Leak detection guides
Straight answers from a local leak detection team: how to check for a leak yourself, what the signs mean, and when it’s time to call a professional.
How to Find a Water Leak in Your House
Start with your water meter: turn off every faucet and water-using appliance, note the reading, and wait one to two hours. If the meter moves, you have a leak. Then check toilets with a dye test, look under sinks and around the water heater, and close the main shutoff to tell whether the leak is inside the house or in the line outside.
Read the guide Irrigation Leak DetectionHow to Find a Leak in Your Sprinkler System
Run each zone one at a time and look for soggy spots, bubbling soil, weak heads or water at the valve box. If the water meter moves while the sprinklers are off, the leak is in the always-pressurized mainline or a valve. If it only leaks while a zone runs, the break is in that zone's lateral line or a head.
Read the guide Professional Leak DetectionHow Professional Leak Detection Works
Professional leak detection narrows the leak down in stages. A pressure test confirms which line is leaking, then acoustic ground microphones, correlators or tracer gas locate the exact spot, and thermal imaging and moisture meters confirm what's happening inside walls and floors. The goal is to mark the leak within inches so only a small area is opened.
Read the guide Professional Leak DetectionHow Much Does Leak Detection Cost?
Leak detection cost depends on how many lines need testing, where the leak is (in a wall, under a slab, in the yard or in a pool), how easy the pipes are to reach, and which equipment the job needs. Detection is priced separately from the repair, and it usually costs far less than opening floors or walls to search by guesswork.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionHow to Find a Slab Leak
Signs of a slab leak include warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water with everything off, a water meter that keeps moving, and a sudden jump in your water bill. Confirm it with a meter test, then close the water heater inlet to see whether it's a hot or cold line. Finding the exact spot under concrete takes professional acoustic, thermal or tracer gas equipment.
Read the guide Underground Water Leak DetectionHow to Find an Underground Water Leak
Turn off all water, close the main shutoff valve where the line enters your house, and watch the water meter. If it still moves, the leak is in the buried service line between the meter and the house. Walk that path for soggy, sunken or extra-green ground. To pinpoint it without digging, professionals listen along the line with acoustic equipment or use tracer gas on plastic pipe.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionHow to Find a Water Leak Inside a Wall
Look for stains, bubbling or peeling paint, soft drywall, warped baseboards and musty smells, usually near a bathroom, kitchen or laundry. Do a meter test to see if a supply line is leaking, run nearby fixtures to check drains, and use a moisture meter to find the wettest point. Professionals confirm the spot with thermal imaging and acoustic listening before any drywall is cut.
Read the guide Pool & Spa Leak DetectionHow to Find a Pool Leak
Start with the bucket test: set a bucket of pool water on the pool step, mark both water levels, and compare after 24 hours. If the pool drops more than the bucket, it's leaking. Compare the loss with the pump on and off to narrow it to the plumbing or the shell, then use dye near skimmers, returns, lights and cracks to find the exact spot.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionSmart Water Leak Detectors vs. Professional Leak Detection
Smart leak detectors warn you that water is escaping. Spot sensors catch water where they sit, flow monitors notice continuous water use, and automatic shutoff valves can stop the water. None of them tell you where a hidden leak is inside a wall, under a slab or in a buried line. That's what professional leak detection does.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWhy Is My Water Bill So High? 9 Things to Check
A sudden jump in your water bill usually comes from a leak (most often a running toilet), seasonal use like lawn watering, or a billing change such as an estimated reading or a rate increase. Compare the bill's usage in gallons with past months, then do a meter test with all water off. If the meter moves, work through toilets, faucets, appliances, irrigation and finally hidden leaks.
Read the guide Professional Leak DetectionHow to Choose a Leak Detection Company
Choose a leak detection company that confirms the leak before touching anything, tests each line to isolate it, pinpoints the spot with acoustic, thermal or tracer gas equipment, and marks it with photos you can give your plumber and insurer. Ask how they work, what they use, and what you get at the end. Be wary of anyone who wants to break floors or walls before testing.
Read the guide Professional Leak DetectionLeak Detection Specialist vs. Plumber: Who Should Find Your Leak?
