Plumbing
Leak detection in the Tri-Cities
A water bill that climbs, a warm patch on the floor or a meter that keeps turning. A-One locates the leak before anyone opens a wall, then repairs it.
Chapter 01
Signs of a leak you cannot see
A hidden leak announces itself sideways. A water bill that climbs with no change in habits, a meter that keeps turning with every fixture closed, a warm patch on a slab floor, a musty smell in a closet, or a stain that grows on the ceiling below a bathroom all point to water going where it should not. The sound of running water in a quiet house is the last sign, not the first.
Pipes fail in the Tri-Cities for local reasons. Hard water scales copper and galvanized lines from the inside, pinholes open where the water is most aggressive, and a cold snap can split an exposed line in a crawlspace or garage wall that only leaks once it thaws. Slab leaks come from lines run under the concrete in older Pasco and Kennewick homes.
The A-One shop in Pasco with the fleet of service vans and box trucks parked in front
Finding it without opening every wall
The first test costs nothing. With every fixture off, we read the water meter and watch whether it moves. If it does, we close the main shutoff and read it again, which tells us whether the leak sits between the meter and the house or inside the house. Then we close individual branches one at a time and work in from there.
Once we know the branch, listening gear and moisture readings narrow the spot before a hole is cut. The aim is one small opening in the right place, not a demolished hallway. A leak at a fixture connection, a supply stop or a water heater fitting is found by inspection. A leak in a wall or under a slab is located first and discussed with you before any repair starts.
Chapter 03
Repair, then watch the meter
After the repair, the meter is the proof. We recheck it with everything off, and we suggest you do the same for the next day or two. A leak fixed at one weak point can turn up at the next, because the same water chemistry that failed one section of pipe is working on the rest. Old galvanized or thin copper in one spot is a reason to look at the rest of the run.
Dry wet materials quickly, and keep an eye on the ceiling stain or floor where the water traveled. Drywall and insulation that stay damp grow mold, and baseboards swell long after the pipe is dry. If a run keeps leaking in new places, the plumber may talk with you about replacing that section instead of patching it again, and the decision stays yours.
A-One's plumbers track down leaks in Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and the towns around them. 2-Year Warranty on all service parts, with an optional 10 Year warranty on parts and labor.
PlumbingSince 1980
More from the A-One Plumbing crew
Leaking pipes, failed connectors, stubborn clogs and water heater trouble. A-One's plumbers find the cause, explain the options and repair it.
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Dripping faucets, running toilets and stiff valves. A-One repairs the worn part where that is enough and replaces the fixture where it is not.