4 Best Tools to Locate Underground Water Leaks, Fast

A leak the size of a dime wastes 10,000 gallons of water a month. That’s enough to add $100+ to your monthly water bill- not to mention the risk of slab leaks and property damage. You need to know how to find a water leak underground with pinpoint accuracy- and no digging.

We’re Mother- a Dallas-Fort Worth plumbing company focused on modern, tech-driven solutions. Our Master Plumbers and research team compiled a list of the 4 best leak location tools for accurate, fast detection of breaks in your buried main water line. 

Our team didn’t just review this leak detection equipment- we purchased them, trained our entire team of licensed plumbers to use them, and use them to identify nearly 200 water leaks per year in the Dallas area.

If you suspect an underground water leak, take advantage of the most modern yard leak detection service in Dallas. Call Mother 7 days a week- we’ll have an expert plumber on site within 24 hours.

{{yard-leak-locating="/services/yard-leak-locating"}}

Expert Insights: Best Underground Water Leak Detection Tools

Mother Modern Plumbing’s three on-staff Master Plumbers and research team approve these four advanced pieces of leak detection equipment for underground water leaks:

1. Electronic leak detection
2. Thermal imaging
3. Acoustic leak detection
4. Water line camera inspection

When used separately, each leak location device offers specific insight- using infrared technology, sound wave detection, or visual inspection methods.

When you call Mother for leak detection service, we use them all to create a holistic, pinpoint picture of your water line issue: its location, size and severity of damage.

Why we’re not highlighting hydrostatic testing

Hydrostatic testing is a tremendous leak detection method that isolates your affected pipe and uses pressure gauge monitoring to identify holes and breaks. 

There’s no inherent issue with the quality of hydrostatic testing- but it’s best used to detect and locate leaks in your home’s sewer line. This guide deals specifically with water line leaks.

(If you suspect a leak in your sewer line, expect quality hydrostatic testing as a service option from your licensed plumber.)

The 4 Traits of Great Leak Detection Tech: How We Chose

The individual methods of leak detection change from device to device. For example, acoustic leak detection relies heavily on triangulating sound waves, while thermal imaging utilizes infrared technology to map temperature changes.

Different as they are, the best leak detection equipment share four common characteristics:

1. Pinpoint accuracy. When you have a hidden water leak, “close enough” doesn’t cut it. You require location solutions with specific accuracy down to the millimeter- no guesswork required.
2. Non-invasive detection. We don’t like leak detection services that require digging holes in your yard. It’s messy, it’s invasive, and it’s not necessary. Our team prefers modern no-dig leak location technology.
3. Fast diagnosis. Mother provides leak location results and optimal repair solutions in the same appointment as our diagnostics. No waiting, no wondering- every day that goes by adds more money to your next water bill.
4. Consistent, evolving research. No matter how advanced leak location becomes, it can always improve. Our Master Plumbers prefer equipment developed in fields that consistently research and upgrade their tech.

Let’s dive into our 4 top options for yard leak detection service- the technology behind each, how they work, and when your plumber should use each.

Electronic Leak Detection

The technology: A combination of electrical circuitry and acoustic signals.

How electronic leak detection works

Electronic leak detection takes a step past acoustic leak location by adding an electrical component to detection.

When water moves through your pipes, it creates a constant sound. A leak or break in the pipe causes the frequency of this sound to change. The electronic detection unit uses sensitive microphones to detect and amplify these changes in frequency.

A transducer is used to capture these amplified sounds. Your licensed plumbing tech listens to these sounds in headphones and interprets the frequencies to locate the leak.

Electronic leak detectors augment this technology with two additional capabilities:

Moisture meters measure water levels in the surrounding environment. These are incredibly helpful underground, as they detect even small changes in soil’s water content.

Thermal cameras highlight temperature variations (“cold spots” or “hot spots”). When water escapes a contained pipe, it changes the temperature of the surrounding soil or building materials. 

This powerful trio of frequency analysis, moisture measurement and thermal imaging makes electronic leak detection the single best method to find a break in your water pipes.

Core benefits of electronic leak detection

• Multimodal detection. The best aspects of acoustic detection, thermal imaging and smart moisture sensors- all on-board in one powerful piece of equipment.
• Comprehensive analysis. The ability to find leaks based on sound, sight and “feel”.
• Location-proof use. Inside your walls, under the floorboards, outside your home, even under your home’s foundation- electronic leak detectors are usable tech everywhere.

Best use cases

1. Use electronic leak detectors with confidence, anywhere. They’re the centerpiece of Mother Modern Plumbing’s advanced water leak detection services. The most modern tech, with the most comprehensive identification and diagnostic usability.

Underground plumbing leak in Dallas-Fort Worth? Use our DFW Yard Leak Location service guide to find the best possible solution for your unique issue.

