The tools
- Acoustic listening devices that pick up the sound of water escaping under pressure
- Pressure testing to confirm a leak and narrow it to one line
- Thermal imaging to find the warm trace of a hot-water leak
- Moisture meters to map dampness in walls and floors
- Tracer gas, in some cases, for leaks that are hard to hear
How a visit usually goes
The meter confirms water is being lost. Isolating valves and testing each line narrows down which one is leaking. Then the equipment traces that line to the spot where the leak is loudest, warmest or wettest, and it is marked for repair.
Why it saves money
Without it, finding a leak means opening walls or floors until it turns up. Accurate location keeps the repair and the restoration small.