--- title: "Leak Detection in Middle TN | Free Diagnostic Visit | Root House" url: https://roothousemechanicals.com/plumbing/leak-detection updated: 2026-09-29 business: "Root House Mechanicals" phone: "(615) 426-9344" text: "(615) 426-9344" email: info@roothousemechanicals.com hours: "Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m." --- # Leak Detection and Repair in Middle Tennessee > Root House Mechanicals finds and repairs hidden water leaks in walls, ceilings, floors, slabs and yard lines for homes across Middle Tennessee. The diagnostic visit is free, and you'll get a firm price before any work starts. Call or text (615) 426-9344, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Call (615) 426-9344 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) - Text (615) 426-9344 - Email: info@roothousemechanicals.com A water bill that jumps for no reason. A stain spreading across the ceiling. The sound of running water when every faucet is off. A hidden leak doesn't always show itself, and the damage grows the longer it runs. We'll confirm there's a leak, narrow down where it is, and open only what the repair needs. Then we fix it and tell you whether anything else in the system looks likely to follow. ## Signs you need leak detection help - A water bill that jumps with no change in how you use water - The water meter moving when every tap and appliance is off - The sound of running water inside a wall or under the floor - Stains, bubbling paint or soft drywall on a wall or ceiling - A warm spot on the floor, which can mean a hot water line leaking under a slab - A musty smell, mildew or damp insulation in the crawl space - A wet or sunken patch in the yard along the water line - Water pressure that has slowly dropped ## What we do - **Confirming the leak.** Checking the water meter with everything off and testing the lines under pressure, to tell whether water is leaving the system and whether the loss is inside the house or in the yard line. - **Locating it.** Narrowing it down by isolating sections of pipe, pressure testing, taking moisture readings and listening for the leak, so walls and floors are opened only where the leak actually is. - **Wall, ceiling and floor leaks.** Repairing leaking supply lines, fittings and drains behind finished surfaces, through the smallest opening the repair allows. - **Slab leaks.** Leaks in lines under a concrete slab. Depending on where the leak is and the shape the pipe is in, the fix may be a spot repair through the slab or a new line routed through walls or ceilings instead. - **Yard and service line leaks.** Leaks in the water line between the meter and the house. We repair the section that failed, or replace the line if it's failing along its length. - **Fixture and appliance leaks.** Running toilets, dripping faucets, and leaking lines to the water heater, ice maker, dishwasher and washer. Small leaks like these waste more water than most people expect. ## Repair or replace? One leak in otherwise sound pipe is a repair. We fix that section and you're done. When leaks keep showing up in different places, the pipe itself is usually the cause. Pinhole leaks in older copper, galvanized pipe rusting through and polybutylene fittings giving way tend to repeat. Then the question is whether to keep repairing or to replace the pipe (repiping). We'll show you what we found and price both, so you can decide on real numbers. ## What it costs, and how we price it What drives the price: - How long it takes to find the leak, and how many leaks there are - Where the leak is: an open crawl space is simpler than a finished wall, a ceiling or a slab - Whether the pipe can be repaired in place or needs to be rerouted - The pipe material and the shape it is in - Whether drywall, flooring or concrete has to be opened to reach it - The diagnostic visit: free. - Firm price given before any work starts. - Priced per job. Each job is priced on its own. - Why prices stay down: low overhead, and the work done right the first time with current methods, equipment and quality materials, so customers are not paying for callbacks. ## How a visit works 1. **Call or text.** Call or text (615) 426-9344 and tell us what's going on. A photo helps. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2. **A free diagnostic visit.** We come look, find the cause and explain it in plain words. The visit is free. 3. **A firm price before any work starts.** You get the price for the job before we begin, so you can decide with real numbers. 4. **The work, done right the first time.** Current methods, good equipment and quality materials. We keep overhead low and skip the callbacks, which keeps prices down. 5. **Follow-up.** If anything we worked on gives you trouble, call or text the same number. ## Urgent: Water leaking right now? 1. Shut off the main water valve. It's usually where the water line enters the house, often in the crawl space, basement or garage. 2. Keep away from water near outlets, light fixtures or the electrical panel. 3. Then call us at (615) 426-9344. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Call (615) 426-9344. ## How can I tell if I have a hidden leak? Check your water meter. Turn off every faucet and every appliance that uses water. Note the meter reading, or watch the small leak indicator dial if your meter has one. Wait an hour or two without using any water, then look again. If the meter moved, water is going somewhere. Shut the main valve at the house and check again. If the meter still moves with the main valve closed, the leak may be in the line between the meter and the house. ## What is a slab leak? A slab leak is a leak in a water line that runs under a concrete slab foundation. Hot water lines are a common culprit, and a warm spot on the floor is a classic sign. Other signs are the sound of running water, cracked flooring, damp carpet and a higher water bill. Homes built over a crawl space have fewer slab worries, but a leak down there can go unnoticed for a long time, because nobody looks down there often. ## Why is the ceiling stain nowhere near the bathroom? Water travels. It runs along pipes, joists and the back of the drywall before it drips, so the stain is often several feet from the leak. That's why we trace it back to the source before opening anything. ## How often should I check my crawl space? A couple of times a year, and after a hard freeze. Look for standing water, wet or sagging insulation, drips from pipes and a musty smell. Catching a slow leak early is the difference between a small repair and rotted framing. ## Where we offer leak detection - [Columbia, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/columbia-tn) - [Spring Hill, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/spring-hill-tn) - [Franklin, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/franklin-tn) - [Thompson's Station, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/thompsons-station-tn) - [Brentwood, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/brentwood-tn) - [Nolensville, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/nolensville-tn) - [Nashville, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/nashville-tn) - [Murfreesboro, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/murfreesboro-tn) - [Smyrna, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/smyrna-tn) - [Mount Pleasant, TN](https://roothousemechanicals.com/service-areas/mount-pleasant-tn) ## Common questions ### Is the diagnostic visit really free? Yes. We'll come look for free, tell you what we find and give you a firm price before any work starts. You decide from there. ### Will you have to tear open my walls? Only where the leak is. We narrow down the location first, then open as little as the repair needs. We'll tell you what has to be opened before we start. ### Does a leak mean I need new pipes? Usually not. Most leaks are a single failed fitting, valve or section of pipe. Replacing the pipe makes sense when leaks keep showing up in different places. ### How do I check a toilet for a leak? Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking and water is running down the drain all day. ### Water is coming through the ceiling. What should I do first? Shut off the main water valve. It's usually where the water line enters the house, often in the crawl space, basement or garage. Keep away from water near light fixtures, outlets or the electrical panel. Then call us at (615) 426-9344. We work Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ### Is a leak in the yard my responsibility? In most places, the line from the water meter to your house is yours, and the meter and the line on the street side belong to the water utility. Your utility can confirm where the split is. If the leak is on your side, we can repair it. ### Can a small drip really raise my bill? Yes. A faucet that drips all day or a toilet that runs quietly can waste a surprising amount of water over a month. They are usually simple repairs, and worth doing. ## Related - [Plumbing Repair](https://roothousemechanicals.com/plumbing/plumbing-repair) - [Whole-Home Repiping](https://roothousemechanicals.com/plumbing/repiping) - [Water Heater Repair and Replacement](https://roothousemechanicals.com/plumbing/water-heaters) - [Toilets, Faucets, Sinks and Disposals](https://roothousemechanicals.com/plumbing/fixtures) - [Sewer Line Repair and Replacement](https://roothousemechanicals.com/plumbing/sewer-line-repair)