Call a plumber for leaks you can see — a dripping faucet, a running toilet, a leaking supply line under a sink. Call a leak detection specialist when the leak is hidden: under the slab, inside a wall, in the buried water line, in a pool or in the sprinklers. The specialist finds and marks the exact spot; the plumber then repairs it through one small opening.
Read the guide Professional Leak DetectionIs Professional Leak Detection Worth It?
Usually, yes, when the leak is hidden. Non-invasive leak detection finds and marks the leak before anything is opened, so the repair needs one small opening instead of several exploratory holes in tile, concrete, drywall or lawn. It isn't needed when the leak is visible and easy to reach, like a dripping faucet or a running toilet.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWater Leak Emergency: What to Do in the First Hour
Shut off the main water valve first. If water is near outlets or appliances, turn off power to that area at the breaker, but only if you can do it from a dry spot. Move belongings out of the water, take photos for insurance, and start drying. Then find the source: a visible burst pipe needs a plumber; a hidden leak needs leak detection before anything is opened.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionSlab Leak Repair Options: Spot Repair, Reroute or Repipe?
There are three main ways to fix a slab leak. A spot repair opens the concrete at the marked leak and fixes that section. A reroute abandons the leaking line and runs a new one through the walls or attic. A repipe replaces most or all of the supply lines. The right choice depends on the pipe's age and condition, how many leaks there have been, and where the leak is.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionDoes Homeowners Insurance Cover Slab Leaks?
Often in part. Many homeowners policies cover sudden water damage from a slab leak and the cost of getting access to the pipe (sometimes called tear-out), but not the repair of the worn pipe itself. Damage from slow, long-term leaks may be excluded. Policies vary, so check yours, call your insurer early, and keep the leak detection report and photos.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionFrozen Pipes: How to Find a Hidden Leak After a Freeze
A frozen pipe often doesn't leak until it thaws, because the ice plugs the crack. After a hard freeze, do a meter test with every fixture off: if the meter moves, a pipe is leaking somewhere. Check exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages and outside faucets, then have hidden leaks pinpointed with moisture mapping, thermal imaging and acoustic listening before opening walls.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWater Leaking From the Ceiling: What to Do and How to Find the Source
Turn off power to the area if water is near lights or outlets, catch the water and keep people away from any sagging drywall. Then check the timing: a leak that appears only in rain points to the roof, while one that drips in dry weather or when a fixture above is used points to plumbing. A moving water meter with everything off means a pressurized supply line is leaking.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionHear Water Running When Nothing Is On? Here's What It Means
The sound of running water with every fixture off usually means water is moving somewhere it shouldn't. The most common cause is a toilet leaking from the tank into the bowl; the next is a hidden supply line leak in a wall, ceiling or under the slab. Check your water meter with everything off. If it moves, water is leaking, and a toilet dye test tells you whether the toilet is the cause.
Read the guide Underground Water Leak DetectionLow Water Pressure in the Whole House: Is It a Leak?
Whole-house low pressure usually comes from a failing pressure-reducing valve, a main shutoff or meter valve that isn't fully open, corroded galvanized pipe, a utility pressure problem, or a leak in the service line. Measure the pressure with a gauge at an outside faucet, then do a meter test with everything off. Low pressure plus a moving meter points to a leak.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionWater Heater Leaking? Causes and What to Do First
Turn off the power or gas to the water heater and close the cold water inlet valve. Then find where the water comes from: the relief valve or its discharge pipe, the inlet and outlet fittings, the drain valve, condensation, or the tank itself. A leak from the tank body usually means replacement. If the heater is dry but runs constantly and the meter moves, look for a hot water leak elsewhere, such as under the slab.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWater in the Basement or Crawl Space: Plumbing Leak or Groundwater?
Check the water meter with everything off: if it moves, a pressurized pipe is leaking. Water that shows up only after rain usually comes from outside, through the wall-floor joint, cracks or poor drainage. Sweating pipes and damp walls in humid weather are condensation. A foil taped to the wall for 24–48 hours tells condensation from seepage.
