1400 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205 Open 24/7, nights, weekends and holidays 4.9 Rating · 31+ Google Reviews
Homeowner catching water dripping from a ceiling leak
24/7 plumbing service

Plumbing Leak Detection in New York

A rising water bill, a stain that keeps spreading or the sound of running water with every tap off means a leak is hiding somewhere. We track it down before it does more damage.

Open 24/724 hour emergency plumber
4.9 Stars on Google31+ real reviews
Fully Insured7 years in business
Upfront PricingQuote before work starts

Quick answer: Turn off every faucet and water using appliance, then watch your water meter. If the dial or low flow indicator moves, water is escaping somewhere. Other signs include a rising water bill, stains, mold smells and the sound of running water. A running toilet is a common culprit, so check those first.

Not every leak announces itself with a puddle. Water can run inside a wall cavity, along a floor joist, under a slab or through a buried service line for weeks before you see a sign. By then you may be dealing with rotted framing, mold, damaged ceilings or a water bill that makes no sense. Fullerton Plumbing finds hidden leaks using a methodical process: checking the meter, isolating sections of the system, pressure testing lines and listening for the sound of escaping water.

The goal is to pinpoint the leak so that only a small, targeted opening is needed to reach it. Guessing leads to holes in the wrong places. Once we find the source, we explain what failed, whether it is a pinhole in old copper, a loose fitting behind a shower valve, a cracked drain or a split service line, and give you an upfront quote to repair it. We also check whether nearby pipes show the same wear, so you know if more trouble is likely.

Homeowner catching water dripping from a ceiling leak
Know the warning signs

Signs You Need Leak Detection

  • Your water bill jumped without any change in how you use water.
  • The water meter moves when every faucet and appliance is off.
  • You hear running or dripping water inside walls or under floors.
  • Water stains, bubbling paint or soft drywall keep appearing or spreading.
  • Musty smells or mold show up in one area with no clear cause.
  • Your well pump cycles on frequently even when nobody is using water.
What is included

What Our Leak Detection Service Covers

  • Water meter testing to confirm and measure a leak
  • Isolation and pressure testing of supply line sections
  • Locating leaks inside walls, ceilings and under floors
  • Main water service line leak detection
  • Drain and waste line leak checks with a camera
  • Targeted repair once the leak is found and quoted
How it works

Our Leak Detection Process

Meter and System Check

We start at the water meter to confirm a leak exists and roughly how fast water is escaping. Then we check visible fixtures, toilets and the water heater, since a running toilet often explains a high bill.

Isolate the Section

We shut valves and test sections of the system one at a time. That narrows the leak to a specific area or line, such as the main service line, a bathroom branch or the hot water side.

Pinpoint the Source

Using pressure testing, listening equipment, moisture readings and, for drains, a camera, we zero in on the exact location. This lets us open a small, targeted area instead of cutting into walls by guesswork.

Repair and Confirm

With your approval of an upfront quote, we repair the leak and retest the system to confirm the meter holds steady. We clean up our work area and explain what to watch for going forward.

New York plumbing

Why Hidden Leaks Are Common in New York Homes

Many New York homes have plumbing that has been patched and extended over generations. In older houses across Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Rochester, Buffalo and the brownstone neighborhoods of Brooklyn, you can find galvanized steel, old copper and newer PEX all joined in the same system, and every transition is a possible weak point. Freeze and thaw cycles stress pipes in exterior walls and can crack fittings without an immediate visible leak. Hard water in western New York and the Finger Lakes contributes to pinhole leaks in some copper lines. Buried service lines also shift with frost.

If you suspect a hidden leak, call Fullerton at (518) 776-7838. We serve all of New York State from our Albany base and answer 24/7. We will find the source methodically, show you what we found, and quote the repair before we open anything more than we need to. Catching a leak early saves framing, finishes and a lot of money on your water bill.

Pricing

What Affects the Cost of Leak Detection

Leak detection cost depends on how hard the leak is to find and where it is. A leak that shows up quickly on a meter and isolation test is faster to locate than an intermittent leak, a slab leak or a buried service line. The size of the home, the number of plumbing zones and access to valves all play a part. Repair is quoted separately once the leak is found, since it depends on the pipe and location. We give you an upfront quote before work starts.

Call (518) 776-7838 for an upfront quote. We answer 24/7 and explain the price before any work starts.

Real photos from our jobs

Recent Plumbing Jobs

No stock photos here. These are our own technicians, our own equipment and real repairs.

Two wall mounted tankless water heaters installed by Fullerton with new copper water piping
Dual tankless water heater installation with new copper piping
Two new tank water heaters side by side in a commercial mechanical room installed by Fullerton
Twin tank water heaters installed for a commercial building
Commercial water service room with valves, meters and copper piping serviced by Fullerton plumbers
Commercial water service room, valves and piping serviced
Fullerton hydro jetting machine with high pressure hose reel used for drain and sewer cleaning
Our hydro jetter, ready for grease and root clogs
Real Google reviews

What Customers Say About Fullerton

4.9
31+ Google reviews
Read all reviews
★★★★★
Called Fullerton for a sewer main backing up into my basement on a Sunday night and they had someone sent out within an hour. Shaquille was incredibly helpful with clearing out the line and showing us a live view of our sewer line. Shaquille even went above to help us clean out the water mess from the issue. Overall great experience and fast help!
Natalie RGoogle review, September 2025
★★★★★
Great service made sure everything was up to speck before leaving
Mico RuizGoogle review, January 2025
★★★★★
Called for an emergency off hours drain clog. Shaq came sooner than had indicated, got the drain unclog and made sure water was draining smoothly. Professional courteous and fair price. I will definitely use Fullerton again and recommend!
Luke PotoskiGoogle review, January 2025
Local service

Leak Detection Near You

We provide leak detection across New York State from our Albany base, with daily coverage throughout the Capital Region.

FAQ

Leak Detection Questions, Answered

Turn off every faucet and water using appliance, then watch your water meter. If the dial or low flow indicator moves, water is escaping somewhere. Other signs include a rising water bill, stains, mold smells and the sound of running water. A running toilet is a common culprit, so check those first.

In most cases we can narrow the leak to a small area before opening anything. Isolation testing, pressure testing, listening equipment and moisture readings let us pinpoint the location, so any opening is small and in the right place. Some access is usually needed to repair the pipe itself.

Pinhole leaks usually come from corrosion inside the pipe, influenced by water chemistry, high water velocity or age. They tend to show up in older copper systems and can recur in different spots. If you have had several, repiping the affected section may be more cost effective than repeated repairs.

Call Fullerton Plumbing at (518) 776-7838. We are based in Albany and serve all of New York State, answering 24/7. We use a step by step process to find hidden leaks, then give you an upfront quote to repair them. Reviews mention clear explanations and a clean work area.

It can be. Water under a slab can erode soil, raise moisture levels and damage flooring. Signs include warm spots on the floor, cracks, dampness or the sound of running water. A slab leak should be located and assessed promptly so you can decide on repair or rerouting.

In many New York municipalities, the property owner is responsible for the service line from the curb stop or meter to the house, but rules vary. Check with your local water department. If the leak is on your side, we can locate it and quote the repair.

Related services

Related Plumbing Services

Repiping

Replace corroded galvanized, failing copper or problem pipe with new PEX or copper for better pressure and clean water.

Repiping details

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