When a hidden leak is an emergency
Water you can see on a ceiling, bubbling through flooring or soaking a wall is an active leak, and the damage grows every hour. Shut off the main water valve, switch off power to wet rooms from the breaker panel and call.
A hidden leak with no visible water is quieter but still costs money. A meter that keeps moving when every fixture is off, a high water bill with no change in habits, or a warm spot on the floor all point to a leak that deserves a prompt visit.
How we find a leak without tearing things apart
We start with the water meter. With every fixture off, a moving dial or flowing leak indicator tells us water is escaping somewhere on the property, and a pressure test then tells us whether the leak is on the supply side or a drain line.
Acoustic listening equipment picks up the hiss of pressurized water through pipe, concrete and soil, and we confirm the point with correlation, thermal imaging or tracer gas where it fits. The goal is a marked spot before anyone picks up a hammer.
Where leaks hide and how we find them
| Where it is | How it shows up | How we approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Water meter and service line | Meter moves with all fixtures off, wet or soft lawn | Isolate the service line, then listen along its run |
| Ceiling or wall | Stains, bubbling paint, musty smell, sound of dripping | Moisture meter and thermal scan, then open a small access |
| Under the house or crawlspace | Damp insulation, floor movement, mold smell | Inspect and listen from below, then isolate the line |
| Under a slab | Warm floor spot, rushing sound, high bill | Acoustic listening, pressure test, mark and discuss options |
| Buried or irrigation line | Wet patch, sinking soil, pressure loss in sprinklers | Isolate zones, listen, confirm before digging |
| Drain line | Damp spot with no pressure loss, slow drains, odor | Camera or dye test |
Water bill jumped or a meter that will not stop?
Call and we will tell you what to check first and how a leak survey works.
Leaks, meters and the city in Wilsonville
Start with the meter. If every fixture is off and the dial is still turning, the leak is real, and the city's utility billing FAQ says that for low pressure at all fixtures the city will do a leak check on request. A pressure reducing valve usually sits just after the meter, often in a plastic or concrete box between the meter and the house, so find it before you call.
Irrigation systems add another place for water to escape, and the city requires annual testing of backflow assemblies by an Oregon-certified tester, with yearly reminder letters. A sprinkler zone that loses pressure may have a leak, and the backflow test is a separate item to keep current, because non-compliance may lead to denial or discontinuation of water service.
The city also notes it cannot control plumbing inside your home. In Charbonneau, where homes began going up in 1972, a leak under a slab or in a wall is a question for a plumber, not the utility.
Slab, under-house and buried line leaks
A slab leak sits in a supply line under the concrete, and the signs are a warm patch on the floor, the sound of running water when everything is off and a bill that climbs. We locate the point first and then discuss repair options, which range from a spot dig to rerouting the line overhead.
Crawlspace leaks tend to show up as damp insulation and a musty smell, and buried yard lines as soft ground or a sinking patch. Before any digging, call 811 so underground utilities are marked.
Other leak situations we are asked about
Commercial properties
Restaurants, offices and multifamily buildings often need a survey that covers several lines and meters. We work after hours so businesses stay open.
Ceilings and walls
A stain under a bathroom usually traces to a supply fitting, a drain or a shower pan. We confirm the source before opening drywall.
Irrigation lines
We isolate zones, pressure test and listen, then repair the broken fitting or section.
Pools and spas
We can test the supply and return plumbing that feeds a pool or spa, and we say so plainly when the problem sits outside plumbing.
What affects the price of leak detection
A clear price comes before work starts. These are the main factors.
Related plumbing services
Once a leak is found, repairs may fall under burst pipe repair for a failed line or water service line repair when it is between the meter and the house. We also cover Sherwood and other nearby towns for leak surveys.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The 24/7 line takes active leaks at any hour, and the dispatcher will tell you how to shut off the water. A slow hidden leak with no visible damage is usually surveyed at the next regular opening.
Turn off every fixture and check whether the water meter dial is still moving. A moving dial, a jump in your water bill or a warm patch on the floor all suggest a leak.
We use acoustic listening gear, thermal imaging and moisture meters to narrow it to a small area, then confirm by isolating lines and testing pressure.
Yes. We pressure test the supply lines, listen along them to mark the spot and then discuss options, which range from a spot repair to rerouting the line.
The city's utility billing FAQ says it will do a leak check on request when you have low pressure at all fixtures. Leaks past the meter, inside your home, are for a plumber.
Yes. Calling 811 before any digging gets underground utilities marked, and we confirm the leak location first so any excavation is as small as possible.