Leak Detection Hillsboro, OR
Washington County’s clay soil, aging Poly-B supply lines, and decades of wet winters are catching up with Hillsboro homes. We find exactly where your water is going—before you lose another month to a slow hidden leak.
(503) 914-2356 — Call NowWhy Hillsboro Homes Develop Hidden Leaks
Hillsboro has been one of Oregon’s fastest-growing cities for three decades. That growth has layers—and so do its leak problems. Homes near downtown Hillsboro were built in the 1950s and 1960s on galvanized steel pipes that are long past their service life. The neighborhoods along TV Highway and Baseline Road filled in through the 1970s and 1980s, many plumbed with polybutylene (Poly-B) supply lines that are now prone to sudden failure without warning. More recent neighborhoods like Orenco Station and the Quatama corridor were built through the 1990s and early 2000s using copper and early PEX—better materials, but not immune to the pressures that Hillsboro’s soil and climate create.
Washington County’s clay-heavy soil is a major factor most homeowners don’t think about. Clay expands when wet and contracts as it dries out. Over years, that seasonal movement creates lateral stress on buried supply and sewer lines, gradually shifting joint connections until a small seep becomes a steady water loss. We see it consistently in Hillsboro—a water meter spinning overnight, a bill from the City of Hillsboro Water that’s suddenly $80 higher than normal, a soft patch in the lawn near the curb. The homeowner suspects the sprinkler system. The real problem is 18 inches underground in the main supply line, where clay soil has worked a fitting loose.
What makes leak detection different from calling a standard plumber?
A plumber hunts leaks by pressure-testing sections or opening walls. We locate the leak first—using acoustic listening devices, thermal imaging cameras, and tracer gas equipment—then hand you a written report showing the leak’s position to within inches. You repair only what’s broken. No excavation guesswork, no unnecessary wall openings, no three-foot trench across a front yard that turns out to be in the wrong spot.
Hillsboro’s Pipe History—What Era Is Your Home?
The material your home’s pipes are made of tells you a great deal about your current leak risk. Here’s how Hillsboro’s construction waves map to pipe materials and common failure modes today:
| Construction Era | Typical Pipe Material | Leak Risk Today | Common Failure Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1960 | Galvanized steel, cast iron | High | Interior corrosion narrows flow; pinhole leaks at fittings and joints |
| 1960–1975 | Copper (Type M), some galvanized | Moderate | Pitting corrosion from aggressive soil chemistry; joint failures at elbows |
| 1978–1995 | Polybutylene (Poly-B) | High | Brittle failure at plastic fittings; chlorine in city water degrades pipe wall from inside |
| 1985–2000 | CPVC | Moderate | Stress cracking at joints; fails under physical load or freeze events |
| 1995–present | PEX, copper (Type L) | Lower | Fitting failures if improperly installed; generally reliable with proper installation |
If your Hillsboro home was built between 1978 and 1995, there is a real probability it has Poly-B supply lines. These pipes were installed throughout Hillsboro, Orenco, Aloha, and the Tanasbourne corridor during those years. Poly-B degrades from the inside out—the exterior of the pipe looks intact right up until it isn’t. A leak detection inspection will confirm whether your supply lines are pressurizing correctly and flag any pressure drop that suggests a slow breach in progress.
Leak Detection Services in Hillsboro
Every service includes a written location report. We mark the exact spot. Your plumber or contractor does the repair—with no guesswork.
Slab Leak Detection
Acoustic and thermal detection of leaks beneath concrete slabs. Common in Hillsboro homes built from the 1960s onward with copper sleeved directly under the foundation.
Underground Water Line
Pinpoint breaks in buried supply lines from the street meter to the house. We mark the surface so any excavation is targeted—not exploratory digging across the yard.
Pool & Spa Leak Detection
Pressure testing and dye tracing to find shell cracks or plumbing failures in Hillsboro residential pools and spas—without draining.
Commercial Leak Detection
Multi-unit residential, office, and industrial leak surveys. We work with property managers across the Tanasbourne corridor and downtown Hillsboro business district.
Sewer Camera Inspection
Video inspection of sewer laterals to identify cracks, root intrusion, and line offsets before they become full blockages or sewer gas problems.
Thermal Imaging Scan
Infrared camera inspection to detect moisture behind walls and ceilings without cutting drywall. Essential after unexplained water stains or high utility bills.
How a Hillsboro Leak Inspection Works
You Call or Text
Reach us at (503) 914-2356. We ask a few quick questions about what you’re seeing and schedule your inspection—often same or next day for Hillsboro.
We Scan the System
Our technician arrives with acoustic sensors, thermal camera, and pressure test gear. We run through your water system methodically and systematically.
We Locate the Leak
We isolate and confirm the exact leak source. No opening walls to look around—we find it first, then mark the spot with precision.
You Get a Written Report
A detailed location report with findings, leak position, and photos. Take it to any plumber or contractor of your choice for repair.
