How Do You Locate A Plumbing Leak?

While many supply side leaks are found under or behind sinks and toilets and such, many leaks will occur at fittings inside of walls. This is especially true of the dreaded grey polybutylene pipe. Obviously, leaks can be narrowed down based on where the floor or ceiling gets wet, but unless you want to tear out huge sections of drywall or plaster, it is best to close in on the location considerably. Thirty years of locating and repairing supply side leaks has shown me one of the best tools to have in your bucket is just a cheap $10 stethoscope, available from most pharmacies. This is the tool your doctor uses to listen to heart or lungs, it works great for hearing where the leak is too. With just a modicum of patience, you can narrow down the location of a leak to within a foot or less. By listening intently to the wall in the vicinity of the wet spot, you can hear the stream of water hitting either the drywall, or the siding, or the framing of the home. By moving up and down, and ...  more