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Leak Detection in Austin, TX

Leak detection in Austin starts with a simple question: is water really escaping, and where? Call any hour to describe a rising bill, a wet spot or a spinning meter. Same-day service is available.

Emergency? Call now, 24/7(737) 717-0737
Cutaway of a home showing the plumbing systemWater main and sewer main under the street, a water heater in the garage, a toilet, a kitchen sink, drain lines and the sewer line. Numbered hotspots link to services.Water mainSewer mainWater heater1Drains2Leaks and pipes3Sewer line4Toilets and fixtures5
  1. Describe the clueBill, stain, sound, warm floor or meter.
  2. Narrow the zoneYard, slab, wall, ceiling or fixture.
  3. Pinpoint and repairFind the spot before anything is opened.
What we help with

Leak detection in Austin leads to these repairs

Finding the leak is step one. These pages cover what comes after.

Slab leak repair

When the leak sits in or under the concrete floor.

Slab leak repair details →

Water line repair

A break between the meter and the house.

Water line repair details →

Pipe repair

Patching or replacing a failed section of pipe.

Pipe repair details →

Emergency plumber in Austin

When water is already flooding.

Emergency plumber in Austin details →
Start here

Signs you need leak detection in Austin

Hidden leaks usually announce themselves through a number, a sound or a stain. Find yours.

The water bill climbed and nobody changed habitsA steady leak adds cubic feet every day. Compare this month with the same month last year.BillThe meter dial moves with every tap closedThe simplest proof there is water escaping somewhere.Meter testA warm spot on the floorA hot-water line may be leaking beneath it.Hot spotThe sound of running water in a quiet houseA hiss or trickle when no fixture is on points to a pressurized line.SoundMusty smell, peeling paint or a soft baseboardMoisture is getting into a wall. Mold follows if it persists.WallLow water pressure that appeared suddenlyWater leaving through a break has less to push at your faucets.PressureWet patches in the yard on dry daysA line between the meter and house may be leaking underground.YardToilet refills by itself every few minutesA tiny flapper leak, silent and common.Toilet
Why call us

Why call for leak detection before opening a wall

Guessing where a leak is means cutting drywall or breaking concrete in the wrong place. Locating first avoids that.

  • Open at any hourWater running into a wall at midnight is still running. Call when you notice.
  • Same-day service is availableHidden water damage grows daily, so timing matters.
  • Looking before cuttingThe goal is to find the spot so only a small area is opened.
  • The repair is on the same callLocating and fixing are handled by the same line.
  • One number for every plumbing jobPipes, heaters, drains and fixtures all start with the same call.
We vs others

Leak detection in Austin compared with guessing

Some leaks give themselves away. Many do not, and the guess is expensive.

UsOnion Creek PlumbingvsMany other plumbing companies
AvailabilityOpen 24 hoursTell us about the leak the moment you hear it.Business hours only
Reaching someoneA person asks the right questionsMeter reading, location, timing.A form and a wait
How soonSame-day service is availableA hidden leak is a growing leak.Next week, or when it gets worse
Jobs handledLocating, stopping, repairing and drying adviceOne call covers the whole job.One company finds it and another fixes it
Local awarenessKnows Austin Water reports hardness near 4 to 7 grains per gallon in 2025Scale affects valves, fixtures and aging lines.Treats every city the same
Price clarityThis page explains what moves the price. Ask about pricing when you call.Ask before any wall is opened.Cost shows up after the cutting

Based on what is typical. Individual companies vary.

How it works

How a leak detection call in Austin works

Good detection narrows the search in stages, from simple home checks to specific instruments.

  1. Run the meter test

    Everything off, read the meter, wait, read again.

  2. Shut zones off

    Closing the main and branch valves shows which zone loses pressure.

  3. Pinpoint

    Listening, thermal imaging and pressure checks locate the spot.

  4. Repair and test

    The break is fixed, pressure is restored and the meter is rechecked.

Pricing

What moves the price of leak detection in Austin

Detection cost follows the difficulty of the search, not a flat rate.

How many zones to check

A single bathroom is fast. A whole house on a slab takes longer. Ask about pricing when you call.

Type of leak

A dripping valve is easy. A pinhole in a buried copper line is not.

Access to the area

Open crawlspace or utility room against finished floors and cabinets.

Whether repair follows

Finding the leak and fixing it are separate steps, sometimes the same visit.

Hot or cold line

Hot lines can be traced by heat, cold lines usually by sound and pressure.

