Water Leak Detection Services in Federal Way, WA
A rising utility bill or unexplained wet spot can be stressful when there is no obvious pipe break to repair. Customers in Federal Way call us when ordinary troubleshooting has not revealed the source.
Water leaks don't follow a convenient timeline in Western Washington. A supply line installed decades ago under a concrete slab behaves differently than PEX run through a new subdivision - and neither one announces itself politely. What they share is that the longer they go undetected, the more expensive they become.
Simply Leak Detection has been locating water leaks across the Puget Sound region and Western Washington since 2010. In that time we've located more than 10,000 leaks in homes and commercial properties of every age, construction type, and pipe material - with a 4.9-star rating earned one accurate, non-invasive inspection at a time.
We bring the same equipment and the same standard to every job: acoustic sensors, thermal imaging, tracer gas where needed, and a written summary of findings with photos included with every invoice. No guessing. No oversized repair scope.
Signs you might have a hidden leak
We're most often called in when a plumber has already looked and can't find it - but if you're experiencing any of the following, you don't need to wait that long.
Unexplained spike in your water bill
If your bill jumped without a change in usage habits, water is going somewhere it shouldn't - possibly underground or inside a wall.
Water meter moving when everything is off
Turn off every fixture and appliance, then watch your meter. Any movement - even a slow crawl - confirms water is actively leaving the system somewhere.
Soggy yard patches or zones that stay wet
Sections of lawn or landscaping that are consistently wetter than the rest - especially when the irrigation hasn't recently run - often point to a buried line failure.
Well pump running excessively
If you notice your well pump frequently cycling on (by hearing it, seeing an indicator light, or noticing a high electric bill) when no water is in use, you may have a leak.
Low or inconsistent water pressure
A supply line losing water before it reaches your fixtures will often show up first as pressure that drops or fluctuates for no clear reason.
Sound of running water with nothing on
Hissing, trickling, or rushing water sounds when every tap and appliance is off is a classic indicator of a pressurized leak somewhere in the system.
Warm or hot spots on your floors
A hot-water supply line failing beneath a concrete slab radiates heat upward. Warm patches on tile or hardwood floors are a common early sign of a slab leak.
Wet patches on walls, ceilings, or floors
Moisture that appears without an obvious source - no recent rain, no spill - usually means water is migrating from a hidden pipe failure nearby.
Musty smell, mold, or mildew without a visible cause
Persistent musty odors or mold growth in an area that never gets wet from normal use often traces back to a slow, long-running leak behind or beneath the surface.
Foundation cracks, settling, or uneven floors
Long-running slab leaks erode the soil beneath a foundation. New cracks in concrete or drywall, doors that stick, or floors that feel uneven can all follow from that movement.
Rotten egg or sulfur smell in your house
That distinct sulfur odor is added to natural gas specifically so you'll notice it. A smell near a gas line, appliance, or in your house warrants immediate investigation.
Your plumber said to call a leak detection specialist
Plumbers refer to us when a leak won't reveal itself to standard diagnostics. If yours suggested a specialist, that's exactly what we do.
Services We Offer in Federal Way
From residential slab leaks to commercial irrigation systems, we locate water leaks and leaks on privately owned gas lines downstream of the meter using non-invasive equipment.
Locate buried supply-line leaks without trenching your yard, driveway, or landscaping.
Learn more →Find hidden leaks inside walls, floors, and under slabs - no exploratory demolition.
Learn more →Pinpoint sprinkler and irrigation mainline leaks without disturbing your landscape.
Learn more →Acoustic and thermal pinpointing under concrete - no guesswork, no unnecessary jackhammering.
Learn more →Precision leak detection for offices, retail, and industrial buildings with minimal tenant disruption.
Learn more →Identify the source unit and line quickly to contain damage and resolve disputes.
Learn more →Locate leaks in fire suppression systems without compromising building life-safety systems.
Learn more →Find leaks in large-diameter water mains and underground distribution lines.
Learn more →Locate non-metallic poly and PEX pipe routes acoustically when tracer wire is unavailable.
Learn more →Locate buried utilities before digging to avoid costly and dangerous strikes.
Learn more →Pinpoint electrical ground faults in underground conduit and direct-bury systems.
Learn more →Locate leaks on privately owned gas lines downstream of the meter, typically within a home.
Learn more →Licensed, insured, and earning 4.9 stars since 2010.
