How Does a Plumber Find a Water Leak Underground?

Few things are as damaging to a property as a hidden, in-ground leak. When water starts escaping from a pipe or system buried beneath the ground, it could be from the water supply lines leading to the house or from the irrigation systems, sewer pipes, or any other type of underground conduit. With plumbing pipes placed below the surface of the ground, locating underground water leaks is not easy.
What Causes an Underground Leak in Nevada?
The main culprit behind subsurface water leaks is pipe corrosion. The iron or steel material of the pipes deteriorates over time due to high levels of moisture in the soil, certain minerals, acidity in the water, or a number of reasons. Older pipes are also more prone to corrosion. Once the pipes have corroded, they become vulnerable to leaks from any one of the following:
- Construction damage
- Tree root infiltration
- Material degradation
- Temperature-induced weakening
- UV degradation
- Installation errors
- Pressure fluctuations
- Thermal fatigue
Signs You Have an Underground Leak in Your Nevada Home
- Visible cracks in your home’s foundation, walls, or floors.
- A sudden spike in your water bill that is not due to changes in usage.
- Hearing the sound of water running when no taps are open.
- Unusual damp or soggy patches in your yard could indicate water leaking underground. These spots might not dry up even in warm weather.
- In addition to wet spots in your yard, you might notice areas where the lawn is unusually lush or where plants seem to grow more vigorously due to the extra water.
- A noticeable decrease in water pressure throughout your home might suggest a leak is diverting water away from your taps.
- Turn off all the water in your house and check your water meter. If it continues to move, there is likely a leak somewhere.
- Persistent moisture from a water leak can cause mold or mildew to form along lower levels of the house.
- In severe cases, soil erosion caused by a leak can create sinkholes or noticeable depressions in your yard or near your home’s foundation.
If you suspect a leak but cannot pinpoint it, consider hiring a professional plumber from Active Plumbing and Air Conditioning to catch it before it becomes more damaging and expensive to repair.
How Our Plumbers Locate Underground Leaks in Nevada
Our skilled plumbers at Active Plumbing & Air Conditioning have a process for identifying and properly addressing leaks in the water supply line, main line, sewer line, or underground irrigation system to prevent future problems.
Step 1: Initial Assessment
We will begin by asking you about the symptoms you have noticed and then inspect the area around your water meter, under sinks, around dishwashers, washers, water heaters, yard, landscaping, foundation, exterior walls, basement, crawl space, and toilet for the visible signs of leaks.
Step 2: Water Meter Test
Conducting a simple test using your water meter can help us confirm a leak. By turning off all water inside and outside the home and observing the meter, we can detect any movement and ensure no water is being intentionally used anywhere on your property.
Step 3: Detect Underground Water Leak
Our plumbers have several ways to find an underground water leak:
- Acoustic Leak Detection: It uses sensitive ground microphones to listen for the sound of escaping water underground. The listening discs amplify the sounds from under the soil so we can detect the faintest noises made by the water as it sprays or drips from ruptured pipes.
- Thermal Imaging Cameras: These detect variations in temperature at the surface of the ground. Cool water leaking from a pipe can cool the surrounding soil, showing up on the camera as a more relaxed spot.
- Soil Probes: In softer ground, we may insert probes in the soil at different points around the suspected leak area to measure changes in soil moisture.
- Pressure Testing: This is where we isolate sections of the pipes and introduce compressed air or non-toxic smoke to see if it escapes. If there are any leaks, smoke will be visible escaping from the ground, and cracks in walls or other surfaces, showing exactly where repairs are needed.
Step 4: Verifying the Leak
After finding water leaks in underground pipes, our plumbers at Active Plumbing & Air Conditioning will carefully dig down using shovels or picks (for smaller/delicate areas) or mechanical diggers and backhoes (for more extensive excavations). Whether you work with us or another plumbing company, this process needs to be done very cautiously.
Step 5: Repairing the Leak
Depending on the type and extent of the damage, we may need to patch the pipe, replace a section of it, or apply clamps or other sealing materials. Then, that area is tested under pressure to ensure the leak has been successfully sealed. To restore the excavated area to its original condition, we will put the soil back into the hole.
Importance of Timely Water Leak Detection in Nevada
Every minute an underground leak goes unrepaired, it wastes water. This not only contributes to the environmental depletion of water resources but also increases your monthly bill. However, higher water bills are the least common problem.
Continuous water leakage erodes soil and causes uneven foundation settling. Over time, this results in cracks, shifts, and, worse, major structural failures that could cost thousands to repair. Not to mention, all that moisture from leaks creates a thriving home for mold and mildew growth. If you or anyone in your household has asthma, respiratory issues, or allergies, the moldy indoor air is bound to make your symptoms worse.
Call Active Plumbing & Air Conditioning for All Your Residential Plumbing Needs
When you discover an underground leak, every minute counts. Serving Nevada since 1991, we at Active Plumbing & Air Conditioning have dealt with just about every plumbing emergency imaginable. Every licensed and insured plumbing technician on our team has the knowledge and experience that allows us to provide you with exceptional service. Trust us to protect your home as we would our own, evidenced by our loyal base of over 40,000 happy clients. Call 702-553-1171 or contact us online to schedule a service call.