Since pipes are beneath the ground, it can be hard to find an underground water leak. However, these leaks can cause extensive property damage if you don’t detect and fix them. Unfortunately, underground leaks are often not noticed until they cause visible damage or result in other problems.
Here are 10 signs to watch for that might indicate you have an underground water leak. Learn how our plumbers at Tuck & Howell, Inc. in Greenville, SC can identify and locate hidden leaks for you.
Signs of an Underground Water Leak
The signs of an underground water leak are subtle, but any of these warning signs should lead you to call our experienced plumbers. While some of these red flags can indicate different issues, a combination of them can mean you have an underground leak. We have advanced tools and technology to quickly locate underground water leaks and repair them.
1. Suddenly High Water Bills
A sudden, rapid increase in your water bill might point to an underground water leak. This is especially true if your usage patterns and water company rate hikes can’t explain your bill increases. A significant and unexplained water bill increase might be caused by a supply line leaking and draining away water.
2. Pooled Water in Your Yard
Water leaking underground floods through the dirt and will often end up surfacing on your lawn. If you notice areas where water has pooled in your yard without an obvious cause, such as a rainstorm or a hose that a family member forgot to shut off, it could mean that you have an underground leak. Contact us for professional plumbing repair immediately if you see areas of unexplained, pooled water.
3. Unusually Lush Growth
While Greenville is known for its lush plants, unusually lush areas in your yard could signal that you have a leak. Look for plants and shrubs sprouting where they shouldn’t be or patches of grass that are much greener than the surrounding landscaping. If you have a leaking sewage pipe, the nutrient-filled water acts like a natural fertilizer and can cause lush growth where the water leaks into the soil.
4. Foundation Cracks
If you suspect you might have an underground leak, walk around your house and take a look at its foundation. Some foundation cracks can happen because of settling, but excessive cracking can happen when an underground leak causes steady soil erosion. Water is a powerful force that can cause spreading hairline cracks that worsen with the shifting soil.
5. Buckling Pavement
Ongoing underground leaks wash away the soil that supports pavement used in sidewalks, patios, and driveways. As a result, your cemented areas can crack, buckle, and heave. Pavement shifts can occur because of underground leaks and should prompt you to call for an inspection, especially when combined with other warning signs.
6. Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure in all of your indoor sinks and showers can point to an underground leak. If you’ve noticed that your faucets, bathtubs, and showers start producing water at a trickle, you should contact our plumbers at Tuck & Howell, Inc.. While low water pressure in a single faucet might indicate you need to clean out or replace its aerator, a water pressure decline throughout your home can indicate a leak from your water supply line.
7. Running Water Sounds
If you hear the sound of running water even when your bathroom and sink fixtures are turned off, it could indicate an underground leak. Unexplained trickling water sounds can be caused by water draining through a crack in your home’s supply line.
8. Discolored Tap Water
Any time you see cloudy, reddish, or brown water pouring out of your faucets, you should call us at Tuck & Howell, Inc.. This can be caused by contamination from a corroded pipe that has cracked and allows sediment to leak into your home’s water supply line. When you see discolored water coming from multiple fixtures throughout your house, reach out to our team right away.
9. Mildewed Carpets/Moist Floors
Eventually, underground water leaks can rot your home’s floor joists and the subfloor beneath your carpets or hardwood flooring. When this happens, you might notice mildew smells coming from specific rooms or unexplained damp flooring materials. You should call our plumbers right away to prevent the damage from worsening.
10. Unexplained Floor Warmth
If you notice that certain areas of your floor radiate heat without a reason, it could be caused by hot water leaking from pipes and transferring the heat to your floor through your home’s slab. Hot patches of the floor should lead you to schedule a plumbing inspection.
How Our Plumbers Find Underground Water Leaks
Our plumbers at Tuck & Howell, Inc. in Greenville have specialized tools and advanced technology that we use to locate hidden, underground leaks. Here are a few of the leak detection methods we use to diagnose underground leaks and locate them for fast repairs.
Visual Inspection of Your Yard
Your plumber will walk around your yard to look for leak signs, including pooled water, eroded soil, or unexpectedly lush areas. We use these signs to get an idea of a leak’s location before we use tools that help us to precisely identify its location.
Acoustic Leak Detection Tools
With specialized acoustic devices, our plumbers can listen for subtle sounds of water draining from pipes. Acoustic leak detection tools amplify sound, so we can pinpoint the leak’s location.
Pressure Testing to Confirm the Leak
Our plumbers might conduct a pressure test to confirm an underground leak. This involves us using tools to test the water pressure in your pipes. If it falls during our test, water is likely escaping from somewhere within your pipe system.
Soil Probes
Our plumbers might use soil problems to find underground leaks. We first look for ground areas that have visible pooled water or are otherwise saturated. The soil problems help us determine the leak’s depth and how it might be affecting other areas of your property.
Thermal Imaging Tools
Thermal imaging tools allow us to identify temperature differences in the soil that result from water escaping from an underground pipe. Escaping water can cool or heat the soil surrounding the leak based on the water’s temperature. Our thermal imaging cameras enable us to see this temperature change.
Tracer Gas Detection Tools
Plumbers sometimes pump tracer gases into a home’s water lines. The gas is typically a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen. Since it’s lighter than air, the tracer gas will escape through pipe leaks. An above-ground sensor detects where the gas escapes to identify the leak’s location.
Contact Our Experienced Plumbers
Whether you suspect you have an underground leak or are experiencing other plumbing problems, our professional plumbing services experts at Tuck & Howell, Inc. are ready to assist you. Our family-owned business has served the Greenville community since 1969. We perform a wide range of plumbing services, including repairs, leak detection, sewer drain services, kitchen and bathroom plumbing, and more.
To learn more about leak detection and how we can help, call us at Tuck & Howell, Inc. in Greenville today!
