Leak Detection in Fort Worth: Finding Hidden Plumbing Leaks

Call (817) 755-5621 — 24/7 emergency service

Office hours 8 AM–11 PM daily · 24/7 emergency service

A water bill that jumps for no reason, a stain spreading across drywall, water hissing when every tap is off: these are the usual first signs of a hidden leak. Plumber 24 Fort Worth tracks down leaks in walls, ceilings, crawlspaces, slabs and yard lines, then explains the fix.

Leak detection is the step before the repair: finding where the water is going, so the right pipe gets fixed before hidden water ruins drywall, flooring and framing.

Signs of a hidden water leak

A bill well above the same month last year, with no change in water use
Hissing or running water in a wall or floor when nothing is on
A water meter that keeps moving with everything off
A ceiling stain below a bathroom, or bubbling paint on a garage wall
Loose tile or dark, crumbling grout around a shower or tub
A musty smell in a sink cabinet, closet or crawlspace
A warm spot on a tile or concrete floor
A soggy yard patch, or grass that stays green through a dry spell

One sign alone isn't proof: attic AC condensate lines, roof leaks and poor drainage leave water in odd places too, so we rule them out.

High water bill? Try the one-hour meter test

Two meter readings an hour apart show whether water is escaping.

Turn off every faucet and water-using appliance, the ice maker and the sprinkler system.
Open the meter box, usually near the curb (watch for wasps), and write down the full reading.
Wait an hour without using any water, then read it again. Any change means water is leaving the pipes.
Repeat with the house's main shut-off closed. If the meter holds still, the leak is inside; if not, suspect the yard line or sprinklers.

A running toilet is a common culprit that never puts water on the floor; see toilet repairs and installation for a quick dye test. Fort Worth's hard water also wears out faucet cartridges and supply lines; see fixture repair.

How we find hidden leaks

Leak detection is a process of elimination:

Review the symptoms: when the bill rose, where you see water, what you hear.
Test and isolate: meter readings and valves separate the yard line, water heater, toilets and house lines.
Inspect what we can reach: cabinets, toilets, the water heater, washer box, hose bibs and any crawlspace.
Narrow it down before opening anything, aiming for one small opening in a wall, floor or yard rather than several.
Explain and confirm: we go over the options, then check that the meter holds still after the repair.

Water that smells like drain water points to a drain or sewer pipe instead; that calls for a video camera inspection and drain repair.

Where hidden leaks show up in Fort Worth homes

Inside the walls of older Riverside, Oakhurst and Six Points homes

We're based on N Sylvania Ave in Riverside, among houses built from the 1920s to the 1960s, many still on galvanized supply pipe. Galvanized rusts from the inside and tends to fail as pinhole leaks at threaded joints inside walls, often with low pressure or rusty water. The valve and pipes behind a shower are another frequent spot; see shower repairs and installation. If old pipe keeps failing, see piping and repiping.

Crawlspaces under pier-and-beam homes

Pier-and-beam houses, common in historic Fairmount, run pipes through a crawlspace. A leak there drips onto the soil, so the clues are a musty smell or soft, cupping wood floors. The upside: those pipes can usually be repaired without cutting into floors.

Under the slab

Most newer homes sit on slabs over North Texas expansive clay, which swells when wet and shrinks when dry, straining the lines underneath. A warm floor plus a moving meter points to a supply line under the concrete (see slab leaks); drain lines there don't move the meter (see foundation leaks).

The yard line and sprinklers

A wet or sunken yard spot, or a meter turning with the house valve closed, points to the buried line from the meter or a sprinkler zone; see water line repair or water line installation.

Water leaking right now?

Smell gas, not water? Leave the building first, without touching switches or using flames, then call 911 or Atmos Energy from outside. Once it's safe, see gas line repair.

Close the stop valve at the fixture, or the main shut-off at the house or meter.
Leak at the water heater? Close its cold-water inlet and turn it off: the breaker for electric, the pilot setting for gas. See water heater repair.
Move valuables out of the water and take photos for insurance.
Call (817) 755-5621. A leak you can't stop is an emergency we handle 24/7; see emergency plumbing services, or frozen pipes after a freeze.

Leak Detection FAQ

How do I know if I have a hidden water leak?

The surest sign is a water meter that moves while every fixture is off. Other clues are an unexplained jump in the bill, running-water sounds, stains, a warm floor and a wet patch in the yard.

Can you find a leak without tearing up walls or floors?

Many leaks can be reached from a sink cabinet, a crawlspace or the meter box without opening anything. When an opening is needed, we narrow down the spot first to keep it small.

Will every leak show up on my water meter?

No. Supply-line leaks, including the yard line and lines under the slab, move the meter. Drain leaks don't, because drains only carry water while a fixture runs; they are traced with a camera or a drain test.

What should I do if water is leaking right now?

Close the stop valve at the fixture or the main shut-off, then call (817) 755-5621. A leak you can't shut off is an emergency. Office hours 8 AM–11 PM daily · 24/7 emergency service.

Call for leak detection in Fort Worth

Call (817) 755-5621 for leak detection in Fort Worth, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Saginaw, Lake Worth, Benbrook, Kennedale and Burleson. New customers get $50 off, seniors, military and first responders get 10% off, and the dispatch fee is $0 with a repair; terms are on our coupons page. Ask about financing options for bigger jobs.