Atlanta Leak Detection Specialist

Atlantis Plumbing: leak detection and water line repair experts serving over 70,000 Satisfied Customers in Greater Atlanta - work with one company that handles both leak detection and repair!

Plumbing leaks can cause serious problems. A moderate leak can cause your home to flood, which could cost several thousand dollars to repair. Depending on the location of the leak, you might even be at risk for electrocution. It’s very important for plumbing leaks to be fixed immediately, but many homeowners have no idea where to look for leaks. Fortunately, you can leave the leak detection to the specialists.

When we come out and inspect your home, we look for several different types of leaks. A common type of leak involves plumbing fixtures. Although cracks in modern plumbing are quite rare, you never know if your fixtures have this problem. A crack in any plumbing fixture can cost you money and waste water. Another type of plumbing leak involves a leaky pipe joint.

Over time, the joints in your home’s plumbing pipes can deteriorate. A common symptom is a lack of water pressure. Leaky pipe joints can occur inside the walls of your home or foundation, and they can even be difficult for specialists to detect. Faucets can also develop leaks.

One of the most common types of plumbing leaks occurs in your pipes. There are a number of causes for a leaky pipe. The problem is that most pipe leaks aren’t noticeable until they’re causing property damage. Another type of plumbing leak can occur in the water supply line, and it can develop between the home and water meter.

Since most supply pipes are buried about three feet under a home, leaks in these pipes can be difficult to detect. Plumbing leaks can even develop inside of water wells. Since there are many different types of leaks, it’s best to let us inspect your home and locate any leaks that are present. After locating a leak, we can use our knowledge, skill and experience to repair the leak and prevent your property from sustaining costly damages.

Underground Water Line Leaks

Although water leaks can occur anywhere, they’re frequently discovered in underground pipes. A common area of concern is the piping in the front yard, which is usually located near the water meter. Underground water leaks can develop under the slab inside of a home, and they can also occur in the piping buried outside of the home.

It’s very common for homes to be piped before the concrete slab is even poured. Depending on the location, there is a chance that weak piping was used, and it doesn’t take long for this piping to fail. If properly installed, copper piping can last as long as 40 years, but eventually, it will corrode and begin leaking.

If the pressure inside of these pipes is greater than 60 PSI, they’re even more likely to start leaking. The problem with underground water line leaks is that finding one leak means there is a good chance that several more are on the way, which can require re-piping.

Although unground water line leaks can occur anywhere along the piping, they frequently develop in piping that is buried in the front yard. The underground leak usually develops between the home and water meter. The major problem with underground water line leaks is that homeowners have no way of knowing they exist.

We use specialized equipment to test for underground leaks, So the good news is that you don’t have to get your own equipment and learn how to use it. Leak detection is a skill that takes much experience to develop. Since we’re leak detection specialists, you can give us a call and let us find the leaks.

Slab Leaks

In the plumbing industry, slab leaks are described as pinhole leaks. A slab leak can develop in copper water lines that are buried below your home’s concrete flooring. We might also call them concrete slab leaks and foundation leaks. If your home is suffering from a slab leak, there are several noticeable symptoms.

First, you might notice an increase in your water bill. You might also hear running water while no faucets are turned on. Slab leaks can also cause wet planters near a home and wet base boards. You might even notice water on your floor or wet carpet. Fortunately, detecting and repairing a slab leak is something that we routinely do. After you call us, we’ll come to your home and perform a visual inspection.

We’ll also check your water meter and perform pressure testing. We use sophisticated electronics to detect slab leaks, and we aim to locate both ends of the leak. Some of the repair options that we might recommend for a slab leak are pipe re-routing, direct access, epoxy restoration and re-piping.

The industry standard for slab leak repairs, which is preferred by most insurance companies, is pipe re-routing. It involves installing a new water line through your home’s ceilings and walls. If the leaky water line is short enough, we can use epoxy restoration, which doesn’t cause as much disruption to your home’s interior surfaces.

Even if you don’t think your home has a slab leak, it’s always a good idea to have it inspected. We can inspect your home and use sophisticated equipment to check for slab leaks, which could be hiding just below the surface.

