Leak Detection & Pipe Repair · Non-Invasive · Nationwide
Leak Detection & Pipe Repair — Found Precisely, Fixed Without Tearing Your Home Apart
Hidden leaks inside walls, under slabs, and in ceilings cause structural damage that compounds by the hour. NorTech uses acoustic and electronic detection equipment to locate leaks precisely — minimizing demolition and getting to the repair faster. Upfront pricing, 1-year labor warranty on every repair.
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Non-Invasive Detection
1-Year Labor Warranty
Upfront Pricing
Nationwide Coverage
Every pipe repair is backed by NorTech’s 1-year labor warranty. If the repair fails within 12 months, we return and fix it at no charge. View warranty details →
New Customer Offer
15% Off Your First Leak Detection or Pipe Repair
New customers get 15% off any leak detection or pipe repair service. Apply the code when requesting your quote.
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Before You Call — Confirm You Have an Active Leak
These four steps confirm whether a leak is active, help narrow its location, and give the technician critical baseline data before arriving. Run through them before calling.
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Perform the water meter test
Turn off every fixture and water-using appliance in the home — dishwasher, ice maker, irrigation, everything. Go to the water meter and note the current reading. Wait 10 minutes without using any water. If the meter has moved, you have an active leak somewhere in the system. Take a photo of the before and after readings.
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Isolate whether the leak is inside or outside the home
Locate the main shutoff valve inside the home (not at the street) and turn it off. Repeat the meter test. If the meter stops moving with the interior shutoff closed, the leak is inside the home. If the meter continues to move, the leak is in the service line between the meter and the house — an underground supply line issue.
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Check all visible supply lines and connections
Look under every sink, behind the toilet, at washing machine connections, and at the water heater for any visible drips, staining, or corrosion. Accessible leaks don’t require detection equipment — they’re found on arrival. Documenting what you can see speeds up the service call.
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Note any warm spots on the floor, wet ceiling areas, or discolored walls
Warm areas on a concrete slab floor often indicate a hot water line leak beneath. Discoloration on drywall that doesn’t have a fixture nearby points to an in-wall pipe. Staining on ceilings below bathrooms usually indicates a drain connection or supply line failure above. Document the exact location — this significantly narrows the detection area.
How We Find What Others Miss
Leak Detection Methods NorTech Uses
Finding a hidden leak without tearing open walls requires the right equipment and the knowledge to interpret what it’s reading. NorTech uses three detection approaches — matched to the leak type and location.
Acoustic Listening Equipment
Ground microphones and acoustic amplifiers detect the sound signature of water escaping a pressurized pipe. Effective for locating leaks in supply lines under slabs, behind walls, and underground service lines. The leak’s noise profile changes based on pipe material, depth, and surrounding soil — an experienced technician interprets the readings to pinpoint the exact location before any surface is opened.
Electronic Leak Detection
Electronic amplification equipment detects pressure differentials and pipe vibrations at frequencies below normal hearing range. Particularly effective for copper pipe leaks under slabs in Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, and other markets where slab construction is standard and pipes run directly through the concrete. Identifies the leak zone to within a few inches before any cutting begins.
Pressure Testing
Isolating sections of the pipe system and testing them under controlled pressure identifies which zone contains the leak without requiring access to the full line. Pressure testing is used when acoustic methods are inconclusive or when the home has multiple potential leak locations. It narrows the repair area to a specific branch or section before any detection equipment is deployed.
Every Type of Hidden Leak
Types of Leaks We Locate & Repair
Not all hidden leaks are the same — the location, pipe type, and failure mode all affect how the leak is detected and what repair is appropriate.
Slab Leaks
Water or drain lines that run through or beneath the concrete foundation. Slab leaks are most common in homes built before 1990 with copper supply lines in areas with aggressive soil, hard water, or significant ground movement. The exact leak point is located with acoustic equipment before any concrete is cut — minimizing demolition to the smallest necessary area. Repair options include direct access repair, pipe re-routing through walls, and epoxy pipe lining.
In-Wall Pipe Leaks
Supply lines running through interior and exterior walls that develop pinhole leaks, joint failures, or fitting corrosion. Acoustic detection identifies the general area; the access point is limited to a single wall opening. In-wall leaks from corroded copper or failing polybutylene pipe in homes from the 1970s–1990s are particularly common in Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, and Raleigh.
