Wait, don't plumbers find leaks?
“Leak detectors are the plumbers that plumbers call when they can’t find the leak.”
Well, yes.
And no.
Traditional plumbers are skilled at fixing a problem when they know what that problem is. After all, that’s their profession.
But what if you can’t tell where the leak is?
It may surprise you to know that, when you have a leak with a mystery source, your plumber is likely scratching his head as much as you are on how to locate it. That's where leak detectors come in. Leak detectors are the plumbers that plumbers call when they can't find the leak.
What sets leak detectors apart from traditional plumbers?
Leak detection is a hard-learned craft unto itself. While leak detection specialists are licensed plumbers, there are three main ways in which they differ from traditional plumbers:
Equipment
"Seeing" the heat signature of an underground plumbing leak
Technology is the leak detector's best friend. Our job would be much harder, if not impossible, without the array of high-tech equipment at our disposal. With it, we are able to listen for leaks deep underground, see inside walls without tearing them open, locate and track hidden pipes, and even visually interpret moisture signatures. Traditional plumbers do not have this array of technology at their fingertips. It is cost prohibitive for plumbers, but necessary to perform leak detection.
Education
Leak detection tools are not as simple as x-ray vision. They are only useful in the hands of a technician who has the education and expertise to read between the lines of where the tools' capabilities end. A deep understanding of plumbing must go hand in hand with a thorough familiarity of the equipment in order to interpret the information gathered and accurately pinpoint a leak.
Experience
For a leak detection specialist, finding hidden leaks is not an add-on skill, exercised every month or even every week. It is their full-time work, day-in and day-out, for years. And that's exactly what it takes to be able to accurately locate any hidden leak. There are just too many variables and unique situations to simply dabble and come out on top.
BEWARE THE PLUMBER WHO "ALSO DOES LEAK DETECTION"
Does your service plumber list LEAK DETECTION among a list of other services, such as water heater installation and drain line snaking? It's an appealing skill to advertise and brings in business. But watch out for a plumber overstating his abilities, which could leave you holding the bag.
Warning Signs
Leak detection as a profession is too complex to simply be an add-on skill. An honest plumber will not overstate their abilities. When unsure of a leak's location, they will recommend hiring a leak detection specialist. But be mindful of the following red flags that indicate your plumber is in over his head and it's time to call a leak detection specialist.
The "leak detection" is many hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
There are times that a leak detection could cost $600+. But these times are RARE. Exceedingly rare. More often than not, these prices reflect the excessive amount of time a traditional plumber must spend (at his accustomed rate) working outside of his area of expertise, and are an attempt to compensate for the expensive equipment that was purchased, but not often enough utilized.
You're advised to repipe your whole house.
Some houses need all new plumbing. However, that number is much smaller than many plumbers would have you believe. If you keep having leaks, maybe it's worth the $10,000+ investment to know you'll never have another. But repiping is easy advice for a plumber to give. Not only is he off the hook for finding your leak, he gets an incredibly high-priced repair out of it, too! A good leak detector or plumber will give you several repair options and let you choose the direction in which you are most comfortable proceeding.
Walls and floors must be torn apart to find the leak.
Your house shouldn't be left in shambles in the wake of your plumber chasing an elusive leak. Replacing flooring, walls, or cabinetry is not cheap! A leak detector will determine the least invasive approach to get your plumbing back in working order, keeping damage to a minimum.