If you see your water bill has been rising month after month yet you’re using the same amount of water, chances are you have a water leak somewhere on your property. But if that leak is deep underground, how can you tell where it is?

This is where Action Plumbing’s underground water leak detection services can come in handy. Our commercial plumbing professionals have the necessary knowledge and tools to detect the source of the leak and stop it before the issue gets even worse.

How Underground Leak Detection Works

Water leak detection equipment allows our professionals to pinpoint water leaks in residential and commercial water lines. The acoustic listening equipment uses high tech listening devices, such as listening rods, ground microphones, and sensors to detect sounds or vibrations produced by water as it escapes from pipes under pressure.

Wearing high-quality headphones that are connected to a ground sensor, the professional can hear clearly while reducing interference from surrounding noise. One of two specially designed sensors listens for the gurgling or the hammering noise usually associated with a cracked pipe below ground.

The first type of sensor locates leaks through hard surfaces like concrete, asphalt, and tile. The second type of sensor picks up leak sounds through soft surfaces such as grass or carpet, or it can be used like a contact probe on above-ground pipes or hydrants. For especially hard-to-find leaks, our commercial plumbing professionals use another mechanism that adds air to the line, increasing water pressure. This amplifies leak sounds, making them easier to locate.

If our listening equipment does not pick up anything, we will use video camera inspection equipment to see what’s happening in the pipes and accurately diagnose the pipeline problem.

How Do I Know if I Have a Water Leak?

Maybe you’ve seen your water bill jump considerably in the past few months. Or perhaps your toilet is continuously running. How do you know if these signs are a water leak or it’s another type of plumbing issue?

There are specific signs that you can see on your property that indicates an underground leak, such as:

Water meter readings continue to increase even when water is not in use
Chronic sewer backup problems
Running toilets and dripping faucets
Running water sounds when no water is in use
Spongy, soft, or discolored walls
Musty odors from floors, walls, drains lines, or sewers
A cracked or unusually damp foundation or slab
Warm areas on concrete floors, mildew, or excessive moisture under carpets
Unusually wet or moist areas in your landscape, often appearing very healthy (or unusual) in plant or grass growth

Underground water leak detection is the most cost-effective way to rule out the source of water leakage once traditional methods are ruled out. By utilizing our underground leak detection, you’ll see instant savings in your water bill, prevent further damage to leakage areas, and stop any further damage from occurring to your foundation and grounds.

If you own commercial or residential property in Philadelphia, New Jersey, or North Delaware, and believe you have a water leak, now is the time to fix the situation! Contact the commercial plumbing experts at Action Plumbing today.