Seattle, WA · Licensed & insured
Water Leak Detection & Repair in Seattle
A hidden leak can run for months behind drywall before it ever shows on a ceiling. We find it with acoustic and thermal equipment rather than by opening walls and guessing, then repair it with the smallest opening the job allows.
Signs you need us today
- A water bill that jumped with no change in habits
- The meter dial moving with every fixture off
- Warm spots on a slab floor
- Musty smell in one room that never clears
- Staining or bubbling paint on a wall or ceiling
- Water pressure that quietly dropped off
How the job runs
- 1Meter testConfirm an active leak and estimate its size before hunting for it.
- 2IsolateNarrow it to supply, drain, irrigation or heating so we search the right system.
- 3PinpointAcoustic listening, thermal imaging and pressure testing locate it without demolition.
- 4RepairSmallest possible access, repair, and a written note of what failed and why.
Seattle homeowner guide
A high Seattle water bill: start with a controlled check
An unexplained increase in usage can come from a running toilet, irrigation, an appliance or a concealed supply leak. With all intentional water use stopped, a safely accessible meter can help indicate continuing flow. Seattle Public Utilities provides guidance on locating and checking a water meter. In a building with a shared meter, movement alone does not identify your unit as the source.
Note the date, usage change and whether the meter continues to register water when fixtures are off. Check accessible toilets and visible connectors without dismantling equipment. If you can safely close the private main valve, a professional may use that test to help distinguish a service-line leak from an interior leak. Do not operate utility valves or force a seized valve.
Supply leaks, drain leaks and rain intrusion are different
A stain beneath a bathroom can come from a pressurized pipe, a shower drain, a failed seal or another source. Dampness in a lower level after rain can also involve exterior drainage or building-envelope defects rather than the potable water system. The timing—constant, only during fixture use, or only after rain—is useful evidence.
In a Madrona hillside home with a finished lower level, record whether the wet patch changes when an upstairs fixture runs. In a South Lake Union or Belltown apartment, notify management because water can travel from another unit or a shared riser. Moisture, thermal imaging and acoustic testing provide clues; none makes every concealed leak visible without any access opening.
Repair documentation and a follow-up test
Ask what system was tested, where the leak was found and which surfaces will need opening and restoration. A targeted pipe repair is different from a reroute or replacement of a longer deteriorated run. After the repair, request confirmation that the affected system was checked and that unexplained meter flow has stopped where that test applies.
Keep photos, the repair invoice and a written description of the cause for your insurer or property manager. Coverage depends on your policy and circumstances; ask the insurer rather than assuming either the failed pipe or consequential damage is covered. Drying and removal of damaged materials may require a separate restoration specialist.
Details to have ready when you call
- Does dampness appear constantly, during fixture use or after rain?
- Has measured water usage increased?
- Are nearby fixtures, irrigation or shared building pipes involved?
- Can the plumber access the affected wall, ceiling or crawlspace?
Seattle references: SPU side-sewer responsibilities and permits · Current side-sewer application process. · Public Health plumbing and water-heater permits · SPU meter and leak checks.
What this costs in Seattle
Illustrative planning ranges, not verified local market averages or a binding quote. Access, diagnosis, permits and restoration affect the price. Confirm the current charges before booking.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Leak detection visit | $250 – $600 |
| Pinhole copper repair | $350 – $900 |
| Under-slab leak repair | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Reroute a failed line | $900 – $3,500 |
Questions Seattle homeowners ask
- Can you find a leak without cutting the wall?
- That is the point of the equipment. We locate first, then open only where the repair has to happen.
- My meter spins but I see nothing — where is it?
- Most commonly an irrigation line, a hose bib, a silently running toilet flapper, or a supply line under the slab. The isolation test separates these quickly.
- Will insurance cover it?
- Policies often cover the resulting water damage but not the failed pipe. We document the cause so you have what the adjuster asks for.
Covering every Seattle neighborhood
Ballard · Fremont · Wallingford · Green Lake · Queen Anne · Magnolia · Capitol Hill · Central District · Beacon Hill · Columbia City · West Seattle · Georgetown · Greenwood · Phinney Ridge and the rest of the city.
Talk to a plumber now
(206) 635-7619