Ceiling & Under-Floor Leaks
Leaks from drain lines, supply connections, or fixtures on upper floors that saturate the ceiling below. The visible water stain is rarely directly below the leak — water travels along framing and collects at low points. NorTech traces the leak path back to its source rather than opening the entire stained area.
Underground Service Line Leaks
The supply line running from the water meter to the home’s main shutoff. Underground leaks in this section are the homeowner’s responsibility in most municipalities. Signs include soggy yard patches, unusually green grass over the line path, and a meter that moves when the house shutoff is closed. Acoustic ground microphones locate the exact break point before excavation.
Pinhole Leaks in Copper Pipe
Pitting corrosion that creates small, focused holes in copper pipe walls. A single pinhole leak is often followed by more in the same system within months — the underlying corrosion condition affects the entire pipe run. Common in Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque due to local water chemistry. Repair options range from section replacement to full repiping depending on how widespread the corrosion is.
Irrigation & Outdoor Line Leaks
Irrigation system leaks, hose bib supply line leaks, and pool fill line leaks that don’t show visible surface water but show up on the water bill. Pressure testing on the irrigation zones identifies the leaking zone; acoustic detection locates the break point. Outdoor line leaks in hot, dry climates like Houston and San Antonio are accelerated by soil contraction and expansion.
Repair Options
Pipe Repair Options After a Leak Is Located
Once the leak is found, the right repair depends on the pipe type, access difficulty, age of the system, and whether the rest of the line is at risk. NorTech presents all applicable options before work begins.
Direct Access Repair
The most straightforward option when the leak is accessible. A small section of wall, floor, or concrete is opened at the precise leak location, the damaged section is cut out and replaced with new pipe, and the access point is patched. Best suited for:
- First-time leaks in otherwise healthy pipe systems
- Younger homes with copper or PEX in good condition
- Leaks at fittings, joints, or a single isolated failure point
- In-wall leaks where access is straightforward
Pipe Re-Routing
New pipe is run through an accessible path — typically through wall cavities or under the home — bypassing the damaged section entirely. Preferred when:
- The damaged pipe is deeply embedded in a slab or structural element
- The home has a history of multiple leaks in the same line
- The existing pipe material is at end of life throughout the run
- Direct access would require significant structural demolition
Epoxy Pipe Lining
A structural epoxy liner is applied to the inside of the existing pipe, sealing pinhole leaks and preventing future corrosion without replacing the pipe. Appropriate for:
- Accessible copper pipe with multiple pinhole leaks
- Lines where excavation or wall access is impractical
- Preventive treatment on copper runs showing early corrosion signs
- Small-diameter supply lines in slab construction
Whole-Home Repiping
Full replacement of the home’s supply line system with new PEX or copper. The permanent solution when the pipe material itself has failed systemically. Recommended when:
- The home has original galvanized steel or polybutylene pipe
- Multiple copper pinhole leaks have occurred in different locations
- The pipe system is over 40 years old and showing widespread corrosion
- The cumulative cost of individual repairs exceeds repipe cost
What a Hidden Leak Actually Costs
The Real Cost of an Undetected Leak
Hidden leaks that go undetected for weeks or months don’t just waste water — they cause structural damage that costs far more to remediate than the original pipe repair. These are the downstream costs.
$4,500–$11,000
Average Water Damage Remediation
The national average insurance claim for water intrusion damage — structural drying, drywall replacement, flooring removal, and dehumidification after a hidden pipe leak is discovered.
$3,000–$7,000
Mold Remediation Cost
Mold establishes in saturated wall cavities and subfloor within 24–48 hours of water exposure. Once present, it requires containment, demolition of affected materials, treatment, and clearance testing before the area can be enclosed again.
$200–$400/month
Wasted Water from a Slow Leak
A pinhole leak flowing at 1 gallon per hour wastes over 700 gallons per month. At typical residential water rates, an undetected slow leak in Houston, Tampa, Orlando, or Jacksonville adds hundreds to your monthly water bill — often for months before it’s noticed.
Upfront — No Surprises
How Leak Detection & Pipe Repair Costs Are Determined
Detection and repair costs vary based on the type of leak, access difficulty, and the repair approach required. NorTech provides a written estimate before any work begins.
Detection Method Required
A pressure test for a suspected in-wall leak is priced differently than a full acoustic slab leak detection scan. The technician assesses and quotes before deploying equipment.