Read the guide Underground Water Leak DetectionWater Line Replacement Cost in Indiana: Meter to House
Replacing the main water line from the meter to the house commonly costs about $2,000 to $5,800 nationally, or roughly $50 to $290 per foot, depending on length, depth, pipe material and what's above the line. Trenchless replacement often runs $3,200 to $8,000. A single leak in an otherwise sound line can usually be spot-repaired for much less once it has been pinpointed.
Read the guide Underground Water Leak DetectionWell Pump Keeps Running? Causes and How to Check for a Leak
A well pump that keeps running or cycles on with no water in use usually has one of four problems: a pressure switch that isn't shutting off, a waterlogged pressure tank, a leaking check valve, or a leak somewhere between the pump and your fixtures. Watch the pressure gauge with all water off. If the pressure slowly drops and the pump kicks on, water is escaping, either back down the well or out of a leak.
Read the guide Underground Water Leak DetectionWater Leak Under the Driveway: How to Confirm It and Find It
Water coming up through driveway cracks or joints in dry weather, a spot that never dries, or a sinking slab often means the water service line or an irrigation line is leaking underneath. Turn off all water and check the meter; then close the irrigation valve and the house shutoff to see which line it is. The leak can be pinpointed with line tracing, acoustic listening and tracer gas, so only a small section of concrete is cut, or the line is rerouted around the driveway.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWater Bill Leak Adjustment in Indiana: How to Request One
Many water utilities will reduce a high bill caused by a leak on your side of the meter, but only after the leak is repaired and usually only once in a set period. Call your utility's customer service, ask about their leak adjustment policy, and send proof: the repair invoice, photos, and ideally a leak detection report showing where the leak was. Policies differ, so ask your own utility for the rules and deadline.
Read the guide Thermal Imaging InspectionBurst Pipe Insurance Claim in Indiana: What to Do, Step by Step
Shut off the main water, cut power to wet areas if it's safe, and photograph everything before cleanup. Call your insurer or agent the same day, take reasonable steps to stop further damage, and keep every receipt. Most Indiana homeowners policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, but not the pipe itself or damage from a slow leak that went on for a long time. Get the leak's location and cause documented.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionToilet Leaking at the Base: Causes, Fixes and Hidden Damage
Water that appears at the base of the toilet after flushing usually means the wax ring seal has failed, often because the toilet rocks or the bolts are loose. Before blaming the wax ring, rule out condensation on the tank, a dripping supply line or shutoff valve, and a cracked tank or bowl. A leaking wax ring should be replaced soon, because every flush can soak the subfloor and the ceiling below.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionShower Pan Leak: Signs, How to Test It and What to Do
A leaking shower pan lets water through the floor of the shower into the subfloor, often showing up as a stain on the ceiling below, loose tile, or water at the base of the wall or toilet next to the shower. Test by plugging the drain and flooding the shower floor with about 2 inches of water. If the level drops or a stain appears below, the pan or drain is leaking.
Read the guide Underground Water Leak DetectionSump Pump Running Constantly? Causes and What to Check
A sump pump that runs nonstop usually has a stuck float switch, a failed check valve letting water flow back into the pit, a frozen or clogged discharge line, or more water reaching the pit than the pump can handle. If it runs a lot in dry weather, the water may be groundwater from a high water table, or a plumbing leak such as a broken water line soaking the soil around the foundation.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionRefrigerator Water Line Leak: How to Find It and Fix It
Pull the fridge out, turn off its water supply and dry everything, then run the water back on and watch the shutoff valve, the line and the connection on the back of the fridge. Most leaks are at a saddle valve, a cracked plastic line, or a loose fitting. Replace plastic lines and saddle valves with a proper shutoff and a braided stainless line, then check under the floor for water that's already spread.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWater Softener Leaking? Causes and Fixes for Indiana Homes
Most water softener leaks come from the bypass valve O-rings, loose inlet or outlet fittings, the drain line, an overflowing brine tank, or a cracked resin tank. Put the softener in bypass, dry it off and watch where water reappears. If the softener is dry but the floor around it stays wet, or the meter moves with everything off, the leak is elsewhere in the plumbing.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionHow to Shut Off the Water to Your House
