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How To Find A Water Leak Underground: Your Guide To Detecting Underground Water Leaks

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

Underground water leaks can be difficult to locate and fix, and yet doing so can save a lot of water and money on your water bill. The US EPA reports that for the average household in America, leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year (38 kilolitres), and 10% of homes have leaks that waste more than 90 gallons (340 litres) per day.

This comprehensive guide will tell you what you need to know to detect and fix an underground leak. We’ll also discuss what you can do yourself, and what really needs a professional. 

How do you find a water leak underground? There are various things you can try before calling a leak detection service or a plumber. First map out where the water supply pipe to your home runs (or irrigation line if that is the case).   Steel pipes can be easily located with a metal detector. Plastic pipes are more difficult, and you should look for old plumbing plans for the property. Look for wet ground or unusually high plant or grass growth along the pipe alignment. A green patch in a dry lawn is a sure sign. You can also listen carefully as you walk the line. A high pitch hiss is likely to be your leak. Compressed air can make this louder. The loudest point will be the spot. Calling a leak detection service is always an option and they can bring in sophisticated tools to assist.

Table of Contents

Understanding Underground Water Leaks

An underground water leak occurs when a pipe in your plumbing system starts to leak water into the ground. Often this is on the water line from your water meter or utility connection to the house. It may also be on irrigation lines or other pipes you have around the property. 

Sometimes the water surfaces, and other times it simply infiltrates into the ground. This can lead to a decrease in water pressure, dirty or poor-tasting water, an exorbitant water bill, and potentially water damage if it’s not addressed quickly. 

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

How an Underground Water Leak Occurs

Water leaks underground when there is a breach in the integrity of the water pipe. This can occur due to aging, or poorly constructed plumbing systems or external interference.

High pressure can cause pipes to break, leading to a water leak underground. This can be due to excessive pressures supplied by the utility, or an unusual pressure spike.

Pipes can be damaged underground due to a variety of reasons, for example:

  • Tree roots
  • Shifting soil
  • Vehicles driving over them. 

Very often, pipes leak at the joints. For example, if you have galvanized steel pipe, there may be threaded joints between pipe sections. If you have polyethylene pipe, there may be compression fittings. These are likely to be the first to go. 

Common Signs of an Underground Water Leak

The first thing you might notice is mud, or water pooling in your yard. You might see water emanating from an embankment or onto your driveway. You may also notice a loss of water pressure in the house. It is also possible that you’ll see dirty water come out of your faucets due to back pressure drawing in dirt or other material in the ground.

Another sign that will quickly cause concern is a higher-than-usual water bill!

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

Consequences of an Undetected Underground Water Leak

Undetected leaks can cause significant water damage, particularly if they occur near your home, driveway, or behind retaining walls or other landscaping features. Damage can be costly and inconvenient to repair.

An underground water leak can also waste considerable amounts of water and leave you with a high water bill.

How to Find an Underground Water Leak Yourself

To Find a Water Leak Underground, You Need to Know Where Your Pipes Are

You’ll need to identify where the pipes run. Steel pipes can be easily located with a metal detector. Plastic pipes are more difficult, and you should look for old plumbing plans for the property.

You can walk the lines and if there are no obvious signs of water, mark where they go on the ground with spray paint and keep reading. Even you can’t locate the leak yourself, this will help the professionals.

What to Look For in Your Water Meter

Checking your water meter is a good place to start and will help detect a water leak underground. Water meters can be great leak indicators. There are various types of water meters, some with digital and others with mechanical displays and they provide confirmation that you have a leak, and how significant it is.

Make sure there is no water use in the house and watch the meter to see if there is a leak. It may help to do this at night.

If you are able to measure how much water is used in the house over a period of time, you can calculate a flow rate. Large flow rates should be easier to find. This will also tell you how much your leak is costing on the water bill!

