The water bill jumped
A sudden increase with no change in habits is the most reliable early signal there is. A leak losing a gallon an hour will never be visible, but it shows up clearly on the bill.
Diagnosis
Leak detection in Elgin
The expensive part of a hidden leak is rarely the repair. It is the drywall somebody removed looking for it.
Open 24/7 across Elgin · Flat-rate pricing quoted before we start
Overview
A leak inside a wall, under a slab, or beneath the yard announces itself indirectly — a water bill that climbed for no reason, a patch of floor that is warm underfoot, a stain that keeps coming back after you paint over it.
Our job is to convert that vague evidence into a specific location before anyone picks up a saw. We use acoustic listening equipment, thermal imaging, and pressure testing to narrow a leak down to a point, so the repair opens one small area instead of a wall.
Symptoms
Signs worth taking seriously
A warm spot on the floor
Almost always a hot-water slab leak. The line under the concrete is losing water and heating the slab above it. This one is worth acting on quickly.
The meter moves with everything off
Shut every fixture in the house and watch the meter's low-flow indicator. If it is still turning, water is going somewhere it should not.
Musty smell or recurring stain
Slow, long-running leak inside a wall or ceiling cavity. By the time the smell is noticeable there is usually material damage behind the surface.
Cracked flooring or a shifting slab
Sustained water under a foundation moves soil. Hairline cracks that keep widening deserve a look before they become a structural conversation.
Our process
How we find it
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Confirm there is a leak at all
We isolate the system and pressure-test it. Sometimes the answer is that the plumbing is sound and the water is coming from roofing, irrigation, or drainage — and that is worth knowing before you pay for a plumbing repair.
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Narrow it to a zone
By isolating sections we determine whether the loss is on the supply side, the drain side, hot or cold, inside or outside.
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Pinpoint the location
Acoustic equipment picks up the sound of water escaping under pressure; thermal imaging finds the temperature difference a hot line creates. Between the two we can usually mark a spot on the floor or wall.
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Explain the repair options
Depending on location and pipe condition, that may be a spot repair, a reroute around the failed section, or — if the pipe is failing in multiple places — a repipe conversation. All three get explained with costs.
Scope
Leaks we locate
Leak detection is quoted as a flat diagnostic fee before we start. You get the location and a written explanation of what we found whether or not you have us do the repair.
Request service- Slab leaks under concrete foundations
- In-wall and under-floor supply line leaks
- Pinhole leaks in copper
- Underground water service and irrigation leaks
- Pool and spa line leaks
- Drain and sewer line leaks
Can you find a leak without breaking anything?
That is the entire point of the service. Acoustic and thermal equipment locate the leak non-invasively. We only open a surface once we know what is behind it, and only where the repair actually needs to happen.
How do I know if it is a slab leak?
The usual combination is an unexplained water bill increase, a warm area on the floor, and sometimes the faint sound of running water when the house is quiet. Any one of those alone is worth a test; all three together usually confirm it.
Does insurance cover slab leaks?
Policies vary a great deal. Many California homeowner policies cover the resulting water damage and the cost of accessing the pipe, while excluding the pipe repair itself. We provide documentation of what we found and where, which is what your adjuster will ask for.
Should I shut off the water while I wait?
If you can see active water or the meter is spinning quickly, yes — shut off the main. For a slow leak that has been there for months, another day will not change much, so leave the water on and keep the house livable.
Reviews
Homeowners who count on us.
4.9 average, based on 301 Google reviews
★★★★★
Upon hearing my water heater hissing for 20 minutes, I called Alexander Plumbing. They were able to send someone out within the hour to inspect it. Then they were able to replace the water heater early the next morning…
★★★★★
My kitchen drain was backing up and I have long pipes to get to the main stack- Paul was able to get enough length to free up the clog. He also used a chemical to super fulsh the pipes. Great service- Paul was very good…
★★★★★
Pat and Neil are absolutely fantastic. We had a bit of an emergency plumbing issue and they were so calm and informative on the phone. Neil was at our home within an hour and did excellent work! Definitely recommend…
A plumbing problem should
not become a renovation.
If it is safe, close the nearest shutoff valve, move belongings away from water, and tell us exactly what you see.
Let's Get Your Plumbing Back on Track
4.9
301 Google reviews