{{yard-leak-detection-fort-worth="/blogs/yard-leak-detection-fort-worth"}},

Thermal imaging

The technology: Infrared imaging to map localized changes in temperature

How thermal imaging works

Thermal cameras utilize advanced infrared technology to display the temperature range in a section of your yard or home.

The infrared camera creates heat signatures- think of this like the “color map” of a thermal body scan. (Red = hot, blue = cold.) These heat signatures are processed to create a visible “heat map”, called a thermogram.

Water leaks create shifts and changes in temperature- cold water leaks make the surrounding area colder, while hot water leaks warm up the surrounding area. These appear as cold spots and hot spots in your thermogram, giving your licensed plumber visual confirmation of a water line issue.

Core benefits of thermal imaging

• Visual proof of temperature changes. If you feel a “hot spot”, a thermal camera provides clear visual proof that you’re correct.
• Heat mapping a leak source. The hot and cold spots on a thermogram radiate from certain locations- these are most likely to be the origins of your leak.

Best use cases

1. Augmenting electronic leak detection. Thermal imaging is a key component of electronic leak detectors- ideally, your licensed plumber has access to this technology. If not, they certainly should have an infrared camera handy.
2. Establishing hot water line leaks. Spikes in heat signatures on a thermogram indicate a leak in your hot water line, which helps plumbers narrow down potential locations and affected appliance lines.

Acoustic Leak Detection

The technology: Triangulation of frequency changes, sound-based leak detection

How acoustic leak detection works

Acoustic leak detectors use powerful, highly-sensitive on-board microphones to detect frequency changes. 

When water escapes a pipe through a leak, the sound frequency of that moving water changes. The on-board microphones identify these changes and target the precise location of the shift in pitch.

A component called the transducer captures these frequency changes and allows your licensed plumber to hear them through headphones. An experienced technician uses this data to pinpoint the issue- even as small as a pinhole leak.

Core benefits of acoustic leak detection

• “Hear” your hidden leak. Leaks aren’t always visible- especially under your slab, a home extension (like a patio), or in your subfloor. Acoustic location helps.
• Exceptional precision. Acoustic leak detectors can identify sound variances from even a tiny pinhole leak.

Best use cases

1. Leaks under your foundation. Acoustic leak location allows plumbers to identify problems in areas otherwise impossible to reach. No digging up your floor or cutting into your concrete slab!
2. As part of electronic leak detection. As stated, modern plumbers should incorporate acoustic solutions into a complete electronic leak detection equipment package. 

Water Line Camera Inspection

The technology: Real-time, HD video from inside your main water line and pipes.

How water line camera inspection works

A small, high-definition camera is attached to the end of a flexible cable. After the water to your home is turned off, the cable is sent into your affected water pipe  through the least-invasive access point possible. 

(This may be an existing valve or pipe. Some homes may require the plumber to insert the camera into the pipe after the water meter.)

The camera provides real-time footage to your plumber from inside the pipe. Get clear, visual proof the precise issue behind your leak- its location, scope and severity.

At Mother, we retain footage of your plumbing camera inspection on-file in case you need it. This is particularly helpful for future insurance claims or service- especially slab repair.

Core benefits of water line camera inspection

• Undeniable visual evidence. In the event of a disputed insurance claim or systemic water damage, your camera footage is irrefutable proof of the leak.
• A unique vantage point. The ability to see your leaking pipe from the inside-out gives your licensed plumber additional information to inform repair service.

Best use cases

1. A part of every home plumbing leak detection service. A reputable plumber should offer a video inspection as part of holistic leak detection packages. 

Great for every plumbing leak! Discover Mother’s 5-star rated sewer line camera inspection service, and why DFW homeowners trust us for expert leak detection.

{{the-best-local-sewer-line-camera-inspection="/blogs/the-best-local-sewer-line-camera-inspection"}}

Real DFW Homeowners Review Our Leak Detection Service

We're proud of the 5-star rating our underground leak detection service maintains. DFW residents value our modern technology, non-invasive methods and transparent, no-pressure diagnostics.

Here's a recent leak detection reviews we're particularly proud of:

If your plumbing leak doesn't require repairs, we're honest enough to tell you (and save you the money). Read more from Walter:

How to Find a Water Leak Underground: Call Mother

Our Master Plumbers agree- electronic leak detection is the best current solution for finding a water leak underground. Thermal imaging and acoustic leak detection are encompassed in this service option.

Back your electronic leak detection up with innovative water line camera footage, and you have an unbeatable yard leak location combination.

At Mother, we believe in tech-driven, innovative plumbing service that creates lasting results. If our team discovers a better solution than the ones we’ve listed, we’ll update this article with our findings. 

Call us 7 days a week for Dallas water leak and yard leak detection service, powered by modern, non-invasive equipment. Your estimate is free- your peace of mind is priceless.

{{yard-leak-locating="/services/yard-leak-locating"}}