Leak Detection in Salem, OR
Unexplained water bill, a meter that won't stop running, or a damp spot with no obvious cause? We trace hidden leaks with acoustic and electronic equipment before any repair work begins.
If Your Water Bill Jumped and You Don't Know Why
If your water meter keeps running even with every fixture in the house turned off, or your bill spiked and nothing obvious changed, that's the classic sign of a hidden leak rather than a visible one. Most people call us not because they've found a leak, but because they know something's wrong and can't find where. That's exactly what leak detection is built to answer.
Why Hidden Leaks Are Common in Salem
Salem's clay soil movement stresses buried water service lines the same way it stresses sewer laterals, and a pinhole leak in a line running under a slab or through a wall can run for months before it becomes visible. Older copper supply lines, common in homes built before the 1980s, are also prone to pinhole leaks as they age, even without any soil movement involved.
Signs You Have a Hidden Leak
Meter Running With Water Off
The clearest sign of a leak somewhere in the system.
Unexplained Water Bill Increase
A jump with no change in household water use points to a leak.
Warm or Damp Spot on the Floor
Can indicate a slab leak, which we handle as its own specialized service.
Sound of Running Water
Hearing water movement with every fixture off is a strong indicator.
Meter Won't Stop Running?
We can usually pinpoint the leak without tearing up your home.
Electronic Leak Tracing
We use acoustic and electronic leak-tracing equipment to locate the leak without guessing or digging blindly. This method listens for the specific sound water makes escaping under pressure and can pinpoint a leak's location through concrete, drywall, and soil, which means we can usually confirm the exact spot before any repair work begins.
If the equipment points to a leak specifically under a concrete slab, that's a distinct diagnostic and repair situation from a leak inside a wall or under a yard, and our slab leak detection and repair team handles that specialized case. All repair work follows the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
What to Do Before We Arrive
If you can see or hear active water flow somewhere you can safely access, shutting off the main valve stops the leak entirely while we schedule the visit. If the leak is only showing up as a meter reading or a bill increase with no visible water anywhere, there's no urgent action needed, just note when you first noticed the change so we can narrow down the timeline.
What Leak Detection Costs
A sudden, accidental leak and its water damage are often covered by homeowners insurance, while a slow leak that went undetected for months typically isn't. Want your real number? Call (503) 974-3329 and describe what you're seeing on your meter or bill.
How a Leak Detection Visit Goes
Describe It
Tell us what you're seeing on the meter, bill, or in the home.
Trace
Acoustic and electronic equipment narrows down the leak's location.
Confirm
We pinpoint the exact spot before opening anything up.
Quote the Fix
Flat price for the repair once the leak is confirmed.
Emergency or Scheduled Service
A meter that's been quietly running for weeks with no visible water damage can usually wait for a scheduled leak-tracing appointment. Active water intrusion, a ceiling that's sagging or dripping, or any sign the leak is actively damaging the structure right now is different, and we treat that as an emergency dispatch. Call and describe it, and we'll tell you honestly which category applies.
Common Questions
Yes, that's one of the most common reasons we get called. An unexplained bill increase with no change in household water use is a strong sign of a hidden leak.
Usually not. Acoustic and electronic leak-tracing equipment pinpoints the leak's location first, so any opening we make is targeted rather than exploratory.
A slab leak specifically involves a pipe running under a concrete foundation, which needs different equipment and repair access than a leak inside a wall or yard.
A sudden, accidental leak is often covered. A slow leak that went undetected for a long time typically isn't. Check your specific policy.