Hillsboro Neighborhoods We Serve
We respond to leak calls across all of Hillsboro and the surrounding west Washington County corridor—including areas served by both Hillsboro Water and Clean Water Services:
Not sure if you’re in our range? Call (503) 914-2356—if we can reach you, we’ll tell you right away.
Signs Hillsboro Homeowners Typically Call Us About
Your City of Hillsboro Water Bill Is Climbing
The City of Hillsboro Water Department bills monthly. If your bill has jumped $50 to $100 or more without any change in habits—extra laundry, new irrigation schedule, guests staying over—that’s water going somewhere it shouldn’t. Homes with Poly-B supply lines or aging galvanized mains are the most common calls we get in Hillsboro. One slow leak in a supply line can waste thousands of gallons a month before a homeowner even suspects it.
Soft or Wet Spot in the Yard During Dry Weather
Washington County’s clay soil holds moisture, so a damp lawn patch doesn’t always mean a broken pipe. But if the wet spot appears during a dry stretch or stays saturated while neighboring yards have dried out, that’s a supply line leak until proven otherwise. We can confirm or rule it out in a single visit—without digging anything up to look.
Warm or Cold Patch on the Floor
A slab leak typically announces itself as a warm or hot spot on the floor—a hot water supply line breaching under the concrete. In Hillsboro’s older slab-on-grade homes near downtown, this is one of the first symptoms homeowners notice. Sometimes it presents as a cold damp patch instead, from a cold water line breach beneath the slab. Either way, acoustic detection finds it without breaking concrete unnecessarily.
Water Meter Moving With Everything Off
Turn off every fixture, appliance, and irrigation zone. Go to your water meter—usually near the curb on your property line—and watch the small leak indicator dial or triangle on the meter face. If it’s moving with everything shut off, water is actively escaping somewhere in your system. That’s a confirmed active leak. Call us at (503) 914-2356 and we’ll get you scheduled that day if possible.
Mold or Musty Smell in an Enclosed Space
A slow pipe leak behind a wall or under a crawl space won’t always show up as a dramatic wet spot. It shows up as mold growth, or a persistent musty smell in a bathroom, utility closet, or basement corner. Hillsboro’s wet winters give hidden leaks plenty of ambient moisture to work with, which accelerates mold growth significantly. Thermal imaging often catches these moisture pockets before they develop into structural problems.
Unexplained Drop in Water Pressure
If your shower pressure or tap flow has dropped noticeably without a city-wide pressure change, water may be escaping the system before it reaches your fixtures. This is a common symptom of a supply line breach or an in-slab leak on a hot water line. Pressure testing is part of every inspection—it gives us a baseline and often confirms or rules out an active breach within minutes of arriving.
Frequently Asked Questions—Hillsboro Leak Detection
Do you work with Hillsboro Water for a water loss credit?
We don’t coordinate directly with the City of Hillsboro Water Department on billing, but our written inspection report documents the leak source, location, and evidence of an ongoing loss. Most customers submit this report when requesting a water loss adjustment from the city. Hillsboro Water handles those requests case-by-case—having a professional detection report substantially strengthens the claim compared to showing up without documentation.
How do I know if my Hillsboro home has Poly-B pipes?
Polybutylene pipe is gray and flexible, usually stamped “PB2110” along its length. It’s often visible where supply lines connect under sinks, at the water heater inlet, or in the crawl space. If your home was built between 1978 and 1995 in Hillsboro, Orenco, or Aloha, there is a meaningful chance it has Poly-B. We check for it visually during our site visit at no additional charge and note it in the inspection report.
Can you find a leak under a concrete driveway or garage floor?
Yes. Acoustic listening equipment picks up the sound of water escaping under concrete regardless of what’s on the surface. We can localize a supply line break under a driveway, garage floor, or concrete patio to within a few inches. That precision keeps the concrete cut or core sample as small as physically possible during repair.
How quickly can you get to Hillsboro?
We typically schedule Hillsboro inspections same-day or next-day. From our Portland office at 2455 NW Nicolai St, Hillsboro is a direct run west on Highway 26—usually 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Call (503) 914-2356 and we’ll confirm the first available slot right on the phone.
Will the detection process damage my landscaping or yard?
No. The entire detection process is non-invasive—acoustic sensors rest on surface soil or concrete, thermal cameras scan from above, and pressure tests connect through existing access points. Nothing is dug, cut, or opened during the inspection itself. Excavation only happens during repair, and because we’ve already identified the exact location, the repair area is as small as it can be.
We have an Intel or tech-campus commercial building in Hillsboro. Do you handle commercial sites?
Yfs. We work with commercial property managers, facilities teams, and building owners across the Hillsboro tech corridor. Commercial leak detection typically involves larger supply systems, multiple water meters, and complex plumbing runs—all of which we’re equipped to survey. Call (503) 914-2356 to discuss scope and scheduling for commercial properties.