Underground Water Line Leak Detection in Gardena
Finding where a buried line is leaking, before anyone digs, can mean less damage to your yard or concrete and a more targeted repair.
Referral service: Gardena Water Line Pros is not a plumbing contractor. Your call may be connected to an independent, third-party service provider who sets its own availability, pricing and terms. Read our referral disclosure.
Leak detection is not the same as the repair
Leak detection answers one question: where is the water escaping? The repair is a separate step. Some providers do both; others specialize in locating leaks. When you call, describe what you've noticed so you can be connected with a suitable provider.
A simple meter check you can do
This check doesn't require tools or digging, and it helps you describe the problem accurately.
- Turn off every faucet, appliance and irrigation system that uses water.
- Look at your water meter. Many meters have a small leak indicator (often a triangle or dial) that spins when water flows.
- If it's moving with everything off, water is going somewhere: a toilet, irrigation, a fixture, or the service line.
If the meter box is hard to open, damaged, or the leak seems to be at the meter itself, don't force it. That equipment belongs to the utility. Contact Golden State Water instead.
How providers locate underground leaks
Methods vary by provider and by site. Common approaches include:
- Isolation and pressure testing to confirm whether the service line itself is losing water.
- Acoustic listening with ground microphones that pick up the sound of escaping water.
- Tracer gas introduced into the line and detected at the surface.
- Pipe locating to trace the line's route when it isn't known.
- Thermal imaging in some situations, such as lines near or under slabs.
No method is perfect in every soil and surface. Ask the provider which approach they'd use and how confident they are before excavation begins.
Other things that can look like a service line leak
- A running toilet or a leaking irrigation valve can move the meter.
- Wet spots can come from sprinklers, drainage or a neighbor's property.
- Low pressure can come from a pressure regulator, a partly closed valve or the utility side.
Read more in our guide to water service line leak signs. If the leak is confirmed, see water service line repair and replacement options.
Need a suspected leak located?
Call and describe what you're seeing. When a participating provider is available, we'll connect you.
Referral service: Gardena Water Line Pros is not a plumbing contractor. Your call may be connected to an independent, third-party service provider who sets its own availability, pricing and terms. Read our referral disclosure.