A leak you can see is rarely the problem. The one that matters is the slow drip inside a wall cavity, under a kitchen floor, or behind a finished basement ceiling that has been feeding drywall and insulation for weeks. By the time a stain shows up, the material behind it is usually saturated. Our leak detection service exists to find that source quickly, prove where the water has travelled, and stop it before the repair grows from a patch into a rebuild.
We serve Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Markham and Mississauga. Most assessments are booked within 24 hours, and if water is actively running we treat it as an emergency and dispatch a crew from our 24/7 line. Our target is to be on site within 60 minutes across the GTA for active leaks.
Every assessment ends with a written report: where the water is coming from, how far it has spread, moisture readings by room, and photos. That report is what your insurer needs to approve a claim, and it is what our crew uses to plan extraction and drying if the damage is beyond a simple fix.
What we do on site
- Interview you about when the signs started, what changed, and where water has been seen.
- Scan affected walls, ceilings and floors with a thermal imaging camera.
- Confirm wet areas with pin and pinless moisture meters and log every reading.
- Pressure test supply lines and run dye or flow tests on drains and fixtures as needed.
- Open a small inspection hole only if readings cannot confirm the source any other way.
- Photograph the source, the moisture map and all affected materials for your claim file.
- Deliver a written report with the recommended next step: repair only, dry in place, or extraction and tear-out.
How do you find a leak without tearing open the wall?
We work from the outside in. A thermal imaging camera shows temperature differences on wall and ceiling surfaces, and wet drywall reads cooler than dry drywall because evaporation pulls heat away. That gives us a map of where moisture sits without touching anything. We confirm the map with a pin moisture meter, which measures actual moisture content in the material, and a non-invasive meter for tile, hardwood and painted surfaces.
For supply lines we isolate sections and run pressure tests. For drains and showers we run dye and flow tests. In a typical Toronto semi or bungalow we can pinpoint the source within one to two hours, and we only open a small inspection hole when the readings leave no other way to confirm it.
- Thermal imaging camera for surface temperature mapping
- Pin and pinless moisture meters, readings logged by room
- Pressure testing on supply lines and radiant heating loops
- Dye and flow tests for showers, tubs and drain lines
- Borescope inspection through a small access hole when needed
What are the signs of a hidden water leak in my house?
The obvious signs are stains, bubbling paint and warped baseboards. The less obvious ones catch more people: a water bill that climbs with no change in use, a musty smell in one room, a floor that feels soft or cool underfoot, or a water meter that keeps turning when every fixture is off. In older Toronto homes with galvanized or copper supply lines, pinhole leaks behind bathroom walls are the most common call we get.
Mould appears on damp drywall within 24 to 48 hours in warm conditions, so a musty smell usually means the leak has been active for days. If you notice two or more of these signs, book an assessment rather than waiting for the stain to spread.
What happens after you find the source?
Finding the leak is step one. The moisture map tells us whether the surrounding materials can be dried in place or need to come out. Drywall and insulation that have been wet for more than a few days usually cannot be saved, and we will tell you that plainly with readings to back it up. Clean supply water is IICRC Category 1 and gives us the most options for drying in place. Water from a drain or a leak that has sat for a long time is Category 2 or 3 and changes the approach.
If a plumber is needed to repair the pipe, we coordinate that. If the water came through the foundation rather than a pipe, we bring in DryFort Waterproofing to fix the entry point with crack injection or drainage work so the leak does not come back.
Is leak detection covered by home insurance in Ontario?
The assessment itself is often covered when it is part of a claim for sudden and accidental water escape, which is standard on most Ontario home policies. What insurers generally do not pay for is a slow leak that was visible and ignored, or the cost of repairing the pipe itself. They do pay for the resulting damage: drying, tear-out, and rebuild. Our report separates the source from the damage so the adjuster can see exactly what falls under the policy.
Most Ontario home policies cover sudden and accidental water escape from plumbing, appliances or heating systems, and that includes the drying and repair of the damage, but usually not the cost of fixing the pipe. Slow leaks that were visible and ignored for a long period are commonly excluded. Our report documents the source, the date of discovery and the extent of damage, which is what the adjuster uses to decide coverage. If the claim is approved we bill your insurer directly through a Direction to Pay form.
Frequently asked questions
Can you find a leak under a concrete slab or a finished basement floor?
Yes. Slab leaks show up as warm or cool patches on thermal imaging, and radiant heating loops can be isolated and pressure tested. We also use acoustic listening for pressurized lines under concrete. Finished basement floors are scanned from above and confirmed with meters at the baseboards and lowest points.
Will you have to cut holes in my walls?
Usually not. Thermal imaging and moisture meters locate the source and map the wet area without any cutting. We open a small inspection hole, typically the size of a hand, only when the readings cannot rule out two possible sources. If the wall needs to come out anyway because the drywall is saturated, that is part of the tear-out and rebuild plan, not the assessment.
How quickly can you come out for an active leak?
Active leaks are treated as emergencies. Call our 24/7 emergency line and we dispatch the nearest crew. Our target is to be on site within 60 minutes anywhere in Toronto and the GTA. If the leak is slow and the water is contained, we book an assessment within 24 hours.
What should I do while I wait for you to arrive?
Shut off the water at the main valve if the leak is from a supply line. Move furniture, rugs and electronics away from the wet area. Do not run fans yet if you do not know whether the water is clean, because moving air over contaminated water spreads it. Take a few photos with your phone, then leave the rest of the documentation to us.