Half the residents in Havertown, PA, receive water from their plumbing supply line while others use private wells. Whichever you use, they both come from a ground source, carrying mineral deposits like calcium and magnesium that create hard water. While safe for your health, they might mean you need to know how to find a leaking water pipe underground. That’s because hard water with 120 PPM or more either bangs against pipe walls, causing wear and tear, or creates clogs that increase water pressure and lead to busted seams. They can even cause copper, brass, or other metal pipes to rust and corrode, causing cracks and holes along the surfaces. However, if you call MVP Plumbing, a professional plumber in Havertown can help. 

The Causes of Leaking Water Pipes

Havertown has a water hardness level of 151 PPM, making mineral deposits the leading reason for plumbing leaks. However, other causes of pipe leaks include:

  • Burrowing tree roots or critters looking for a dark, damp location 
  • Frozen pipes that burst, especially in Havertown winters where the temperature dips below freezing, usually to 27 degrees in January
  • High water pressure 
  • Broken seals or joints 

The Primary Methods Used in Uncovering Leaking Underground Pipes in Havertown, PA

If you feel you may have a leak beneath your home or somewhere else on your property, call a professional plumber so you don’t have to worry about how to find a leaking water pipe underground. They’ll use one of three methods to find the exact location of the culprit. 

Visual Inspections of the Grounds 

With indoor pipe leaks, water stains on your kitchen wallpaper, peeling and chipping living room paint, or damp spots on floors or walls ensue. However, underground leaks leave signs elsewhere in your Havertown home, creating slab leaks and pooling in your basement or abnormally lush vegetation in your backyard. 

A musty odor can also fill the basement or any area close to the leak since constant moisture paves the way for mold and mildew growth. If the signs are obvious, an expert follows these symptoms to uncover the leaking water pipe. 

Monitoring Pressure Fluctuations With Pressure Testing

If the leak is not as evident, meaning you cannot pinpoint it by simply using your senses, the best way to determine how to find a leaking water pipe underground is with pressure testing. During this process, expert plumbers section off your plumbing system and pressurize each one by the same amount. If the pressure in certain sections drops quicker than the others, they then know where it is when repairing the leak. 

Moreover, the faster the pressure drops, the more severe the leak. So, Havertown plumbers can roughly determine the extensiveness of the leak and prepare accordingly. 

Using Havertown Leak Detection Equipment 

While pressure testing helps professionals use pressurized air to find leaks, some equipment looks for the dripping water itself by amplifying our natural senses. 

For instance, acoustic leak detection tools use hydrophones or microphones to pick up dripping or rushing water sounds you won’t normally hear, depending on the leak’s size or how deep it is within your home’s structure. The operator moves the sensors around your Havertown basement walls, concrete slabs, or outdoor soil. As the sound grows, they’ll know they’re getting closer to the leak. 

Another way to determine how to find a leaking water pipe underground is with thermal imaging cameras that use a mixture of touch and sight. If you had a visible leak, that area of your home may feel warmer and more moist with higher humidity levels. However, if the leak is not evident, an expert snakes a thermal imaging camera through the pipes, and it uses sensors to test temperature variations around the leaks. 

The cameras relay real-time videos and pictures to a screen where the plumbers can see thermal shifts and pinpoint the location. But there are other equipment they can use instead, including:

  • Leak noise correlation systems that measure vibrations
  • Ground penetrating radars that send pulses through the ground and note any reflections 
  • Excavation to physically unveil the affected pipes 

For the Type of Care That Only Comes With Havertown Family-Owned Businesses!

Whether you want to know how to find a leaking water pipe underground or how to remove calcium buildup in water heaters, MVP Plumbing is there for you. Our husband-and-wife team understands family comes first, and we want to help you protect yours by offering five-star services in Havertown, PA, and surrounding areas. So, call 484-904-8411 for 24/7 assistance today!