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

Identifying Pooling Water as a Potential Leak Sign

Often the easiest way to find the leak, particularly if there is a large flow rate, is water pooling in unusual places around your property. The water may not be the exact location of the leak, for example, if you have sloping land it can run down the hill before surfacing. It can also go into the ground and then surface elsewhere. 

If you locate pooling or running water on the surface, check the alignment of your pipes and think logically about where the water may be flowing underground. This might get you close to the leak location.

Identifying Plant Growth as a Potential Leak Sign

Particularly green or faster-than-usual plant growth can indicate that you may have an underground leak. This will take time to become evident, but your leak has been around for a while, it can give you a good indication of where ot look.  

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

Listening for Leaks in Your Water Line

Walk the pipeline route and listen very carefully. Often you can hear the sounds of water flowing through your leak into the surrounding ground. It will most likely be a high pitch hiss, but could also be a gurgling sound.

Compressed Air to Locate a Leak

By introducing compressed air into the section pipe that has the leak, you may be able to increase the volume of the hiss or gurgle that is coming from the leak. You’ll need some basic plumbing fittings to do it, and you can connect your air compressor to a faucet. You’ll need to shut the maincock at the water meter or property connection to avoid creating any issues outside of the property.

Professional Services for Detecting Underground Water Leaks

For deeper and hard-to-detect leaks, a professional underground water leak detection service may prove beneficial. Search for a leak detection service in your area. If no one is available, call a plumbing service. 

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Water Leak Detection Service

Professional services make use of advanced detection methods like acoustic leak detection, and in-pipe cameras ensuring accurate detection. They will find a way to detect your leak that suits your situation.

The real benefit of outsourcing this task is that they are more likely to find the leak without extensive digging and potential damage to your landscaping (or driveway). They should consult you and explain their approach before doing anything. It is a low-fuss and minimal-stress approach. 

Of course, using an underground leak detection service will cost money and we recommend undertaking preliminary investigations yourself first. If nothing else, this will give your contractor a place to start and hopefully a map of where the pipes are located. 

What to Expect From a Leak Detection Service

The objective of a professional leak detection service is to locate the leak, assess the situation, and provide advice on possible solutions. They will ask you for information regarding pipe location, the severity of the leak, and how long this has been an issue for you. 

Expect that they will do some investigations across your property, which may include temporarily cutting the water supply to the house. They may also need to do some digging, hopefully by hand.

You should give them strict instructions about what they can and can’t do without your supervision and agreement. You may not want them digging across a particular flower bed, or removing sections of the driveway until they have exhausted all other options for example.

Acoustic Leak Detection

This method uses a device to amplify the sound of water flowing and exiting a pipe system through a leak. This is a very common approach to locating leaks. The contractor will walk the pipeline route with headphones and a special microphone device. They will mark the location of the leak and likely dig to expose the pipe,

Micro camera down the pipe

This technique involves snaking a microscopic camera down the pipe for visual confirmation of the leak. The contractor will need to access the internals of the pipe. To do that they will likely cut the pipe or uncouple a valve. They will insert the camera on a rod or cable and feed it into the pipe.

If the pipe has collapsed the camera will not go any further. They can inspect the pipe with the camera and measure the distance from the entry point to locate the leak.

Slab Leak: A Special Scenario for Which to Call A Professional

Leaks under a concrete slab can get complex and it is generally advisable to seek the services of a professional leak detection service.

Slab leaks are bad if they are under a driveway, but worse if they’re under your shed or house. You’ll want to fix them as quickly as possible to avoid damage to the house, mold, or other inconveniences. 

Repairing a slab leak can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the situation. Your plumber will advise on the best approach that will cause minimum damage and disruption. 

What to Do After Detecting an Underground Water Leak

Once a leak is detected, it’s important to take immediate action to prevent further loss of water, costly water bills, or damage to landscaping or the house.

Most leaks will need to be fixed by a professional plumber, and depending on where you are, that might be a mandatory requirement.

