Leak Detection in La Palma, CA

Signs you have a hidden leak

A dripping faucet is easy to spot. The leaks that cause real damage usually aren't. They're inside walls, under the slab, or in the line between the meter and the house. Here's what tends to give them away:

• A water bill that jumps with no change in how you use water
• The sound of running water when every fixture is off
• A warm spot on the floor, often a sign of a hot water line leaking under the slab
• Damp or stained drywall, bubbling paint or warped baseboards
• Musty smells or mold in a closet or cabinet
• Low water pressure at several fixtures
• A soggy patch in the yard between the meter and the house, or one area of lawn that stays greener
• A water heater that runs constantly, which can mean hot water is leaking somewhere

The meter test you can do yourself

Before calling anyone, this simple test tells you whether water is leaking somewhere on your property:

1. Turn off every tap, appliance, irrigation timer and ice maker in the house.
2. Find your water meter (usually in a box near the street) and note the reading, or watch the small leak indicator dial.
3. Wait 30 minutes to an hour without using any water.
4. Check the meter again. If it's moved, or the leak indicator is spinning, water is going somewhere.

To narrow it down, close the main shutoff valve at the house and check again. If the meter still moves, the leak is likely in the line between the meter and the house. If it stops, the leak is inside the house: in the walls, under the slab, a running toilet, or the water heater.

Don't forget the toilets

A running toilet is one of the most common "hidden" leaks and can waste a lot of water. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and don't flush for 15 minutes. If the color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. It's a simple fix, and it's worth ruling out before you assume the leak is somewhere harder to reach.

How plumbers find leaks without tearing up the house

Professional leak detection is about pinpointing the leak before anyone opens a wall or a floor. Depending on the situation, a plumber may use:

• Pressure testing to isolate which line - hot, cold, or the main - is losing pressure
• Acoustic listening equipment that picks up the sound of water escaping under a slab or behind a wall
• Thermal imaging to spot warm areas where a hot water line is leaking
• Moisture meters to map damp areas in drywall or flooring
• Camera inspection for drain and sewer lines

The aim is a precise location, so the repair disturbs as little of the house as possible.

Why leaks are common in La Palma homes

Most of La Palma was built in the 1960s and 70s, largely with copper water lines, many of them running under concrete slabs. After 50 or 60 years, copper can develop small pinhole leaks, especially on hot water lines, and pipes under a slab are exposed to shifting soil. Southern California's hard water also leaves mineral deposits that are hard on pipes, valves and fixtures over time. Our blog post on why La Palma homes get pinhole leaks goes into more detail.

What happens after the leak is found

Once the leak is located, the fix depends on where it is and how the rest of the plumbing looks:

• A single leak in an accessible spot can be repaired directly.
• A leak under the slab may be fixed by opening the floor at that point, or by rerouting the line through the walls or attic. See slab leak repair.
• If the pipes are leaking in several places, it may be time to replace them. See repiping.

A good plumber will explain the options and why they recommend one over another, so you can decide.