Leak Location & Access
An under-sink supply line repair is an hour of labor. A slab leak requiring concrete cutting, pipe repair, and concrete patching is a full-day job. Both are quoted accurately before work starts.
Repair Scope
Direct access repair, pipe re-routing, epoxy lining, and whole-home repiping are different scopes at different price points. All options are presented when multiple approaches are applicable.
Permits
Pipe re-routing and repiping work typically requires a permit. NorTech coordinates permits as part of the job — costs are included in your upfront estimate, not added at completion.
Pipe Materials We Work On
Pipe Types & Materials We Detect & Repair
NorTech technicians work on all residential pipe materials — from original copper and galvanized steel in older homes to PEX and CPVC in newer construction.
Common Questions
Leak Detection & Pipe Repair — Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what homeowners ask most about hidden leaks, slab leaks, repair options, insurance, and cost.
The most reliable indicators of a hidden leak are: an unexplained spike in your water bill with no change in usage, the sound of running water when all fixtures are off, warm or wet spots on floors (slab leak), discolored or soft drywall on walls or ceilings not near any fixture, low water pressure throughout the home, and a water meter that continues to move when all water is turned off. A meter test — shutting off all water use and watching the meter for 10 minutes — is the fastest way to confirm an active leak before calling.
A slab leak is a water line leak that occurs beneath the concrete foundation of a home. They are most common in homes with copper pipes over 20 years old, in areas with corrosive soil or hard water, and in regions with significant soil movement. Signs include warm spots on floors, the sound of running water beneath the floor, cracks in the foundation or flooring, and unexplained wet spots on carpet or hardwood. NorTech uses acoustic listening equipment and electronic amplification to locate the exact leak point beneath the slab — minimizing concrete cutting to the smallest necessary area.
Leak detection cost depends on the type of leak, its location, and the equipment required to locate it. A pressure test and visual inspection for accessible leaks is priced differently than a full acoustic slab leak detection. NorTech provides upfront written estimates before any work begins. The cost of professional leak detection is typically recovered many times over in reduced water damage remediation and lower water bills.
In most cases, yes. Once the exact leak location is identified with acoustic equipment, concrete cutting is limited to the minimum area needed to access the pipe. For older homes with multiple copper pipe failures or a history of corrosion, pipe re-routing — running new pipe through walls or under the home instead of under the slab — may be recommended to avoid repeated slab repairs. In severe cases, whole-home repiping is the most cost-effective long-term solution.
Pinhole leaks in copper pipes are caused by pitting corrosion — a localized form of corrosion that creates small, deep pits in the pipe wall. The primary causes are high water velocity, aggressive water chemistry (low pH or high chlorine content), sediment particles in the water supply, and stray electrical current from improperly grounded appliances. Pinhole leaks in copper are particularly common in homes in Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, and other Southwest markets where water chemistry and hard water conditions accelerate copper degradation. A single pinhole leak in a supply line often indicates the rest of the system is at similar risk.
If you’re experiencing your first leak in an otherwise healthy home, targeted repair is appropriate. If the home is over 40 years old with original galvanized or polybutylene pipe, or if you’ve had multiple copper pinhole leaks in different locations within a few years, repiping becomes the more cost-effective long-term solution. Each repair in a deteriorating system buys limited time — the underlying corrosion or material failure continues throughout the pipe network. NorTech assesses the full pipe condition and gives you a realistic picture of what targeted repair will cost over time versus a full repipe.
A standard leak detection using acoustic equipment takes 1–3 hours depending on the home’s size and the suspected leak location. Accessible pipe repairs — supply lines, under-sink connections, and exposed wall pipes — are typically completed same-day. Slab leak repairs require concrete cutting and may take a full day. Pipe re-routing and whole-home repiping are multi-day projects that are quoted with a full timeline estimate before work begins.
Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies cover the water damage caused by a sudden and accidental slab leak — damaged flooring, drywall, and personal property. The cost of the plumbing repair itself is typically not covered. Some policies exclude gradual leaks that should have been caught earlier. NorTech technicians document leak conditions thoroughly, which supports insurance claim documentation for the associated water damage.
Service Territory
Leak Detection Service Areas
NorTech dispatches leak detection and pipe repair technicians to major metros and surrounding areas nationwide. Check your service territory →
Think You Have a Hidden Leak? Don’t Wait for the Water Bill.
Non-invasive detection, upfront pricing, and a 1-year labor warranty on every pipe repair. Serving Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and cities across the U.S.