History of Polybutylene Pipe Problems in Southern States

Polybutylene is used to make water pipes, and it’s made out of a plastic resin. Between the 70s and 90s, polybutylene piping was manufactured and installed in many areas of the United States. Initially, it was viewed as a miracle product because it was cheap to make, easy to install and required zero maintenance. In fact, it was quickly becoming the top substitute for copper tubing.

Polybutylene was used for hot and cold water, and over time, it was installed in over six million homes. Pipes made from this plastic resin were used for apartment buildings, mobile homes, commercial structures, underground water mains and home interiors. When installed inside the interior of a home, polybutylene piping is known to have a gray color.

Polybutylene pipes that were installed outside were colored blue, gray, black or white. Atlanta and other southern states don’t have a great history with polybutylene pipes. Shortly after polybutylene piping became popular, it started to fail, and unlike other types of piping, it gave off almost no warning signs.

As a result of the widespread polybutylene piping failure, hundreds of millions of dollars in damage occurred. Failure is known to occur in the actual pipes and plastic fittings. Much of the serious water damage started in the 1980s. Research shows that polybutylene starts reacting with water soluble oxidants as it ages.

The chlorine and fluoride found in drinking water can cause sudden splitting and leakage in polybutylene pipes. It was quite common for the fittings to break first, and shortly after, the actual pipe would develop leaks. If a home is fitted with polybutylene piping, it can significantly diminish its value.

Homes that are located in Atlanta and southern states could be at the greatest risk for polybutylene pipe leaks. If your water system begins leaking, the main valve must be shut off. Unfortunately, the smallest leaks can be the most troublesome because they’re usually caused significant damage by the time they’re discovered.

On average, a polybutylene pipe should start showing obvious signs of deterioration after 10 to 15 years. Southern states are at the greatest risk for polybutylene problems because many of the pipes were initially installed in these states. Fortunately, we can fix any polybutylene piping problems that you have.

Symptoms of Plumbing Leaks

Plumbing leaks can produce a number of different signs and symptoms. For example, leaky pipes can cause your water bill to increase, and they can even cause puddles to form in your front yard. If your water meter changes while no water is being used inside of your home, this is a sign of a leak.

Serious leaks can cause your home’s concrete foundation to crack. They can also cause moist, spongy or discolored areas in your walls. Depending on the type of pipe, you might smell foul odors, which is commonly caused by leaks in a sewer pipe. According to statistics, a typical family wastes nearly 11,000 gallons of water every year, and they don’t even know they’re doing it.

Many plumbing leaks are minor and can be found easily. However, many serious leaks tend to hide out of sight, and if they’re not detected and repaired, they could end up costing you many thousands of dollars. Some of the worst leaks occur underground and can cause severe damage to your property or foundation. All sink holes are caused by some form of erosion.

Since plumbing leaks cause erosion, they can cause sink holes to form on your property. In a recent news story, an unsuspecting homeowner was swallowed up and killed by a massive sinkhole while he slept in his bedroom. While these are extreme examples of what can happen when you don’t get an underground plumbing leak fixed, even small leaks can end up costing you thousands of dollars.

Importance of Hiring a Licensed Plumber

The expertise of a licensed plumber should never be underestimated. To get properly licensed, a plumber must obtain a certain level of education and pass an exam. Licensing also means the plumber is up to date on all of the latest building codes, permits and best practices.

If you hire an unlicensed plumber, you don’t get any of these benefits, and you could be risking the lives of your entire family. To detect plumbing leaks, a plumber must have adequate expertise and equipment. By choosing to pay for a licensed plumber, you can make sure he or she has the expertise needed to diagnose and repair leaks.

Although it might seem like hiring a licensed plumber is the most expensive option, it’s actually the best choice because you’ll save money in the long-term. There is always the chance that an unlicensed plumber will perform incorrect repairs, which could end up costing you thousands of dollars in the future. By hiring a licensed plumber, you’re really saving money.

Many of the components in a plumbing system are delicate and need to be installed correctly. A licensed plumber will prevent your system from getting damage because they know how to handle and install all of the various components.

As an Atlanta leak detection specialist, we can detect leaks in your plumbing system, so you’ll never have to worry about hiring a separate company. We can handle all of your general plumbing needs, but we can also inspect your system and repair any leaks that we find.