How to Find a Water Leak - Allamerican leak detection DIY tips

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Leaks are estimated to account for up to 14% of domestic water use. This video explains a few quick and easy tips on how to narrow down the location of a leak along with some likely causes.
Your AAA rated American Leak detection experts, can pinpoint your leak problem! We use the best American leak detection equipment. We are proud to be your local, Santa Barbara leak detection experts.
How to do Leak detection and Leak Detection Tips by ACME Detection
Step 1
Do I have a leak? The easiest way to find if you have a leak is to go straight to the water meter and look for some sort of a micrometer, typically there will be a black or red triangle in the upper left corner. If the triangle is spinning slowly this is telling you that there's a very small amount of water being taken from the system, typically a leak
Step 2
Determine if you can separate different parts of the water system by shut offs. Check for a shut off at a point on the house closest to the water meter. The waterline will typically run in a straight line from the meter to the house. Look for the line coming out of the ground with the pressure regulator on it. This is a large piece of brass that is shaped like a bell or funnel. It reduces the pressure from the street which should be around hundred pounds down to around 60 house.
While having someone watch the meter simultaneously turn off the main shut off to the house. If the meter stops running in the leak is not in that line. Now proceed to shut off in the other shops in the area you can fine. If the meter stops spinning when you shut any of these off that will tell you that the leak is in that line.
Step 3
Search the area in which the pipe is located to see if you can possibly find any wet spots in the ground or if it runs to the house check for any leaks in faucets, toilets or moisture in the house.
Step 4
If outside be sure to check all hose bibs. Especially ones with hoses attached. It is necessary to remove the hose from the hose bib to visually inspect if there is a leak. It is very common for people not to hear it leaking, it will simply run out through the hose into the yard and never be discovered.
Thanks for watching!
Gary Fuller
ACME Detection
Santa Barbara, California
(805) 565 LEAK
[phone]
Leak detection tools we use:
LD 18 Sub Surface microphone
Metrotech Vivax HL 5000-4 microphone
Radio Detection RD 7000 locator.
Competitors:
American Leak Detection
AAA Pinpoint leak detection

[@Beth3004]

You posted this in 2014, it's 2020 and it just helped me figure out my issue! THANK YOU!!

[@neilwilliams8608]

I was talking to a licensed plumber and, he told me how to find out if it's the cold water pipe or hot water pipe. First, shut off the water at the main then, shut off the water valve on the pipe at the water heater. Now, turn on the water at the main and, if the water meter dial is not turning then, you know it's the hot water pipe. Just trying to help solve the situation a lot easier. Awesome video. Thanks a lot.

[@garyfuller6553]

Your plumber is correct. The only variable might be if you have any single handle valves like shower or kitchen sink. Sometimes the water can mix between the hot and the cold with in the faucet thus negating that method. Good luck

[@neilwilliams8608]

Thank you so much for your reply and your video.

[@CC-ed7od]

No matter how many times we've had leaks, every discovery is seemingly mind wiping 💩 and your video quickly got us on track. Thank you so much in 2024!

[@trifco-studio]

"I’m so glad I was able to help you. Amazing this video has been up for nine years now it seems like it was just yesterday when I made it." - Gary Fuller, ACME Detection

[@karlfrank5855]

This video is very good . How ever my leak turned out to be the "flapper" in the toilet tank was ever so slowly leaking water . Discovered by turning off water supply to tank and checked water meter and there was NO movement indicated . One might consider this possible solution BEFORE going further as NEVER found water in the yard .

[@garyfuller6553]

Hi I'm sorry the video is not clear as far as the leak we found. The redwood building I'm in front of with the leaking hose bib is an out building that was feeding from the yard water. It would have been clearer if that hose bib was out on it's own in the yard it's essentially the same thing. Thank you, GARY

[@nuestromundo5815]

9 years later and still great content

[@trifco-studio]

"Thank you so much for your kind words." - Gary Fuller, ACME Detection

[@CloroxBleach-69420]

@@trifco-studiodam bros still here

[@nikkirosa894]

You are sooooo...... good. I have watched this three times. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@nancyanderson2032]

best video ever. very simple to understand and be able to check. thanks !!

[@dddd-ci2zm]

This video gets right to the point.

[@irisdoradea1161]

2022 and this helped so much, no leak in my home...thank you!!!

[@CloroxBleach-69420]

Wow the first video that was actually useful thanks

[@trifco-studio]

"Thank you so much for your encouragement. Good luck, finding your leaks." - Gary Fuller, ACME Detection

[@garyfuller6553]

I hope you find this video helpful. If you have a newer digital style meter watch the area above numbers "very closely" and you will see the word "forward" flashing for only 1 second at up to 60 second intervals if you have a leak. Also it isn't clear in the the video but the leaking hose bib was on an out building that fed from the gate valve. Please don't hesitate to post any questions in the comment section as we do moniter these and check out our two other 5 minute videos.