Have this ready for the call

  • Your latest water bill and the one before
  • The meter reading now and in an hour
  • Where you see or hear the symptom
  • Whether the heater and softener are on

Ask about pricing when you call.

Call now, 24/7(737) 717-0737
Do this first

A ten-minute test that proves a leak exists

The meter does not lie, even when the house looks dry

Before paying for any search, confirm there is something to find. Turn off every tap, appliance and irrigation zone. Make sure the ice maker is not cycling and nobody is flushing. Then find the water meter, usually in a ground-level box near the street, and look at the small dial or triangle on its face. If it spins or ticks with everything off, water is leaving the system.

Write the full reading down, wait an hour with nothing running, and read it again. A change means a leak. If the dial is still, the leak may be intermittent or only on the hot side. Austin addresses can have different water suppliers, so look at your bill if you are unsure whose meter this is. Our guide to finding a water leak in your house shows the same test with photos.

Meter test

  1. Everything off

    Taps, dishwasher, washer, irrigation and ice maker.

  2. Read the meter

    Note every digit and the dial position.

  3. Wait an hour

    No water use at all.

  4. Read again

    Any movement means a leak.

Four steps and a pencil.
Hiding places

Where leaks hide in Austin homes and how each shows up

LocationHow it showsBest clue
Under a slabWarm floor, hissing, steady meter movementHot spot or sound at the floor
In a wallStain, bubbling paint, soft baseboardMoisture meter reading
In an atticCeiling stain, dripping from a fixture aboveStain below a heater or air handler
Under a yardSoggy patch on dry days, higher billWet ground between meter and house
At a fixtureSlow drip, running toilet, wet cabinetDry paper towel under the shutoff
At the water heaterRust streaks, puddle, popping soundWater at the base or relief line
Each location has a different detection method.

Slab-on-grade construction is common in Texas houses, which puts supply lines in or beneath the concrete floor. That is not a defect, only a reason that a leak there is harder to see. The signs of a slab leak guide and our slab leak repair page explain what comes after detection.

Austin water

Austin Water’s supply and what it means for leaks

Moderately hard water leaves its mark on joints and valves

Austin Water reported 2025 hardness between 4.1 and 7.4 grains per gallon, with an average near 5.4, from river water that passes through Lake Travis and Lake Austin. That is a utility-wide range and it varies by address and by supplier, so check your bill or ask your water supplier for your own figure. Moderately hard water leaves mineral scale on shutoff valves, faucet cartridges, supply connectors and heater elements.

Why that matters for leaks: scale roughens valve seats so they weep, and it loosens the grip of older compression fittings when they are tightened again. A drip that appears after someone touched a valve is often a scale problem, not a new break. Austin Water has also said that some galvanized service lines were identified for replacement and owners were notified. If you received a notice, ask the utility about it. If you did not, there is nothing to assume.

Scale and drips
  • Weeping shutoff valvesWhite crust around a stem points to a slow leak.
  • Faucet drips that returnScale scoring a cartridge or seat.
  • Crusty supply connectorsFlexible lines with mineral buildup near the nut.
  • Heater drain valveA drip after sediment flushing.
  • Notices from your utilityKeep them and mention them on the call.
Places to look for scale-related leaks.
Methods

How leak detection in Austin finds the spot

From the whole house down to a square foot

The aim is to shrink the search area quickly. The first cut is by water zone: closing the main, then individual branch valves, shows which part of the system loses pressure. Pressure gauges on hose bibs and the heater fittings make that visible. The second cut is by sensing: ground microphones hear the faint hiss of water escaping a pressurized line, and a thermal camera sees a hot-water line as a warm stripe through a floor.

The third cut is physical: a moisture meter on a wall, or a small inspection opening, confirms what the instruments suggest. Only then is any surface cut. If the leak sits in a drain or sewer line instead of a supply line, sewer camera inspection is the tool.

Detection tools
MethodFindsLimit
Pressure testWhich zone leaksDoes not give location
Acoustic listeningHiss in a pressurized pipePlastic pipe is quieter
Thermal imagingHot-water leaksCold lines show faintly
Moisture meterWet drywall and woodShows damage, not source
CameraDrain and sewer defectsNeeds line access
Most jobs use two or three of these together.
Who pays attention

Owner, renter or landlord: who acts on a leak in Austin

A large renter population changes who sees the evidence

Austin has a large renter population, which changes who sees the evidence. A tenant sees the stain, a landlord sees the bill, and a leak can run a long time while each assumes the other knows. If you rent, report a suspected leak in writing, with the meter test result and photos, and ask the owner to authorize a plumber.

