Plumbing leak detection

Are your water bills mysteriously rising but your usage hasn’t changed? You may have a hidden leak, and what’s frustrating is that you’ll likely not be able to find it on your own. What’s even more aggravating is that the leak could be doing damage to your home that could mean expensive repair bills. 

And if you don’t take measures to stop a leak, mold could grow and expose your family to potential health issues. If you suspect your home has a leak or burst pipe, contact us ASAP for 24/7 emergency plumbing services.

Signs There’s a Leak in Your Home

Other than a rising water bill, here are some other clues that you may have a hidden leak:

• Listen for the sound of water running even when nobody is using it. A toilet tank that keeps refilling although nobody has flushed it is a good indication of a leak.
• You notice that mildew is appearing.
• There are cracks in your walls or floors. That could mean a leak is wreaking havoc on your foundation.
• You see wet, hot, or discolored spots on your walls or floors.
• You check your water meter after not using any water for a period of time and notice that the reading has changed.

Possible Leak Locations

Hidden leaks are commonly found in these areas:

• The service line that brings water into your home, located underneath the ground on your property.
• A leak in either your hot or cold plumbing line, which is known as a slab leak. A slab is the term used for concrete foundation, and if there are water or sewer lines underneath your foundation, it’s possible that there’s a break or that they’ve deteriorated.  
• Plumbing systems for radiant floor heat, snow melting systems, hydronic heating or cooling systems, and other miscellaneous systems that require water.

How Our Plumbers Detect Leaks

A licensed plumber will begin the investigation with a walk-through of your home. They’ll begin to rule out the source of the leak by checking your plumbing fixtures, looking under sinks, and inspecting other possible leak locations that aren’t associated with your home’s fixtures (irrigation, pools, ponds, etc.)

The plumber will also check your meter to see how much water is being used. That may provide a clue as to where the leak is coming from.

If no surface leaks are found, the plumber will look for leaks coming from underground or within the walls.  Licensed plumbers have access to equipment that provides reliable information about what’s causing the leak:

• Sound equipment – Plumbers use ground microphones and listening discs to locate the source of a leak. With these devices, they can hear water running underground – even through concrete.
• Thermal imaging scanners – If the source of the leak is a piping system that carries heated or cooled water, infrared thermal imaging can pick up on temperature changes in the areas around the leak.
• Video Equipment – Using a tiny camera that’s mounted on long fiber optic cables, plumbers can see inside of a pipe when the images are transmitted back to a monitor.  The information gained using this equipment also provides information that makes it easier for the plumber to know how to fix the leak. Camera equipment can be used to detect blockage or damage to a sewer line, which can cause extensive property damage if not repaired.

Leak Repair in Houston

Nobody likes the idea of their hard-earned money being drained away by a hidden leak. The technicians at Cooper Plumbing have the experience and training to not only find leaks but to reliably repair them. All of our technicians are licensed and certified, and they are up-to-date on the latest technology that can make leak detection and repair more efficient. 

We’re locally owned and operated, and we guarantee 100% customer satisfaction with no hidden fees. We also offer emergency repair services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Cooper Plumbing is ready to take care of all your plumbing needs in the northwest Houston area. Call us at (832) 441-9683 or fill out the form on our home page to connect to one of our licensed plumbers.