Finding an underground water leak can be a challenging task, often requiring a combination of skill, technology, and experience.
Plumbers are the unsung heroes in this endeavor, as they play a crucial role in detecting and repairing these hidden issues.
A water leak beneath the earth’s surface can lead to various problems, such as reduced water pressure, structural damage, and increased utility bills.
Using electrical signals underneath the ground, plumbers and professionals can discover where the water leaks.
Detecting underground water leaks is most often accomplished using a pipe locator device. This device detects leaks in metal pipes by using radio waves, making them easier to find and fix.
Use a listening device if you are having trouble finding a leak, as you may have missed any sounds of water running through the pipe with your naked ears.
In case you aren’t sure where your water comes from, call a plumber who can inspect and diagnose the problem.
Different Ways To Find An Underground Water Leak
There is the potential to experience water leakage if your water lines are buried underground. Consequently, your property can suffer considerable damage and become quite costly to fix.
You could lose your life if you leak into your underground water system. As a result, it can ruin your walls and floors, pollute the ground, and damage the environment. It is, therefore, essential that they be located in the shortest amount of time possible.
Identify The Water Meter
A leak underground can be identified by checking your water meter. There could be a leak in your home if your water meter moves faster than usual.
If you want to find out, check your water meter outside. Identify the “leak” dial on the water meter. If no one uses water inside, the dial shouldn’t be moving. It may have something to do with your problem if it is.
Monitor The Water Level
In addition to checking the water level of your toilet tank or hot water heater tank, you can also detect underground leaks by checking both stories.
If any changes have occurred in these areas of your home recently, this will allow you to find out if anything unusual has happened. When the water level increases or decreases from the last check, those systems could leak.
Monitoring Your Water Bill
Keeping an eye on your water bill is an excellent way to monitor an underground water leak. Water bills that keep going up could indicate a leak in your home. Be sure that changes in your water usage do not cause the increase.
Review your use for the past two to three months to ensure the growth isn’t due to water usage changes. If your current usage is significantly higher than it was three months ago, it’s time to start reducing it.
Moss Growth On The Lawn
The appearance of patches of moss growing on your lawn is an indication of an underground water leak.
A leak nearby is probably the cause of the moss growing on your grass unless you have a consistent source of moisture and shade.
Look around what’s nearby to see if you can spot any green, wet patches caused by sprinkler leaks.
Probing The Ground
Probes help find underground water pipes when you are unaware of where they run. You can find it by looking for high soil moisture levels or unusual air pressure in certain areas below your lawn.
In addition, soil probes can reveal the presence of any movement in the ground, indicating that an existing pipe has broken or partially collapsed.
One end of a probe goes into the ground, while the other sits above ground and measures pressure changes.
Water Stains On Interior Walls
You likely have a leaky pipe somewhere in your home if you notice stains on the ceiling and floor. Leaks may also occur elsewhere in the pipe.
There may be a leak in your basement or crawl space if you see water stains on your walls or ceiling. In particular, leaks behind walls can sometimes be challenging to spot since they are hidden.
If you find any water stains on your walls, you should pursue this further. Call your plumber if you notice water stains outside your home. A plumber can inspect your plumbing system for problems.
Cracks Appearing In Your Driveway, Sidewalk Or Patio
A crack beneath your driveway or patio may indicate that water is running beneath it. An underground water leak can cause cracks in your driveway or pavement near your home.
Water flowing through underground pipes can cause cracks to develop over time due to pressure.
Cracks may indicate a plumbing problem nearby if you see them forming anywhere on your property. The best way to deal with any of these issues is to call a plumber as soon as possible.
Damp Spots On Your Walls Or Floors
Whenever you see damp spots on your walls or floors, you are likely to be experiencing a leak. Your home may have damp spots that you can check with a towel to see whether they are wet.
There is a good chance that a leak can originate inside of a pipe, but it can also originate at one of the fittings or joints between pipes.
You can also discover the leak by running your hand along the wall or floor. A water leak may be detected if the area feels wet or damp. An underground water leak may need to be repaired by a professional plumber.
Look Around For Signs Of Water Damage Or Discoloration
Often, these symptoms are unmistakable indicators of a plumbing issue. If you have one, it is essential to check every room in your house, including your basement.
Check For Leaks In Your Toilet
Additionally, you can check if your toilet has leaks. Once about an inch of water is in the bowl, add a drop of food coloring and let it sit for several minutes.
When you return and look closely later, you should see a colored ring inside the bowl if there is a leak. An underground water leak can also be detected using a dye test kit.
There are home improvement stores and hardware stores that sell these kits. The liquid turns bright blue upon mixing with water, making it easier to see if water is coming from underground.
Hiring a Professional Plumber
Finally, if all else fails, you may need to hire a professional plumber equipped with advanced equipment such as ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and audio microphones.
The devices can pinpoint underground water leaks even if they are several feet below ground.
Even though these tools are more expensive than other methods listed here, they will save you time and hassle when locating an underground water leak quickly so that you can repair it before further damage happens.
In addition, the plumber is covered in case they accidentally damage your house or yard. Check their insurance because they should be.
Final Words
Water leaks can cause extensive damage when they begin. Repairing the problem right away will minimize the damage and the repair cost. An underground water leak can be located in several different ways.
It is essential to keep in mind that the paths are not all created equal, whichever you choose.
Depending on the situation, some methods will be more effective than others. If you don’t know which way works best for your situation, it’s up to you to decide.
Finding an underground leak might initially sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! The best advice is to leave underground water leak detection to the professionals if you are uncomfortable with that type of work.
