The difference between a $300 pipe repair and a $3,000 drywall-and-remediation job is often just whether the leak was found before or after excessive wall opening. Our detection service in San Pablo uses the same methods utilities and insurance adjusters rely on β to pinpoint the failure before anything is cut.

A pressure test tells us a leak exists. Detection equipment tells us precisely where.
Most effective on metal pipe under slab or in concrete β materials that conduct sound efficiently. We establish a clean acoustic baseline by briefly shutting off the house before scanning.
Active water leaks create temperature differentials on the surfaces they contact. An infrared camera shows these as color-coded heat maps, revealing the wet zone inside a wall or under a floor without any cutting. A cold water leak behind drywall appears as a spreading cool zone; a hot water leak shows the inverse.
Pressure decay testing is the standard by which we confirm a leak is present before committing detection equipment time. A rapid drop vs. a slow one also indicates the approximate size of the escape point.
For leaks that don't produce sufficient acoustic signature β very slow leaks, polyethylene pipe, or leaks deep under concrete β we introduce a nitrogen/hydrogen tracer gas mixture into the isolated pipe and use a calibrated gas detector at the surface to find where the gas escapes. Sensitive to concentrations far below what produces an audible acoustic signal.
Hidden leaks occur in different locations throughout a property β each requiring a slightly different detection approach. Here's how we handle the most common scenarios in San Pablo, NM.
Supply lines running under or through the concrete slab fail from corrosion, shifting, or manufacturing defects β and the leak is invisible from the surface but audible to acoustic equipment. We walk the floor on a grid pattern, map the loudest detection points, and triangulate to a specific floor location, typically within a square foot. Confirmed slab leak location is documented with marked coordinates for the repair crew.

Wall and ceiling leaks are often traced by following a visible stain to its apparent high point β but visible damage can be several feet from the actual pipe failure due to how water travels down framing members. Thermal imaging reveals the wet zone accurately, and acoustic equipment confirms the pipe location within the wall cavity.
We also perform leak correlation surveys for longer line runs, using two listening points to triangulate the failure location mathematically.
Irrigation system leaks in main supply and lateral runs are found by isolating zones with the irrigation controller and pressure-testing each zone individually. Zone-by-zone testing narrows the failure to the smallest possible section.

We format detection reports specifically for insurance submission and provide documentation on our detection equipment and methodology to claims adjusters on request.
Commercial buildings have complex pipe networks where a supply or drain leak can go undetected through multiple floors before surfacing. We approach commercial detection systematically β zone-by-zone pressure isolation, thermal scan of suspect surfaces, and acoustic confirmation.
Here's exactly how a Masters Plumbing Service leak detection call plays out in San Pablo, NM.
We start at the meter. All fixtures off, we watch the meter for 10 minutes. Movement confirms active water loss from the supply side. We also check for visible evidence β stains, soft floors, moisture readings with a moisture meter at suspect wall surfaces.
We isolate the supply system into zones β hot side, cold side, individual branches β and pressure-test each to determine which is losing water. This narrows the area of active search before detection equipment is deployed.
Within the isolated zone, we deploy thermal imaging first β scanning walls, floors, and ceilings for moisture anomalies. Then acoustic equipment confirms the specific pipe location and narrows it to the tightest possible point. Tracer gas is added if acoustic results aren't conclusive.
You receive a written detection report including pressure test results, detection method summary, leak location relative to fixed reference points, and thermal imagery. If you want us to repair the leak, we quote immediately and can execute same-visit.

My water bill doubled over three months. Masters Plumbing Service confirmed the meter was moving with everything off, isolated the cold supply to the kitchen as the failing branch, and used the acoustic device on the slab to pinpoint a location 4 feet from the outside wall under the kitchen floor. The repair crew opened a 10-inch circle in the tile, found a pinhole copper elbow exactly where detection said it would be. I was genuinely amazed at the precision.
Our insurance company required professional leak detection documentation before approving the claim. Masters Plumbing Service's written report with pressure test data and thermal imagery was exactly what the adjuster needed. Claim approved. The detection cost was covered as part of the claim.
Commercial building with elevated water costs for six months. Masters Plumbing Service ran zone-by-zone pressure isolation across four floors, narrowed the loss to the third-floor kitchen supply branch, and located the failure with thermal imaging at a concealed valve body in the ceiling. No damage to the finished ceiling.
Our detection technicians are equipped with acoustic, thermal, and tracer gas tools for the full range of leak scenarios found in San Pablo, NM homes and commercial properties.

Masters Plumbing Service's detection team finds hidden leaks in San Pablo homes and commercial properties using equipment that eliminates guesswork. The detection appointment pays for itself the moment it prevents one unnecessary wall opening.
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