Owners of multi-unit buildings should read the water bill line by line. A sudden jump when occupancy has not changed is a flag, and so is a steady overnight meter movement at a vacant unit. A single running toilet can account for a large share of daily use, so check toilet repair in Austin for how to find that one.

Who does what
Who you areFirst step
Owner of a houseRun the meter test, then call
Tenant in a houseMeter test, photos, written notice to the owner
Tenant in an apartmentReport the stain, ask which unit is above
Landlord or managerRead bills monthly; inspect vacant units
Matching action to role.
After detection

After the leak is found: repair, dry and recheck

  1. Close the leaking zone

    Isolating the zone stops damage while repair is planned.

  2. Choose repair or reroute

    A short patch, a section replaced or a new line run overhead.

  3. Dry the area

    Fans and time; wet insulation and drywall may need removal.

  4. Retest the meter

    Run the same hour-long test to confirm.

  5. Watch the next bill

    It should return to the usual range.

  6. Ask about the cause

    Age, pressure, scale or a bad fitting; repiping is an option if the pipe is failing broadly.

Service areas

Leak detection coverage in Austin and nearby towns

Calls for leak detection from Austin go to the same number as every other town we cover.

Leak detection in Austin is handled on the same line as Kyle and the towns shown below. Say where you see the clue and give the nearest cross street.

Towns within about 25 milesSchematic map of towns within about 25 miles of Kyle10 mi20 mi25 miBuda, about 7 miles1Maxwell, about 7 miles2Manchaca, about 9 miles3Austin, about 10 miles4San Marcos, about 11 miles5Martindale, about 11 miles6Lockhart, about 12 miles7Dale, about 15 miles8Wimberley, about 17 miles9Bee Cave, about 18 miles10West Lake Hills, about 21 miles11Cedar Creek, about 21 miles12Kingsbury, about 22 miles13Dripping Springs, about 23 miles14New Braunfels, about 24 miles15Lakeway, about 25 miles16Canyon Lake, about 25 miles17The Hills, about 25 miles18Kyle
Schematic map. Rings show distance from Kyle; positions are approximate.
Questions

Leak detection in Austin: your questions

How do I know if I need leak detection in Austin?
If the water meter moves with every fixture off, the bill rises without a reason, or you see stains and warm floors, there is likely a leak. The ten-minute meter test above is the fastest way to confirm it.
Can leak detection be done the same day?
Often yes. Same-day service is available, and the line is open at any hour. A hidden leak causes more damage each day, so earlier is better.
What does leak detection cost?
It depends on how many zones must be checked, the type of leak and how easy the area is to reach. Ask about pricing when you call, and ask whether repair is a separate step.
Why does the price vary so much between jobs?
A leak under one sink takes minutes. A leak somewhere in a slab needs several methods and more time. Ask about pricing when you call so the scope is clear.
Can a leak be found without breaking the floor?
Usually the search is narrowed with pressure checks, listening and thermal imaging so that only a small area is opened. Where the instruments agree, a precise opening replaces a large demolition.
Is a leak an emergency?
Water spraying or flooding is, so close the main valve and call. A slow hidden leak is not an emergency this minute, but it should not wait weeks, since mold and rot develop quietly.
What if my meter box is hard to find?
Look near the street or sidewalk for a lid at ground level, often marked with a W or the supplier’s name. Your bill tells you who owns it. If you cannot find it, describe the lot on the phone.
Does hard water cause leaks?
Not directly, but scale roughens valve seats, scores cartridges and clogs aerators, which makes drips more likely. Austin Water’s 2025 report shows moderate hardness. Your bill or supplier can give your address figure.
Could the leak be on the utility’s side?
If water is surfacing near the meter or in the street, the supplier handles the line up to the meter. Past the meter it is the owner’s. A plumber can tell which side from a meter test.
My bill jumped but I see no water. Where do I start?
Run the meter test. If the dial moves, check toilets with dye in the tank, then the heater area, then irrigation. If it still moves, the leak is probably underground or inside a wall.
Will insulation or drywall have to be replaced?
If water has soaked it for a while, yes, since wet insulation does not dry well. The plumber finds and stops the leak; drying and finish repairs follow.
How is a leak in a drain different from a supply leak?
A supply leak is under pressure, so the meter moves. A drain leak only wets the ground when water runs down the pipe. A camera inspection is the tool for drains.
Guides

Guides for finding and fixing hidden leaks

Suspect a hidden leak in Austin?

Call any hour for leak detection in Austin. A person answers, and same-day service is available.

Call now, 24/7(737) 717-0737