Leak detection and pipe repair in Portland

No public agency publishes Portland leak detection prices. These are national ranges from published cost guides:

This Old House says its slab figures come from HomeAdvisor pricing estimates. Angi says detection cost depends on the leak's severity, location and the method used.

Before paying for detection, run the meter test from the Portland Water Bureau:

1. Stop all water use inside and outside, including showers, washers and irrigation.
2. Find the meter. It is usually in the ground near the curb in front of the house, under a lid marked Water Meter.
3. Watch the leak indicator. If the small blue or red triangle is spinning, you may have a leak. If there is no indicator but the sweep hand moves, water is running somewhere. If nothing moves, note the hand's position, wait several hours without using water, and check again.
4. Split indoor from outdoor. Close the main shutoff, usually near the water heater in a basement or garage, and check the meter again. If it still moves, the leak is likely between the meter and the valve, possibly underground. If it stops, the leak is likely inside the house.

The bureau notes that if water keeps flowing from an indoor faucet several seconds after you close the main valve, the valve itself is not working, and you cannot use this test until it is fixed.

The Water Bureau lists these signs of an underground leak:

• An unexplained rise in water use on your bill.
• Weak water pressure or flow, or rust, dirt or air in the water.
• Soggy or mossy patches, or irrigation that stops working well.
• Cracked or sunken pavement, uneven floors or leaning structures.

Indoors, Angi points to wall or ceiling stains, peeling or bubbling paint, spongy drywall and dripping sounds inside walls.

Small leaks add up. The EPA WaterSense program says an average household's leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons a year, that nine percent of homes have leaks wasting 50 gallons or more a day, and that a faucet dripping once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year. Its toilet test: add a few drops of food coloring to the tank, and if color appears in the bowl within 10 minutes, the toilet is leaking.

Once the meter confirms water is escaping, a leak detection specialist or plumber narrows down where. Common steps include isolating sections of the system with valves, pressure-testing lines, listening for the sound of escaping water with acoustic equipment, checking surfaces with thermal imaging or moisture meters, and running a camera through drain lines. Ask before the visit which methods the quote includes and whether the price covers repair or only locating the leak.

The Portland Water Bureau owns and maintains the pipes up to and including the water meter. The property owner is responsible for the pipe from the meter to the house and everything inside. A leak on the street side of the meter, or water rising from the street or sidewalk, should be reported to the bureau's emergency line at 503-823-4874.

After a timely repair, the Water Bureau says you may qualify for a bill adjustment for the leaked water. It also runs a Home Water Leak Repair Program for income-qualified homeowners.

Often, yes. The City of Portland requires a plumbing permit to repair, replace or move plumbing pipes, and lists water service lines among outdoor work that needs one. The Water Bureau notes that a permit may be needed for repairs on the line from the meter to the house. The city also says replacing a metal water line with plastic may require an electrical permit, so ask the contractor whether that applies to your job.

Leaks in older homes often trace back to aging galvanized or early copper pipe. Our guide to old house plumbing in Portland explains what to watch for.

The Oregon Building Codes Division says contractors doing plumbing work must hold both a Construction Contractors Board license and the appropriate BCD plumbing contractor license, and advises checking them before work begins. Search the company in the CCB license search and the BCD license holder search, and make sure the names match the quote. Get a written contract that names the company, its CCB number, the scope and the price.

Ask whether the detection fee is credited toward the repair, whether the quote covers opening and patching walls or floors, and get the repair method in writing before anyone cuts into a slab.

We are an independent guide and do not do this work. To reach a plumber, call one of the licensed contractors listed on this page or see all listed contractors. If you prefer, you can email us your question through our contact page.