- ✓Washington State licensed and fully insured - UBI# 605905758
- ✓4.9-star average across 300+ verified reviews from homeowners and property managers
- ✓Clear pricing before we start - no surprises, no trip fees buried in fine print
- ✓Serving the greater Puget Sound and Western Washington for 15+ years
Three steps. No guessing.
Call or schedule online
Tell us what you're seeing - bill spikes, wet spots, meter movement. We gather details so we arrive prepared.
Non-invasive inspection
Acoustic sensors, thermal imaging, and tracer gas where needed. No jackhammers. No unnecessary openings. No guesswork.
Written summary with exact location
Precise location and photos in a summary of findings included with every invoice.
Underground Water Leak & Sprinkler Line Detection
Underground leaks are a broad category - buried service lines, mainlines, irrigation circuits, and in some cases gas distribution lines running through a property - and they share a common problem: the only way to know exactly where the loss is occurring is with specialized detection equipment. We handle the full range, from locating a single break in a half-inch residential supply line to mapping and testing a multi-zone commercial irrigation system across several acres. See our underground leak detection and irrigation leak detection service pages for more detail.
Commercial irrigation systems - multi-zone controllers, backflow prevention assemblies, and valve manifolds - operate under enough pressure that a single failed valve or cracked mainline can waste thousands of gallons before anyone notices. Property managers, HOAs, and landscaping contractors call us when a zone stops performing, a meter shows unexplained loss, or an irrigation contractor has traced the problem as far as their own equipment can reach. For properties without existing as-builts, we map the line first, then locate the leak - delivering a marked repair point and a written summary of findings included with every invoice that your contractor can work from directly.
Residential sprinkler systems get the same treatment. If it runs underground and it's losing water, we can find where - without turning your yard into a trench to do it.
Slab Leak Detection & Foundation Leak Locating
A slab leak - a break or pinhole failure in a supply or drain line embedded in or running beneath your concrete foundation - is one of the more stressful water problems a homeowner can face. The water often appears far from the source, migrating along the path of least resistance until it surfaces under flooring, at a baseboard, or on the wall opposite the actual pipe. Combining years of experience with high-end equipment including acoustic sensors, thermal cameras, utility locators, and more - we are able to zero in on the exact location of the leak.
Hot-water supply lines are the most common slab leak culprit. They expand and contract with every cycle, and over years that movement creates friction wear against the concrete that eventually opens a pinhole. Post-tension slabs - common in Western Washington construction from the 1980s onward - add complexity because the reinforcing cables have to be respected during any repair planning. We document the position so the repair crew can work from a clear, precise target.
The same non-invasive detection process extends to residential plumbing throughout the home - in-wall supply lines, under-tile hot-water runs, and leaks that present above grade but originate below it. Whether the source is above the slab or beneath it, we locate it without guesswork.
From residential plumbing leaks hidden inside walls and under tile to irrigation line failures running along buried zones in the yard, the common thread across every job is knowing exactly where to mark before anything gets cut, cored, or excavated. A precise locate is what separates a clean, targeted repair from an expensive open-ended search.
Many homeowners are surprised to find that their water meter is moving when the irrigation controller is off - which usually points to a mainline leak between the backflow and the valve manifold. That kind of loss runs continuously, not just during irrigation cycles, and can add up to thousands of gallons before a bill flags it. We locate it without disturbing the landscape.
Common questions from Federal Way customers
Yes. Non-invasive detection is the whole point. We use acoustic sensors, thermal cameras, and tracer gas - none of which require opening walls, shutting off water to occupied units beyond a brief pressure test, or issuing disruption notices to tenants. We schedule around operational hours when needed.
We isolate the building's water system by floor, riser, or tenant zone using valve and pressure tests, then use acoustic and thermal instruments to follow the leak signal to its source. In many cases we can narrow it to the specific floor and line segment on the first visit.
Yes, regularly. We understand that managed properties have different billing, reporting, and scheduling requirements than residential calls, and we accommodate that. We can coordinate with on-site staff, report to property management directly, and schedule in phases when the property requires it.
We try to accommodate urgency - an active, high-volume leak is a different conversation than a slow, monitored loss. Call us with the details and we'll give you a realistic scheduling window. For situations that can't wait, we make every effort to respond the same day.
Our written summary of findings, included with every invoice, documents the leak source and location with photos. Most insurance adjusters and contractors accept it as part of the claim package. In our experience, the summary provides what is needed to establish the source, scope the repair, and support the claim.
Have a question we didn't answer?
Have a leak? We'll find exactly where it is.
Non-invasive leak detection for homes and businesses in Federal Way and across Western Washington. Written summary of findings and exact location - same day.