Find the main shutoff valve where the water line enters the house, usually in the basement, crawl space, utility room, near the water heater, or in the garage. Turn a round gate-valve handle clockwise until it stops, or turn a lever ball valve a quarter turn so the handle crosses the pipe. If you can't find or close it, the meter pit or curb stop outside can shut off the water, but call your utility first unless it's an emergency.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionOutside Spigot Leaking: Dripping, Handle Leaks and Leaks Inside the Wall
A spigot that drips from the spout usually needs a new washer or cartridge. Water around the handle means a loose packing nut or worn packing. Water inside the house or down the foundation when the spigot is on usually means the valve body or the pipe behind it cracked in a freeze, often because a hose was left connected. That leak needs the spigot replaced and the wall checked for water damage.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionBurst Pipe: What to Do, What Causes It and How It's Repaired
Shut off the main water valve, turn off power to wet areas if you can do it safely, open faucets to drain the lines, and call a plumber. Pipes usually burst from freezing, high water pressure, corrosion or physical damage. If you can't see the break but water is appearing or the meter is spinning, the burst is hidden and should be located before walls or floors are opened.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionPinhole Leaks in Copper Pipes: Causes, Signs and Repair Options
Pinhole leaks are tiny holes caused by corrosion from the inside of copper pipe, driven by water chemistry, high water velocity, and sometimes thin-wall pipe. One pinhole can be fixed by cutting out the damaged section. If you've had several in a few years, the rest of the pipe is likely thinning too, and rerouting or repiping is often more cost-effective than chasing leak after leak.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionSlab Leak Repair Cost: What You'll Pay and What Drives It
National cost guides put a typical slab leak repair at about $2,000 to $4,000, with a simple spot repair often around $1,500 to $3,500 and rerouting commonly $600 to $7,500 depending on the length and route. Repiping the house runs much more. The biggest cost drivers are access through concrete and flooring, how many leaks there are, and how precisely the leak was located.
Read the guide Slab Leak DetectionWhole House Repipe Cost: PEX vs Copper and When It's Worth It
National cost guides put a whole-house repipe at roughly $4,500 to $15,000, with PEX usually around $4,000 to $9,000 and copper often $8,000 to $15,000 or more. Home size, number of bathrooms, pipe material and wall access drive the price, plus drywall repair afterward. Repiping makes sense when you have repeated leaks, galvanized or polybutylene pipe, or copper with multiple pinholes.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionGalvanized Pipe Replacement: Signs, Costs and the Lead Question
Galvanized steel was the standard water pipe in many homes built before the 1960s. It corrodes from the inside, causing low pressure, rusty water and leaks at threaded joints, and it's often past its expected 40 to 60 year life. Galvanized pipe that was downstream of a lead service line can also hold and release lead. Replacement is usually done as part of a repipe with PEX or copper.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionPolybutylene Pipe Replacement: How to Identify It and What It Costs
Polybutylene is a gray, blue or black flexible plastic water pipe used in millions of U.S. homes built from about 1978 to 1995, often stamped PB2110. It can become brittle and crack from reactions with chlorine in treated water, and it tends to fail without warning. Because of that risk, many insurers and buyers treat it as a problem, and replacement with PEX or copper is usually recommended.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionWashing Machine Leaking From the Bottom: Causes and Fixes
Water under a washer usually comes from the supply hoses, the drain hose or standpipe, the drain pump, the tub seal, or the door gasket on a front loader. Check the hoses first: insurance research found more than half of washing machine water damage claims involved supply hoses, with failures rising sharply after five years. Replace rubber hoses with braided lines and check the floor and wall for hidden water damage.
Read the guide Hidden Water Leak DetectionLeak Under the Sink: How to Find It in a Kitchen or Bathroom
Empty the cabinet, dry everything, and test one part at a time. Water with the faucet off points to the supply lines or shutoff valves. Water only when the faucet runs points to the faucet body or sprayer. Water when the sink drains points to the drain, P-trap, disposal or dishwasher connection. If the cabinet floor is wet but every connection is dry, the leak may be in the wall behind the sink.
Read the guideHear running water? Call before the damage spreads.
Local leak detection across Bargersville and Johnson County.