Leak Detection & Repair | Metro Atlanta
A leak you can hear is easy. A leak you cannot see is the one that runs up your bill, rots a subfloor, and feeds mold behind drywall for months before anything shows. A&G Plumbing & Drain has been finding those hidden leaks for Marietta and Metro Atlanta homeowners since 2006. We use electronic and acoustic equipment to pinpoint the source, then fix it with the least cutting and digging possible.
What leak detection in Atlanta actually looks like
Most leaks do not announce themselves. You notice a water bill that jumped for no reason, a warm spot on the floor, a musty smell, or the sound of running water when every faucet is off. The job is to turn those clues into one exact location before we open anything up.
We start at the water meter. With every fixture shut off, the small triangle or leak indicator on the meter should sit still. If it keeps creeping, water is escaping somewhere on your side of the line. That confirms the leak is real and tells us roughly how fast it is moving.
From there we bring out the listening gear. A pressurized pipe pushing water through a crack or pinhole makes sound, and that sound travels through the pipe and into the surrounding concrete, soil, or framing. Acoustic ground microphones and pipe sensors pick it up, amplify it, and let our tech walk the line until the signal peaks right over the break. We pair that with thermal imaging to spot temperature differences from a hot or cold water line, and pressure testing to isolate which line is failing. For tricky underground runs we can introduce a safe tracer gas that rises to the surface at the leak point.
Slab leaks, Georgia clay, and copper pipe
Slab leaks are common around here for two reasons, and Atlanta homes get hit by both at once. First, a lot of homes built from the 1970s through the 1990s ran copper supply lines under the foundation. Georgia groundwater runs slightly acidic, and over decades that water eats tiny pits into copper from the inside until a pinhole opens. Second, our red clay soil swells when it is wet and shrinks when it dries. That constant ground movement flexes and stresses the pipes buried in the slab. Weakened copper plus shifting clay is how you end up with a leak under solid concrete.
You do not have to tear up a floor to find it. We trace the leak acoustically and mark the spot on the slab surface, so any repair is targeted instead of guesswork. Depending on the line’s age and condition, the fix might be a spot repair at the break, a reroute of that section overhead or through a wall, or a full replacement. If the copper is pitted in one place it is often pitted in others, so for older homes we will walk you through whether repiping makes more sense than chasing one leak at a time. For a deeper look at how these happen and what the warning signs are, read our guide on slab leaks in Atlanta, Georgia.
Hidden leaks behind walls and ceilings
Not every hidden leak is under the slab. Supply lines and drain lines run through walls, ceilings, and crawl spaces, and a slow drip there can stain paint, bubble drywall, or warp trim before you connect it to a plumbing problem. We use the same acoustic and thermal tools to find the source without opening the whole wall. The goal is one clean access cut at the right spot, not a row of exploratory holes across your living room.
High water bill with nothing visible
A bill that doubled with no change in how you use water almost always means a leak, usually at a toilet, an underground supply line, or a fitting you cannot see. Toilets are the quiet culprit, since a worn flapper can pass water continuously without a sound. We check the obvious suspects first, then run the meter test and our detection equipment to chase down anything underground. If the leak is on the main line between the meter and the house, that falls under our main water line work.
Serving Marietta and Metro Atlanta
A&G Plumbing & Drain is family owned, licensed, and insured, with a 4.9 star rating across 420+ reviews. We cover Marietta and the surrounding Metro Atlanta area, including Smyrna, Kennesaw, Roswell, Sandy Springs, East Cobb, and nearby communities. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, and we offer fast scheduling with same-day visits when available during business hours. To get a leak located, call (770) 627-4421.
Leak Detection FAQ
How do you find a leak without tearing up my house?
We use electronic and acoustic equipment that listens for the sound water makes as it escapes a pressurized pipe, along with thermal imaging and pressure testing. That lets us pinpoint the leak before any cutting, so the repair access is small and targeted instead of a string of holes.
What causes slab leaks in Atlanta homes?
Two things working together. Older copper lines pit and corrode from the inside because Georgia groundwater is slightly acidic, and our expansive red clay soil shifts as it gets wet and dries out, stressing the pipes under the slab. The combination is why slab leaks are common in this area.
How can I tell if I have a hidden water leak?
Watch for a water bill that climbed without a reason, a warm or damp spot on the floor, a musty smell, the sound of running water with everything off, or low water pressure. The quickest home check is to shut off all water and watch the leak indicator on your meter. If it keeps moving, you have a leak.
Can a slab leak be fixed without replacing all my pipes?
Often, yes. Once we locate the exact spot we can do a targeted repair or reroute that section. If the line is old copper that is pitted in several places, we will tell you honestly whether a spot fix or a repipe is the better long term call.
Why is my water bill suddenly so high?
A sudden jump usually points to a leak you cannot see, often a running toilet, an underground supply line, or a slab leak. We test the meter and use our detection tools to find the source instead of guessing, so you are not paying for water running into the ground.
Do you offer same-day leak detection?
We schedule fast and offer same-day appointments when they are available during our business hours, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call (770) 627-4421 and we will get you on the schedule as quickly as we can.