How to Detect a Water Leak Underground: A Complete Guide

April 9, 2025

Leaks in water are an unpleasant situation that every homeowner has to suffer. Some leaks are easy to find, but others, like underground leaks, may be tough to find. These hidden leaks can waste a lot of water, destroy buildings, and raise water bills if discovered late. The best part is that with new technology and advanced methods and tools, underground water leaks can be found and fixed well.

In this blog, we dive into how to find a water leak underground:

• What Causes Underground Leaks?
• Signs You Might Have An Underground Leak
• How Do We Detect Underground Leaks?

What Causes Underground Water Leaks?

There are several factors that may bring about leaks of underground water. Most of the time, water leaks result from damage or malfunction in pipes or joints of a plumbing system. Among the most typical possible causes of underground leaks are as follows:

• Pipe Corrosion: Ancient pipes constructed of materials such as steel, cast iron, or copper corrode over time as a result of prolonged exposure to water. Pinholes or cracks form as the metal becomes weakened and water penetrates. Corrosion is one of the primary reasons for underground leaks in older homes and infrastructure.
• Tree Roots and Plumbing: Tree roots look for water. Tree roots will get into cracks or joints in your pipes and cause leaks. As the roots grow, they can exert pressure on pipes, causing them to leak or break.
• Ground Movement: Ground movements, such as shifting soil, earthquakes, or sinking buildings, can stress pipes buried underground, causing ruptures or cracks. It is prevalent in areas with unstable or shifting soil.
• Improper Installation: Leaks in underground water can, at times, be brought about by improper installation techniques. Pipes, if not correctly assembled or supported, can begin leaking after a while. Also, the use of incorrect joining materials or failure to close correctly can lead to water leaking.
• Old Pipes: Even the most durable pipes can weaken over time. As your plumbing system ages, the material becomes brittle, which can lead to cracks or breaks in the buried pipes, causing leaks. These kinds of problems occur in houses that have plumbing systems that are even a few years old.
• High Water Pressure: High water pressure stresses pipes, leading to bursting or the formation of tiny holes. This is very prevalent in places where there is no water pressure regulation.

Signs You Might Have An Underground Water Leak

How to tell if you have a water leak underground? Leaks underground are challenging to detect since they’re underground. But some indications indicate you have an underground water leak. If you notice any of these, it’s time to have a professional come to investigate:

• Increased Water Bills: A higher water bill is one conspicuous landmark of a water leak. If you did not use more water but received an enormous bill, chances are water is seeping somewhere in your system.
• Wet Patches in Lawn: If you see patches in your lawn that are very wet or soggy, especially where you can’t see any source of water, it may be a sign there is a leak below the ground. Wet patches persist even in dry weather, which means water is leaking below ground.
• Low Water Pressure: A sudden drop in water pressure in your home is yet another common sign of a leak. Low water pressure in several faucets or appliances may be the result of leaking water underground.
• Mildew or Mold Development: Leaks under your yard or house can become wet and hence cause mildew or mold growth in your basement, crawl space, or otherwise in your home. A possible underground leak should be considered in case of the presence of the smell of mildew or if mold growth is noticed.
• Leaks in the Foundation: Groundwater could step in and even travel up to your foundation over time. When you see that your foundation is shifting or cracking, it could be due to too much moisture accumulating under the walls or slab.
• Unexplained Sinkholes: If you notice small sinkholes or depressions forming in your lawn, this could be because groundwater is eroding the soil beneath the surface. This typically indicates a big leak that is washing away the dirt and gravel surrounding it.

How Does Magnificent Plumbing & Rooter Detects Underground Water Leaks?

At Magnificent Plumbing & Rooter, we employ a combination of traditional methods and cutting-edge technology to detect and repair leaks underground. Our professional team uses cutting-edge equipment and techniques to detect the leak precisely with minimal disturbance to your property. This is how we detect underground water leaks:

1. Acoustic Leak Detection: This is one of the most efficient methods to detect underground leaks. Our professional leak detection plumbers apply sophisticated microphones and sensors to hear the leaking water noise from the pipes. Through this process, they can determine the precise location of the leak with reasonable accuracy. The technology can detect the leaking water noise from the pipe even if it is buried deep in the ground.
2. Infrared Thermography: It is a non-destructive method and uses thermal cameras to locate temperature differences in the ground due to escaping water. Escaping water tends to be a different temperature than the ground it’s on, and infrared cameras can reveal these differences. This allows us to trace the course of the leak with minimal excavation.
3. Tracer Gas Detection: Here, we introduce a harmless and odorless gas into the pipes. The gas escapes from any leak and rises to the surface, where special devices can pick it up. This is a highly effective way of finding leaks where other techniques will not work.
4. Visual Inspection and Ground Penetrating Radar: We sometimes utilize visual inspections that are supplemented by ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to image the ground for variations in soil density or water flow patterns. GPR enables us to take a detailed image of the pipes underground and see where the pipes are likely to leak.
5. Dye Test: We can do a dye test for some kinds of leaks, such as the ones that occur in irrigation systems. We introduce a colored dye into the system that is visible to us if the water leaks out of the pipes.
6. Pressure Testing: We also conduct pressure testing on the plumbing system. By introducing pressure into the pipes and taking a reading of the pressure levels, we can see if there is a pressure drop that might suggest there is a leak.

At Magnificent Plumbing & Rooter, we use advanced methods such as sound detection, thermal scanning, and gas tracing to find and fix leaks precisely without subjecting your property to too much disruption. If you are sure you have an underground leak, don’t hesitate to call us at (925) 478-8073 today to book a professional water leak detection services examination and prevent further damage.

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