- On the truck
- Pressure gauge, thermal camera, listening gear
- First test
- Meter check with every fixture off
- Opened
- One small hole at the leak, not a whole wall
When you need leak detection
Halton bills by metered use, so a sudden jump in your water bill is often the first hint. Other signs: a brown ring on a ceiling, paint bubbling near a tub, a musty smell in a cabinet, flooring that lifts or feels soft, or the sound of water moving when every tap is off. Even a small drip inside a wall can run for months before a stain appears.
How the job is done
- Meter test. Every tap closed, we study the leak dial on the water meter. If it moves, water is leaving the system somewhere.
- Isolate zones. Closing fixture valves and branch valves one by one narrows the search.
- Check usual suspects. Toilet flappers, humidifier lines, fridge water lines, washer hoses and outdoor taps are tested.
- Use instruments. Moisture meters and thermal imaging show damp areas in walls and floors without cutting.
- Open neatly. When the source is pinned down, a small, square opening is cut for the repair.
Describe the drain, pipe or fixture and get a straight answer on the phone.
Burlington homes and this work
Pinhole leaks in older copper are common in some Burlington neighbourhoods of the 1960s and 1970s. Houses built in the Poly-B era, roughly 1978 to 1996, may carry it, whose fittings can let go without warning. Slab-on-grade additions and in-floor heating add their own puzzles. Outside, a failing service pipe under the yard may show as a constantly wet patch on the lawn.
What affects the scope
- Whether the leak is on the supply side or a drain
- Finished ceilings and tiled walls around the suspected area
- Pipe type and age
- Access to the meter and main valve
Before we arrive
Gather recent water bills and note when you first saw a change. Mark any stains or damp spots with tape and the date. Our guide on reading your water meter for leaks walks through the overnight test.
Questions we get on this
Will you have to cut open walls?
Only once the source is narrowed down, and then as small an opening as the repair needs.
Can a leak be under the basement floor?
Yes, though it is less common. Persistent dampness on a slab with a moving meter can point there.
One call to (365) 414-5748 puts you through to a Burlington plumber.