[@ThePilot_USA]

Great!!! If that was my house the problem would have been solved!!! Now let us know how to find leaks in pipes inside walls without breaking them down...

[@garyfuller4708]

For finding leaks inside walls the best tool is a thermal camera.

[@parkerbirch1635]

You should hear how good i am at finding leaks. Ill make a 5 minute video with close ups of my face.

[@philipvigil5918]

Gary Fuller

[@rupe53]

If you have a leak inside a wall that's big enough to see at the meter, then you already have one hell of a wet spot somewhere inside the house and you will need to open the wall anyway.

[@valerienilson8713]

this video was so helpful - thank you!

[@torreythompson7078]

Great video Acme (Gary) I have a major leak in my driveway house 2 years old. Still trying to find out where its coming from. I will keep you updated.

[@awanderingmonk828]

Did you figure it out? Having the same issue.

[@brendonla]

Excellent video and explanations - thanks!

[@amandakelly1418]

I'm a little confused. At 2:18 the water stopped and he said the leak IS NOT in that line. At 3:11 the water stopped and he said the leak IS in that line. Does the stoppage mean that a leak is or isn't in a particular line?

[@owe05574]

Thank you so helpful 🥰

[@maryp6334]

When you took off the hose bib was the water main shut off?

[@desidoo5232]

this is a great video!

[@PatrickLeeRyan]

You are a life-saver!

[@nathanielpeter3296]

He found the culprit at 4:11 and it is nothing but the loose nozzle that won't close tightly and that made it to leak.

[@garyfuller6553]

I know it seems trivial but you would really not believe how many times I find this.

[@ca9796-ps5]

I appreciate these videos. It appears I might have a leak possibly under the foundation or close, no visible signs other than the water meter moving about 1 gallon per minute. Doing my research based your your videos. Thank you!

[@rocketrider1405]

So at 0:41 would the meter read be 420752.98 ? The 3 hasn't fully centered itself in the far right digit window and the sweep hand hasn't passed zero ?

[@julienielsen3746]

I'm hearing water running/draining under the bathtub after I use the bathroom sink. I haven't used much water in that bathroom for awhile because I always use my other bathroom. But, I had some black water come out of my kitchen sink spray hose, so until I get my plumber to replace my kitchen faucet I'm using this bathroom sink to wash dishes because it's closer to the kitchen. Why does stuff like this seem to happen on 3 day holiday weekends?

[@garyfuller6553]

I believe the reason this always happens before the holidays is called Murphy's Law. With respect to the black water coming out of your sink sprayer I don't think you need a plumber for that you simply need to use it at least once a week and the water should be clear. If you don't use it for a while there may be some sort of build up that comes out the first time you use it. If you hear water running in the pipes after you use an appliance it is typically a sign of a slow drain that may be backing up soon. I would suggest having the drain lines cleaned.

[@julienielsen3746]

I had a plumber replace my kitchen faucet and hose, I never did like the faucet that was with the sink from when I moved in years ago anyway. I got a new Moen one with the hose separate from the faucet. As for my bathroom he said it was because I'm not using the fixtures in that room that gas was building up in the plumbing. All I need to do it run everything once a week if I don't use it.

[@avrventures4129]

thank you! Great tip!

[@HotelEdenMusic]

Agreed with my fellow viewers, really helpful video and concepts. Well communicated!

[@solidsix6766]

Gary, thank you!!!

[@tomkoepke1627]

How can I find a really good leak detection company in Riverside, Ca ? Great, and helpful video - thanks

[@trifco-studio]

"I’m so glad I was able to help you. Ask for recommendations on places like Next Door from neighbors." - Gary Fuller, ACME Detection

[@davidsquall351]

great tips

[@naturallyafroqueenbey7438]

ty very informative now i can hunt and see were this leak is or maybe my bill says i used 300 bucks of water and I don't here anything leaking

[@blackhawks1870]

I had the same problem. And I determine it was my humidifier. I had it at 35% and it was going on when the furnace would turn on. I did a few test...

[@brianmott728]

Where my plastic water main enters the cement wall in the basement water is leaking in all around the pipe but the triangle on the water meter is not moving at all. Do I really have a leak?

[@syllinx1]

I wish I had a leaking faucet. My water meter will spin for a few seconds then reverse. We do have an expansion tank on the water heater but I doubt that it is something that simple.

[@johnfinnell6171]

I found my water valve turn-off in the basement under the stairwell back in a corner...well hidden! Unfortunately the leak is not in the house according to the leak detector, turned the house valve off and the little triangle is still steady turning around. People, I'm desperate I have a leak that is costing me a fortune and I am keeping the water turned off until we need to wash or whatever. I am not going to pay a fortune to fix this and probably get ripped off! I am experimenting with this pvc.zaxby cup concept, so what kind of glue is the best, your zaxby cup, is it Styrofoam or paper. I'm looking for good info on this from the people who built it and found and fixed their leak please! I got 1100 feet to the house and some of it is under concrete drive-way. I can probably rent one of those electronic detector but I'm giving this cheap method a try first. Talk to me!