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

Steps After Discovering a Water Leak Underground

If the leak is significant, you’ll want to shut off the main cock at your water connection, or whatever valve is upstream. Once this is done, the house will likely be without water, and you’ll need to find a plumber to fix the leak quickly. Seek immediate assistance from your local plumber or water company. If it is after hours, on a weekend or holiday, you might be able to pay extra for an emergency plumber.

Handling Water Damage from an Underground Leak

Early detection and repair can avoid serious water damage. However, if damage does occur, professional water cleanup and restoration services can help address the damage and restore your property.

Working with Your Water Company After Leak Detection

Most water utilities can provide advice and assistance regarding detected leaks and may discount your water bill once the leak is repaired. It doesn’t hurt to ask anyway.

How to Prevent Future Underground Leaks

Maintaining and upgrading your plumbing system when it gets old is essential.

When you are renovating, or landscaping, think about replacing the sections of pipe and plumbing fittings that you expose. 

Regularly check your water meter and water usage to quickly identify and future underground leaks.

A Final Thought

If you follow the steps we’ve discussed in this article, you may quickly find your leak. And if you don’t, you will have taken the initial steps along the process. Even simply identifying on the ground where the pipe is can save the professional leak detection service time, and therefore keep your bill low.

Good luck leak detecting!

How To Find A Water Leak Underground

FAQs

Q: How can I detect a water leak in my property?

A: An increase in your water bill can be a sign that there might be a leak somewhere. Other indications include a drop in water pressure, welling water or damp soil in your yard, or the sound of water running, even when faucets are off. Examining the water meter reading can also help in detecting a leak.

Q: What should I do if I suspect an underground water leak?

A: If you suspect an underground water leak, the first thing to do is to turn off all water usage on the property. After that, you can look at your water meter to see if it turns. If the meter is still running, this indicates that there may be a water leak in the underground pipes. You then need to decide if you will tackle the problem yourself or call a professional leak detection service.

Q: How can I find the source of an underground water leak?

A: Finding the exact source of an underground water leak can be very challenging, but there are a few steps you can take before calling the professionals. Look for wet ground or unusually high plant or grass growth along the pipe alignment. A green patch in a dry lawn is a sure sign. You can also listen carefully as you walk the line. A high pitch hiss is likely to be your leak.

Q: Are there any signs of water leaks that I can look for in my garden?

A: Yes, signs of water leaks in your garden can include soggy patches of water or soil, unusually green and lush areas of lawn, mold or other growth in areas you don’t expect it.

Q: How does a professional detect a water leak underground?

A: A professional leak detection service uses advanced technology to detect a leak without the need for excessive digging. Techniques may include acoustic sensing, thermal imaging or inserting a micro-camera into the pipe. These methods which can accurately locate where the leak is occurring in the underground pipes.

Q: Can a water leak cause an increase in my water bill?

A: Yes, a water leak can definitely cause an increase in your water bill. If water is being lost on the property, when it isn’t actually needed, it can end up being very expensive. So, if your water bill has suddenly spiked without an obvious reason, you may have a water leak.

Q: Should I call my local water department if I suspect a leak?

A: Yes, if you’re not sure where your water leak is coming from, it might be a good idea to call your local water department/company/utility. They can often send out a professional to help detect a leak and find the source, particularly if it is possibly on their side of your water connection.

Q: Is it possible to have a leak if my water bill is normal but I still see signs of water leaks?

A: Yes, it’s possible. Some leaks might be very slow and may not significantly affect your water bill. However, even slow leaks can add up over time and become noticeable on your bill. They may also become worse, and cause damage. It is always worth fixing them as soon as possible.

Q: What is the role of a water main in relation to water leaks?

A: The water main belongs to the water department and is not part of your internal plumbing. It is a critical part of your local water supply system. It’s the primary pipe that brings water to your property connection. A leak in the water main can lead to significant issues, including loss of water pressure. However, it should not cause an increase in your water bill.

If you suspect a water main leak, it’s important to let your water department know quickly to get it investigated and repaired as soon as possible.

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