You Have a Leak—Now Who Do You Call?
Maybe your water bill suddenly increased. You hear water running when nothing is turned on. You've discovered unexplained moisture somewhere in your home, or the City has alerted you to unusual water usage.
You know something isn't right—but you don't know where the water is coming from.
Many homeowners' first instinct is to search for a leak detection company in Dallas, Oregon. Leak detection specialists absolutely have their place, particularly when a leak is extremely difficult to locate or requires specialized equipment.
But there's something many homeowners don't realize:
Finding the leak and repairing the leak aren't necessarily the same service.
Some leak detection companies specialize in locating a suspected leak but don't perform the plumbing repair afterward. Once the leak is located, you may still need to call a licensed plumber.
At Spectrum Plumbing, we can diagnose and locate many plumbing leaks and make the necessary plumbing repair, allowing you to potentially handle the problem with one company from start to finish.
What Does a Leak Detection Company Do?
Leak detection companies specialize in locating leaks that aren't readily visible.
Depending on the company and situation, they may use specialized equipment and diagnostic methods to narrow down the location of water escaping behind walls, beneath flooring, underground, or in other difficult-to-access areas.
That can be a valuable service.
The important question for homeowners to ask is:
What happens after you find the leak?
If the company provides detection only, its work may end once the suspected location has been identified. You'll then need to schedule a plumber to expose the affected plumbing, determine the appropriate repair, and complete the work.
That can mean another appointment, another professional coming to your home, and potentially another service charge.
Can a Plumber Locate a Hidden Water Leak?
In many situations, yes.
Plumbers diagnose water leaks every day. Finding the source isn't always as simple as spotting dripping water, either.
Depending on the symptoms and location, diagnosing a plumbing leak may involve:
- Checking for unexplained water usage
- Evaluating water pressure
- Inspecting fixtures and accessible piping
- Checking toilets for continuous water loss
- Inspecting crawlspaces
- Isolating portions of the plumbing system
- Looking for moisture and water damage
- Evaluating the main water service line
- Using appropriate leak-location and diagnostic equipment
The right approach depends on the type of leak and where we believe it's occurring.
As plumbers, we're also looking beyond where the water is coming from.
We want to understand why the plumbing failed, what condition the surrounding plumbing is in, and what needs to be done to repair it correctly.
Dallas Residents Have Another Tool for Spotting Possible Leaks
If you receive City of Dallas water service, your water meter may help identify unusual water use.
The City of Dallas uses automated meter reading technology that can provide hourly and daily usage information and may help identify possible leaks. The City notes that while its system can alert customers to potential leaks, customers are responsible for finding and repairing leaks between the meter and their home.
That's where calling a plumber becomes especially useful.
An unusual water-use alert tells you that you may have a problem. It doesn't necessarily tell you exactly where the leak is, what's causing it, or what needs to be repaired.
The Advantage of Leak Detection AND Plumbing Repair
This is something we see fairly often at Spectrum Plumbing.
A homeowner has already paid a company to locate a leak and then calls us because they still need a plumber to repair it.
There's nothing wrong with that process, and there are situations where a dedicated leak detection specialist is exactly what's needed.
But it isn't always necessary.
If your plumber has the ability to diagnose and locate the problem, starting with them may allow you to go through the entire process with one company:
Suspect a leak → Locate the problem → Determine the cause → Make the repair
That can mean fewer appointments, less coordination, and potentially avoiding the expense of paying two separate professionals.
Not Every Suspected Leak Requires Specialized Leak Detection
Another reason to start with a plumber is that what appears to be a hidden leak isn't always a pipe buried behind a wall or underground.
Unexplained water usage could be caused by a toilet quietly running.
Moisture beneath a sink could come from a fixture, supply connection, or drain.
Low water pressure can have several causes that have nothing to do with a hidden leak.
Even an unusually high water bill doesn't automatically tell us where water is being lost.
Before paying for specialized leak detection, it can make sense to have the plumbing system evaluated and narrow down what's actually happening.
What About an Underground Water Service Leak?
This is one situation homeowners can find especially stressful because the piping between the meter and house isn't readily visible.
Possible signs of an underground water service leak include:
- Unexplained increases in water consumption
- Water-meter activity when nothing is using water
- Changes in water pressure
- Unusually wet or soggy areas outside
- Water pooling where it normally doesn't
The City of Dallas specifically states that property owners are responsible for finding and repairing leaks occurring between the meter and the house.
But finding an underground leak doesn't automatically mean the entire water service needs to be replaced.
The location of the failure, pipe material, age, overall condition, accessibility, and history of previous problems should all be considered before deciding between repair and replacement.
When Does a Dedicated Leak Detection Company Make Sense?
There are absolutely situations where specialized leak detection can be valuable.
Some leaks are exceptionally difficult to pinpoint. Plumbing may be located beneath concrete, underground, or in areas that aren't reasonably accessible. Specialized detection equipment may help narrow down a difficult leak and avoid unnecessary exploratory work.
If we're dealing with a situation where a specialized leak detection service makes sense, we'll tell you.
Our point isn't that homeowners should never call a leak detection company.
It's simply that you may not need to start there.
If your plumber can locate the leak and make the repair, you may be able to solve the entire problem with one call.
Finding a Leak Doesn't Automatically Mean a Major Repair
A hidden leak doesn't automatically mean you need a whole-house repipe or an entirely new water service.
Sometimes the problem is isolated and repairable.
Other times, the location of the leak combined with the age, material, condition, or repair history of the surrounding plumbing may make a larger repair worth considering.
Every situation is different.
At Spectrum Plumbing, we believe in figuring out what's actually happening before recommending the solution.
Once we've identified the problem, we'll explain what we find and discuss your options so you can make an informed decision about your home.
One More Tip for Dallas Homeowners: Keep Your Repair Documentation
If a plumbing leak causes unusually high water consumption, don't throw away your repair documentation.
The City of Dallas says customers may request a credit for excess water usage caused by a qualifying leak. Proof of a valid repair is required, and the City says an approved credit can cover up to 50% of excess usage based on an annual-average comparison.
City of Dallas Utility Billing & Water Leak Credit Information
Leak Detection & Plumbing Repair in Dallas, Oregon
If you suspect a hidden water leak in your Dallas, Oregon home, consider starting with a plumber who can do more than simply tell you where the water is coming from.
Spectrum Plumbing provides plumbing leak diagnostics, leak location, water leak repair, water service line repair and replacement, and other residential plumbing services in Dallas and throughout the surrounding Willamette Valley.
We'll work to identify what's actually happening, explain what we find, and when the problem is within our capabilities, make the repair too.
Think You Have a Hidden Water Leak?
Before paying one company to locate the problem and another company to repair it, give Spectrum Plumbing a call. We'll work to locate the source of your plumbing leak and, when possible, take care of the repair too.
Spectrum Plumbing LLC
Call to schedule: 503-917-3259
CCB #255529