[@MagrissoAndrew]

7 years later please share your series of bad decisions😇

[@aeg7515]

wjat if your house doesn't have one of those regulator things. we can turn the faucets off inside the house under the sinks but we don't have anything outside to shut off water except from the meter. we have a leak

[@louisswanepoel695]

good video, communicates well, knows what he is going to say without "likes", "uhms" and "ahs". Other KZbinrs pls learn: be educational and not self promotional, then you will be more real followers.

[@willievall5924]

Hi'what if you don't have a indicator??,

[@karlsonkab51]

my shutoff leaks - allowing a dripping faucet to drip around 1/2 gallon per hour - is that enough to spin the triangle?

[@ScoutSniper3124]

yes, even the smallest of leaks can be detected if you note where the triangle is, keep everything off and a set amount of time to see the difference. Also, with a newer digital water meter (mine measures down to .01 a gallon) you can note the meter reading, with everything shut off, and wait ten minutes. Note the reading again, the difference between the two readings, multiplied by 6 will be the gallons per hour of the leak.

[@garyfuller6553]

It won't move very fast but it will move.

[@neilwilliams8608]

How do I find a water leak under dirt and grass? There is no water on the ground and all the grass is the same color and height. Please help. GOD bless and thanks a lot.

[@garyfuller6553]

If you search under Acme detection you will find another video of me finding a leak under the driveway which is similar. It's all done by sound but unfortunately you will likely need an expensive microphone. You can inject air into the lines with the water off to try to make it in bubble which will be a louder sound and you may be able to hear that with the naked here. Good luck Gary

[@neilwilliams8608]

Thanks again for your reply and help.

[@ZumbaShan]

www.ebay.com/itm/322842898554?ViewItem=&item=322842898554 do you think this rod/microphone system would be appropriate to catch an underground irrigation leak? Thanks in advance for your time!

[@Subfightr]

@@ZumbaShan nooooo that's a dowsing rod, those are complete bullshit. That "work" by the ideomotor effect, meaning people are unknowingly moving their hand ever so slightly which will cause the rod to move. People use these to find missing pets, humans, dead bodies, water, gold, drugs, bombs. It's horrible and totally bullshit, I hate that it's still a thing in this day and age.

[@theanswerisinthebackofyourhead]

I HAVE A LEAK FROM UNDER MY DISHWASHER BUT IT DOES NOT LEAK WHEN THE DISHWASHER RUNS BUT INSTEAD IT LEAKS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL WHEN I TURN THE FAUCET ON OUTSIDE, DOES ANYBODY KNOWS THE REASON FOR THIS LEAK??

[@MelindaMeline]

Thank you....

[@kashaftasribatalmiahbialriyad]

رائع

[@23thebull]

awesome find..that's exactly what happen to me,thanks

[@edwinwilkerson6051]

I would replace all the galvanized pipe with PVC it looks like an electrolysis nightmare......

[@caseystockbridge]

The water meter was still moving when the second line was closed. Doesnt that mean there is a leak? The water meter was not moving when the 3rd line was closed. Doesnt that mean there is no leak there? Confused...

[@outsider9288]

no that means the leak is in some other circuit, not the one closed.

[@Hever73]

basically, what he did was isolating the different water lines until he found the one which was leaking, that's all he did.

[@normawashington3620]

They say I have a leak but my meter is not moving all only when I turn the water on

[@garyfuller6553]

You still may have a leak. It could be from something like a malfunctioning toilet valve that only leaks sometimes or a malfunctioning reverse osmosis system that flushes itself but only sometimes. You should turn your meter off overnight and do not use any water. Then when you turn the meter back on see if there is any movement. Gary

[@bettycarsonwilliams1350]

Norma Washington hi no

[@douglascooper1987]

👍👍

[@WV591]

too bad real life scenarios not that simple and easy to find.

[@akpsalamsalam2890]

WV591

[@zildian1983]

Wait... you had 2 lines that stopped the meter. Not just that 1. I'm confused

[@Subfightr]

Because the first one sent water into the house AND down to the hose at the end of the video. When he shut it off it stopped all water going into the house and to the hose. He turned the line going into the house on, the leak continued, he left that line on, and shut off the line going to the hose, being fed from the first line he shut off. Did that overly wordy response help 11 months later?

[@Subfightr]

Oh 1 month later my bad

[@tripjet999]

"How to find a leaky hose faucet on the outside of the house"

[@garyfuller6553]

In this call the leak was actually a hose bib that was not closing all the way, which does happen. Hopefully there was other information in the video you found of use. Gary