If any of these match what's happening at your home, call us — we can usually diagnose over the phone and tell you whether it's worth coming out same-day.
Water bill suddenly jumped
Water meter ticking when no water is being used
Wet or warm spot on a floor
Sound of running water with no fixtures on
Unexplained mold or mildew smell
Discolored or bubbling paint on a ceiling or wall
Water stain on a ceiling, especially after a shower is run
Water pressure has dropped across the house
Most common causes
Slab leaks (under concrete foundations)
Slab leaks happen when a copper or PEX supply line running under a concrete slab develops a pinhole leak. Symptoms: warm spot on a floor over a hot-water slab leak, unexplained water bill increases, or water seeping up through the slab. We locate them acoustically without jackhammering. Repair options range from spot repair to re-routing the line through the attic, which is often cheaper and less disruptive than breaking the slab.
Pinhole leaks in copper supply lines
Salem has some water quality that's tough on copper over decades. Pinhole leaks in copper lines produce slow leaks that are hard to find but that consistently damage surrounding materials. They're often in walls between a fixture and the main shutoff. We use pressure testing plus acoustic listening to isolate them.
Failed joints in water supply lines
Older soldered copper joints, push-fit fittings, and compression fittings can fail, especially on hot water lines. Usually visible once accessed but can leak behind drywall for months before being detected.
Drain line leaks
Leaks below drains don't pressurize like supply-line leaks do, so they're not detected by meter or pressure tests. They usually show up as a stain on a ceiling below a bathroom. We isolate by running water to each fixture and watching for the stain to grow.
Toilet flappers and running toilets
The most common source of a surprise high water bill isn't a leak you can see — it's a toilet flapper that isn't sealing. A silent running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons a day. We include flapper checks in any leak detection call because the fix is often free (we just replace the flapper) and saves the customer hundreds on their next bill.
Hidden leaks get expensive fast. Not just in water — in damage. A leak that's been running behind a wall for three months doesn't just bump up your water bill; it ruins drywall, insulation, flooring, and sometimes framing. Finding it early is always cheaper than finding it late.
The three signs of a hidden leak
Your water bill jumped without explanation. Compare this month's usage to the same month last year. A 30%+ increase with no lifestyle change almost always means something is leaking.
You hear water running when everything is off. Quiet the house, shut off everything that uses water, and listen near the water heater, near bathrooms, and at walls. If you hear running water, there's a leak on a pressurized line.
You can see or smell it. Wet spots, warm spots on the floor, stained ceilings, musty smells near bathrooms or the laundry area. Any of these deserves investigation.
The quick self-check before you call us
Before you call, here's a 2-minute check anyone can do:
Turn off every fixture in the house. No running water anywhere.
Find your water meter (usually in the front yard near the street, or in the garage).
Look at the meter's leak indicator — a small triangle or red dial that moves when any water is flowing.
If it's moving with everything off, you have a leak somewhere on your property.
That tells us whether it's worth coming out, and it speeds up our diagnosis when we arrive.
Here's how we work the job
We verify there's a leak by isolating the house at the main and watching the meter
We isolate by zone — hot vs. cold, one bathroom vs. another — to narrow the location
We use acoustic listening, pressure testing, and infrared imaging to pinpoint
We access the leak with the smallest possible opening — never more drywall than necessary
We repair and, where needed, coordinate drywall patching
What it typically costs
Leak detection in Salem typically runs $250–$450 depending on complexity. Repair cost varies by location and pipe type — spot repair in an accessible area starts around $350; slab leak repair ranges $850–$2,400 depending on approach. Re-routing a slab line through the attic is often the best-value option when it's feasible. We quote before we repair.
Frequently asked questions
How much water can a hidden leak waste?
A running toilet can waste 200+ gallons a day. A pinhole leak in a pressurized supply line can waste more — sometimes 500+ gallons a day if it has somewhere to drain. A slab leak left unrepaired can damage flooring, cause mold, and eventually compromise the foundation. If your water bill jumped unexpectedly, it's worth investigating today, not next month.
Do I have to tear walls open to find a leak?
Not with us. Modern leak detection uses acoustic listening, pressure decay testing, and thermal imaging to pinpoint leaks to within a few inches before any drywall comes down. Once we know where the leak is, we make the smallest possible access cut to do the repair.
Is a slab leak always a major repair?
Not always. A single slab leak under a kitchen or bathroom sometimes repairs most affordably by re-routing that specific line through the attic or walls, skipping the slab entirely. It leaves the original pipe in the slab abandoned (harmless) and avoids breaking concrete and flooring. For multiple slab leaks in the same home, a whole-house repipe through attic and walls often makes more sense long-term.
My water bill doubled — is that a leak?
Probably. A doubled water bill with no change in usage almost always points to a leak, usually a running toilet, a slab leak, or a leak in the supply line between the meter and the house. We can diagnose quickly. The water company will sometimes forgive the excess charges if you can document a repaired leak.
Will you work with my insurance?
Yes — we provide documentation for insurance claims on slab leaks, burst pipes, and other covered events. We've worked with most major carriers in Oregon.
