gradually

What you get

The ABC Plumbing difference

  • Acoustic listening, thermal imaging and pressure testing find the leak, so walls and floors are opened only where they need to be
  • Detection led by Priya Nair, our leak detection technician, who works with acoustic and thermal tools every day
  • A marked, documented location before anyone cuts into drywall, tile or concrete
  • A written report with readings and photos to support an insurance claim or a utility adjustment request
  • A written flat-rate price before repairs begin, with the diagnostic fee credited toward the repair if you go ahead
  • Small, neat access openings, protected floors and a full clean-up when we finish

Where leaks hide

The places hidden leaks turn up

Water that escapes out of sight rarely announces itself. These are the usual suspects, and the first places we check.

  • Under the slab

    Copper lines run beneath the concrete in many homes built decades ago. Over time they wear through, and the first sign is often a warm floor or a higher bill.

  • Inside walls and ceilings

    A pinhole in a supply line or a failing shower valve can soak insulation and framing for months before a stain ever appears.

  • Hot-water lines

    Heat gives these leaks away. Thermal imaging shows a warm patch on a floor or wall long before there is any visible water.

  • Fixtures that run silently

    A toilet flapper that leaks a trickle into the bowl is the most common cause of a mystery bill, so we rule out fixtures before we look underground.

  • Sprinkler and drip lines

    Landscape lines, valves and hose bibs can leak unnoticed, soaking soil and inflating bills, especially in planted hillside yards.

  • The line from the street

    The service line from the meter to your house is usually yours to maintain, and it can leak under a lawn or driveway for a long time.

How we find it

Finding the leak

  1. 01

    Test

    Meter and pressure tests confirm that a leak exists and tell us which line is losing water, so we never chase the wrong pipe.

  2. 02

    Pinpoint

    Acoustic and thermal tools mark the exact spot, and tracer gas helps with the hardest cases.

  3. 03

    Explain

    You get each repair option with its cost and likely lifespan, in writing, before we open a single wall.

  4. 04

    Repair

    A small access opening, a clean repair and surfaces restored. Larger repairs are scheduled on your terms.

The one-hour meter test

You can check for a leak yourself in about an hour. Turn off every fixture and appliance, including the ice maker and irrigation, then find your water meter, usually in a box near the street or the front of the house. Note the reading, or look for the small leak indicator, a tiny triangle or dial that spins whenever any water is flowing.

Check again after an hour without using water. If the reading changed, or the indicator is still moving, water is escaping somewhere. Call us and tell us what you saw.

How we locate it

Acoustic listening devices pick up the sound of escaping water through slab and soil. Thermal imaging highlights temperature differences from hot-water line leaks. Pressure testing isolates which line is losing water, and tracer gas helps with the hardest cases.

The result is a marked location, not a guess, so access work is small and targeted.

Slab leaks and repair options

Many homes in our area have copper lines under the concrete slab that wear through over time. Depending on the case we can spot-repair, reroute the line through walls or attic, or recommend repiping when the pipe is failing in many places.

You get each option with its cost and likely lifespan before we start. If the pipe is failing in several spots, patching one of them only moves the problem, and we will say so plainly.

Irrigation, the service line and your water bill

Landscape water lines, hose bibs and the service line from the street can leak unnoticed, soaking soil and inflating bills. We check these too, and can document a leak for a utility adjustment request.

Whether your water agency grants an adjustment is up to them, but a written report with readings and photos gives your request something solid to stand on.

Suspect a hidden leak? Call us.

Tell us what you are seeing on the meter or the bill. We will explain how detection works and what it costs before anyone drives over.

Call 1-800-555-0199

FAQ

Common questions about leak detection

Still unsure? The quickest answer is a two-minute call. We will never pressure you into a visit you do not need.

Call 1-800-555-0199

Only where the leak is, and only after we pinpoint it. Detection is what avoids unnecessary demolition.

Leak Detection · Laguna Beach and the coast

Need leak detection today?

Call and speak with a local, licensed plumber. You get a clear price before any work starts, and a tidy job when we leave.

Call 1-800-555-0199

Office open 7 days a week. Emergency plumbers on call 24/7.

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