About Leak Detection Portland
We are a Portland-based leak detection team serving homeowners and property managers across the metro. Non-invasive methods. Written reports. No guesswork.
(503) 914-2356 — Call UsWho We Are
Leak Detection Portland is a specialty detection firm focused exclusively on water and plumbing leaks in the Portland metro area. We are not a general plumbing company, and we do not do repairs—that distinction matters. Our entire operation is built around one thing: finding exactly where your water is going before a plumber opens a single wall or starts digging.
We operate out of Northwest Portland and serve a wide radius across Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Our team has worked on everything from 1950s slab-on-grade homes in Southeast Portland with aging galvanized mains, to newer construction in Beaverton and Hillsboro where early PEX fittings are beginning to fail. We know Portland’s housing stock, its soil conditions, and the specific failure patterns that show up in each part of the metro.
Most of our calls come from homeowners who have already spent weeks trying to figure out why their City of Portland Water Bureau bill jumped $80 or $120. Some come from property managers who need a written report before authorizing a repair contractor. Others come from real estate agents and buyers who want to know what they’re dealing with before closing. In every case, we show up with equipment, not assumptions.
How We Find Leaks
We use three core methods, often in combination, depending on where the suspected leak is and what the plumbing system looks like. None of these methods require cutting, digging, or demolition during the inspection itself.
Acoustic Listening
Electronic ground microphones and acoustic correlators pick up the sound of water escaping under pressure. We can pinpoint a supply line breach under a concrete slab, driveway, or lawn to within a few inches. This is the primary method for underground and in-slab leaks.
Thermal Imaging
An infrared camera detects temperature differences in walls, floors, and ceilings caused by moisture. Hot water line leaks show as warm zones; cold water losses show as cool patches. Thermal imaging is especially effective for in-wall leaks and moisture pockets inside crawl spaces.
Pressure Testing
We isolate sections of the plumbing system and monitor pressure drop over time. A confirmed pressure loss tells us a breach is active and helps us narrow down which section of pipe is failing—before any other equipment touches the property.
Every inspection ends with a written report documenting what we found, where the leak is located, the detection method used, and our findings. That report travels with you—to your plumber, your insurance carrier, or your water utility if you’re requesting a usage adjustment.
Why Not Just Call a Plumber?
A general plumber finds leaks by elimination—pressure-testing sections, opening walls, or excavating suspected areas. That approach works, but it often means tearing up flooring, cutting drywall, or digging a trench before anyone knows exactly where the problem is. When the plumber guesses wrong, you pay for the repair and the investigation starts again.
We locate the leak first. A plumber who arrives with our written report knows exactly where to cut, dig, or access—which keeps the repair footprint as small as possible and reduces the total project cost. Most plumbing contractors in the Portland metro are familiar with this workflow and prefer it over open-ended exploratory work.
We are not a competitor to plumbers. We are the step that happens before the plumber arrives, so that when they do, they’re repairing—not searching.
Our Service Area
We cover the Portland metro and surrounding communities within approximately 20 miles of our Northwest Portland office. Primary service areas include Portland city limits (all quadrants), Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Tualatin, Gresham, Troutdale, West Linn, Oregon City, Wilsonville, Sherwood, and Happy Valley.
If you’re unsure whether we reach your address, call us at (503) 914-2356 and we’ll confirm on the spot. We don’t charge a trip fee to tell you whether we can help.
Get in Touch
We schedule same-day and next-day appointments most days. If you have an active leak or an unexplained spike in your water bill, the sooner we look the better—slow leaks compound.