How to find a leak in plumbing pipes under floors?

Author: Mr. Deon Reinger  |  Last update: Monday, February 2, 2026

Eight Signs of an Underground Pipe Leak
  1. Check the Water Meter. Water meters measure the volume of water running through your home's piping system. ...
  2. Reduced Water Pressure. ...
  3. High Water Bills. ...
  4. You Hear Running Water or Similar Sounds. ...
  5. Foul-Smelling Odors. ...
  6. Sudden Floor Stains. ...
  7. Lawn Flooding. ...
  8. Foundation Cracks.

How do I know if my pipes are leaking under my floor?

Musty odors coming from drains or vents. Discolored water (brown, yellow, or rust-colored) coming from faucets. Mold or mildew spots on the walls, floors, or ceilings. Depressions in the yard that don't fill with water.

How do I find water pipes under my floor?

Today, the best tool for the job is ground penetrating radar (GPR) as it accurately maps metal and PVC pipes. Traditional pipe locators use electricity and magnets to locate underground pipes.

How do I find the source of a plumbing leak?

8 Ways To Find a Water Leak in Your Plumbing
  1. Assess Your Water Meter. ...
  2. Monitor Your Water Bill. ...
  3. Use Food Coloring in Toilets. ...
  4. Look for Patches of Greener Grass. ...
  5. Evaluate Exterior Usage. ...
  6. Check Hidden Pipes. ...
  7. Check Your Large Appliances. ...
  8. Schedule Regular Inspections.

How does a plumber find a water leak underground?

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): This technology uses radar pulses to image the subsurface and can help locate pipes and identify leaks without excavation. Visual Inspection: Sometimes, surface signs like water pooling, lush vegetation, or unusual soil erosion can hint at underground leaks.

How to Find a Leak in Plumbing Pipes Under Floors

Is there a tool to find a water leak underground?

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a powerful tool for finding underground pipe leaks. By transmitting radar energy into the ground and monitoring the strength and time delay of any reverberations, it can detect changes in underlying soil or structural irregularities that could signify a leak.

Can I use my phone to detect underground water?

-Underground water detector mobile app is an easy water leak detector and easy Scan Water Leak Detector A simple water finder This apps transforms any Android into a genuine water identifier to discover water around you, just hold level and follow the needle & This water detection sensor gives you a comprehensive ...

How do plumbers find leaking pipes?

Expert pipe locators and water leak detectors attend residential and commercial premises to inspect and test with advanced leak detection equipment such as underground pipe locators, Hydrogen tracer gas, acoustic systems, thermal imaging and inspection cameras. Leak detection for plumbers with tracer gas.

Does home insurance cover water leaks?

Under most standard home insurance policies, if water damage occurs suddenly or accidentally from a source inside your home, such as a busted pipe, it will likely be covered by your homeowners insurance. If the water comes from outside your home, it will not be covered by your standard policy.

How to identify where a leak is coming from?

7 Effective Methods To Identify Hidden Water Leaks In Your Home
  1. Monitor Your Water Meter.
  2. Conduct a Visual Inspection.
  3. Check Faucets, Showerheads, and Toilets.
  4. Examine Outdoor Areas.
  5. Utilize Technology.
  6. Conduct a Pressure Test.
  7. Seek Professional Home Leak Detection Services.

How do plumbers find leaks under floorboards?

Listening discs and ground microphones are some of the most basic tools that can be used by a plumber to detect and pinpoint water leaks. Listening discs are pieces of equipment that help plumbers to locate leaks through drywall, cabinets and other furnishings.

How to locate underground water lines?

The easiest way to find underground pipes is by using RTK-enabled devices. These devices can pinpoint the location of several types of pipes, from water to oil pipes, with centimeter-level precision.

Do the plumbing pipes run under the floor slab?

Many homes nowadays are built on concrete slabs. Prior to pouring the concrete, the plumbing pipes are laid in the dirt. This allows for your tubs, toilets, and other drains in your home to drain down, under the slab, and out into your main sewer line or septic tank. This is referred to Slab Under Plumbing.

How to locate pipes under floorboards?

So if you want to locate copper pipes below 20mm timber floorboards, use a piece of scrap copper pipe and hold it under a piece of timber, and adjust the dial on the detector so that it beeps only when it is definitely over the pipe.

What to do if there is water leak under the floor?

Stop or Identify the Water Source

This may need to be done professionally, but you can try and locate the water source yourself. Most of the time if you listen closely, you'll hear water running. If you can't find the source, contact a local professional to examine your flooring.

Why is there water under my floor but no leak?

If it's not the pipes or the foundation, the water might be coming in through your home's windows and doors. Improperly sealed windows can leak on a rainy day, and the water can drain down the wall and into the floors and subfloors. If this happens, you need to start by sealing the windows with caulk.

How to make a successful water leak insurance claim?

7 Tips when Filing a Home Insurance Claim for Water Damage
  1. Step 1: Determine the Source of the Water. ...
  2. Step 3: Call your Insurance Agent. ...
  3. Step 4: Get the water and moisture professionally removed. ...
  4. Step 5: Determine if you can remain in your home. ...
  5. Step 6: Take photos of the damaged area. ...
  6. Step 7: Contact an Adjuster or Lawyer.

Does State Farm cover water damage from leaking pipes?

Typically covered: losses caused by water abruptly leaking from a pipe inside the home, frozen/burst pipe if reasonable care is used to maintain heat in the home, water backing-up through a sewer or drain (with Back-up of Sewer or Drain endorsement) and water damage to your home caused by ice dams.

Can I claim compensation for a water leak?

As a general rule, water damage is covered by home insurance if it is sudden or accidental.

How much does it cost to detect a water pipe leak?

This type of leak detection costs can range from $150 to $1200; the average is $400.00.

How to locate a leaking pipe underground?

Here are some of the signs you should look out for:
  1. Sudden increase in water usage and costs. ...
  2. Cracked areas or bulges of pavement. ...
  3. Unpleasant smells. ...
  4. Low pressure in the water supply. ...
  5. Dirty water. ...
  6. Sounds from pipes. ...
  7. Thermal imaging. ...
  8. Acoustic leak detection.

How to find hidden water leak without meter?

10 Ingenious Ways To Detect Hidden Water Leaks
  1. Inspect the pipes under sinks. This is the simplest way to detect leaks on the list. ...
  2. Monitor your water bill. ...
  3. Look for water stains. ...
  4. Listen for the sound of running water. ...
  5. Use a food coloring test. ...
  6. Use a moisture meter. ...
  7. Check the caulking for cracks. ...
  8. Hire a professional plumber.

What is the app that finds water leaks underground?

Here are four apps that you can use to detect water leaks:
  • iQuarius.
  • Leak Detector.
  • LeakSMART.
  • Early Water Leak Alert.

Is there a device to find water leaks?

Water leak detectors can detect water pooling, and some can also detect water dripping or even humidity rising. Premium water leak detectors monitor the flow of water in your pipes. All connect to a hub or directly to your Wi-Fi network to send alerts when they detect a problem.

Which app can I use to detect underground water?

The Aqvify app is easy to use!

Instant and past info about level, volume, groundwater level and inflow.

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