Inside walls and ceilings
A supply pipe or drain leaking inside a wall can stay out of sight until paint bubbles, drywall softens or a stain spreads across the ceiling below.
Leak Detection and Slab Leak Repair in Portland
Water marks on a ceiling, a damp patch on the floor or a water bill that jumps for no clear reason can all mean a hidden leak. We connect you with a local plumber who finds it and makes the repair.
A hidden leak can sit inside a wall or ceiling, under a basement or slab floor, or along the buried service pipe between the meter and the house.
Places a leak can hide
Under a floor
In a basement or on a slab, a leaking pipe under the floor can show up as a damp or warm patch, a musty smell or water that keeps running through the meter.
In the yard
Out in the yard, a leak in the buried service pipe can show up as a patch of lawn that stays soggy in dry weather, or a hiss of water while every fixture is shut.
The water meter at the curb
In Portland the water meter generally sits in the ground near the curb in front of the house, in a box marked “Water Meter”. The Portland Water Bureau says most residential meters have a leak detection dial that turns whenever water is flowing.
Your side of the water service
On a connection of 1 inch or smaller, the Water Bureau maintains the line from the main through the meter to the meter stop. From the meter stop to the right-of-way and on your property, maintaining, repairing or replacing the pipe falls to the owner, so a break on your side of the meter is yours to fix.
Permits for a pipe repair
Portland Permitting & Development lists repairing, replacing or moving any plumbing pipe as permit work, while fixing or maintaining existing fixtures or their parts needs no permit. The city also asks for an inspection before any piping is covered with a floor, wall or ceiling.
Where water is already pouring in, emergency plumbing is the page to read; worn-out supply pipe points to repiping, and the homepage has the rest of the list.
Call for a free plumbing estimate
Call us to discuss your current issue and how we can assist you. The call is free and you get a free, personalized estimate with no obligation. We're here to help.
Call (855) 321-3426