Find the source before you open walls or floors.
Signs of Hidden Water Leaks
A water bill that jumps without a change in use
Compare against the same month last year.
The meter moves with everything off
The simplest home test for a leak.
Warm spots, damp flooring, or musty odors
Possible slab or wall leaks.
Sound of running water
When no fixtures are in use.
Water Meter Leak Test
Turn off every faucet, appliance, and irrigation. Look at the leak indicator (a small triangle or dial) on your Dallas Water Utilities meter. If it moves, water is leaving somewhere. Then close the main shutoff: if the meter still moves, the leak may be in the service line between meter and house.
Underground Leaks
A leak in the service line between the meter and the house, or in irrigation lines, often shows as a meter that keeps moving with the main shutoff closed, soggy spots in the yard, or a bill that jumps without a change in use. Irrigation leaks are a common cause of high bills in Dallas.
Wall Leaks
Supply or drain leaks inside walls show up as stains, bubbling paint, soft drywall, musty odors, or mold at baseboards. Thermal imaging and moisture meters help locate them before walls are opened.
Slab Leaks
Warm spots on floors, damp flooring, and the sound of running water point to a leak under the foundation. See slab leak repair.
Leak Detection Process
Acoustic listening
Sensitive microphones pick up the sound of pressurized water escaping.
Thermal imaging
Hot-water leaks show up as warm areas on floors or walls.
Pressure testing
Isolating lines to see which one loses pressure.
Line tracing
Mapping where pipes run under a slab.
After the leak is found
The repair depends on location: an accessible pipe repair, a slab leak repair, a reroute, or a repipe if the piping is failing in multiple places.
Leak Detection Cost
Price depends on the type of leak, the equipment needed, and the size of the home. Detection is often quoted separately from the repair. For slab-related detection and repair, See our slab leak repair cost guide for published ranges with linked sources, plus the factors that change the price. Figures there are third-party ranges, not quotes.
FAQs
How accurate is leak detection?
Experienced technicians can usually narrow a leak to a small area, but no method is perfect, especially under thick slabs or tile.
Can irrigation leaks raise my bill?
Yes. Irrigation leaks are a common cause of high bills in Dallas.
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