BowTie Home Services · Las Vegas, NV
Leak Locating in Las Vegas
When a leak is hidden in a slab, wall, or underground line, you need its location before you can repair it. We use electronic acoustic detection and thermal imaging to pinpoint leaks precisely \u2014 minimizing the excavation or access work needed to reach them.
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How Leak Detection Works
A hidden leak \u2014 under a slab, inside a wall, or in a buried supply line \u2014 can\u2019t be repaired until it\u2019s located. The traditional approach is exploratory damage: open up the area where the leak is suspected and look. Modern leak detection replaces that with non-destructive location first, so that any excavation or access work is targeted at the confirmed leak point.
Acoustic detection. A pressurized supply line leak produces a characteristic sound as water escapes through the breach. Electronic amplification equipment detects that sound signature through concrete, soil, and wall material. By taking readings at multiple points, the technician triangulates the leak to a specific location \u2014 often within a few inches \u2014 from the surface. This is the primary method for slab leaks and underground supply line failures.
Thermal imaging. Infrared cameras detect temperature differences in surfaces. A leaking hot water line beneath a concrete floor creates a warm area in the slab; a cold supply line leak in a warm wall shows as a cool anomaly. Thermal imaging doesn\u2019t pinpoint location as precisely as acoustic methods, but it\u2019s useful for finding the general zone of moisture, confirming active leaks, and identifying areas where water has migrated away from the source.
Meter testing. The first step in diagnosing a suspected hidden leak is confirming one exists. Shutting off all supply in the house and observing the meter tells you whether water is moving. If it is, the leak is active and in the supply system \u2014 that directs the detection approach.
What We Do
We assess your symptoms, confirm whether an active leak is present, then apply the appropriate detection method to localize it. Once we have the location, we provide repair options and flat-rate pricing before any access work begins.
- Electronic acoustic detection for slab and underground supply leaks
- Thermal imaging for moisture zone identification
- Water meter testing to confirm active leak presence
- Leak locating before any slab or wall access
- Repair of identified leak once location is confirmed
- Flat-rate pricing after leak confirmation and locating
Signs You May Have a Hidden Leak
- Water bill that increased without any change in usage. A water bill that’s noticeably higher than normal with no obvious cause — no new appliances, no change in habits — often reflects a slow, continuous leak in the supply system.
- Warm or hot spot on the floor. A warm area on a concrete floor, particularly in a home with a hot water recirculation line or in a bathroom, is a reliable indicator of a hot water slab leak directly beneath it.
- Sound of running water with everything off. If you can hear water moving somewhere in the house when all fixtures are off and nothing is running, there is an active leak in the supply system somewhere.
- Cracks in the slab or floor tile with no obvious cause. A slab leak introduces moisture into or under the foundation. As the soil below shifts, cracking in flooring or the slab itself can result. This is a late-stage sign.
- Wet or soft area in the yard near the service line. A leak in the underground service line between the meter and the house saturates the surrounding soil. Soft ground, unexpected green patches, or standing water along the service line path all indicate a supply leak.
Leak Detection Questions for Las Vegas Homeowners
What is electronic leak detection?
Electronic leak detection uses acoustic amplification equipment to listen for the sound signature of water escaping under pressure through a small opening. Different leak types and pipe materials produce recognizable acoustic patterns. The equipment allows a technician to localize a leak in a pressurized line to within a narrow area — often within a few inches — from above the slab or behind a wall.
Can a leak be found without breaking concrete?
In many cases, yes. Electronic detection narrows the leak location significantly before any concrete work begins. The goal is to identify the specific area precisely enough that excavation is limited to the leak point rather than a large exploratory area. For pressurized supply line leaks, electronic detection usually achieves this.
Does thermal imaging work for all leaks?
Thermal imaging detects temperature differences in surfaces — it works well when the leaking fluid has a different temperature from the surrounding material (warm water pipe in a concrete slab, cold supply line in a warm wall cavity). It doesn’t detect every leak and it can’t precisely pinpoint location the way acoustic methods can, but it’s useful for identifying broad areas of moisture and for situations where acoustic methods are limited.
My water bill is high but I can’t find any visible leak. What should I do?
First, check the meter test: shut off all water in the house, find the meter, and watch the flow indicator for 30 minutes. If the indicator moves with everything off, water is moving somewhere in the system. That confirms an active leak — usually in the supply line, a toilet running continuously, or a slab leak. Call us and we’ll localize it.
How is a slab leak different from other leaks?
A slab leak is a supply or drain line leak beneath the concrete foundation. Because the pipe is embedded in or under the concrete, there’s no visible drip — water migrates into the slab, into the ground, or in some cases up through cracks in the floor. Electronic detection is specifically suited to finding slab leaks without exploratory jackhammering.
What if the leak is in the underground service line between the meter and the house?
Acoustic detection works on pressurized underground lines as well as interior supply lines. A leak in the service lateral produces a detectable sound signature at grade level. The process is the same: listen, localize, then excavate at the identified point.
How much does leak detection cost in Las Vegas?
Leak detection is a defined service with flat-rate pricing. We provide a quote after describing your symptoms. Call (725) 290-3207 to schedule.
A hidden leak doesn\u2019t stop on its own \u2014 it just gets more expensive.
Call us \u2014 we locate the source precisely before any access work begins, so repair is targeted and the damage to your home is minimal.
Related Services
Dedicated slab leak detection and repair — the most common application for acoustic and thermal leak locating in Las Vegas.
Pipe Repair →Once the leak is located, we repair the pipe — patch, section replacement, or repipe depending on what the inspection shows.
Low Water Pressure →An active supply line leak reduces pressure throughout the house. Leak detection confirms whether a hidden failure is the cause.
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