Leak detection that finds the problem before it finds your floor
A water leak rarely shows up where it starts. The stain on your ceiling might trace back to a supply line two rooms over. A spike in your water bill could point to a line running under your slab that you'll never see until someone goes looking for it. Guessing at the source usually means opening up drywall or flooring that never needed to be touched.
Dr Rooter locates hidden leaks in Lexington and the greater Columbia area using acoustic listening equipment, infrared imaging, and pressure testing, so we can tell you exactly where a leak is before anyone picks up a tool. Once we've pinpointed it, we explain what we found and what it will take to fix, and you decide how to proceed.
- Acoustic and infrared equipment that locates leaks without exploratory digging or demolition
- Slab, wall, and underground leak detection for both water and sewer lines
- Clear findings report before any repair work begins
- Licensed plumbers with 25+ years serving Lexington and Columbia
Licensed, Bonded & InsuredProud partner of these local organizations
Why Choose Us
Why Lexington homeowners trust Dr Rooter with leak detection
4.9 stars from 766+ Google reviews · Plumbing Repair & Installation · Licensed and insured
Finding a leak by guesswork usually means cutting into a wall or tearing up flooring that turns out to have nothing wrong with it. We locate the actual source first, using equipment built for that purpose, so the only work that happens afterward is the repair you actually need.
- Same-day service available when a leak is active or worsening
- Non-invasive detection methods that protect your walls, floors, and yard
- Licensed, insured, and locally operated in Lexington since 1999
- Certified technicians trained on acoustic, infrared, and pressure-based detection equipment
What We Offer
Our plumbing services
Dr Rooter handles the full range of residential and commercial plumbing work in Lexington, not just leak detection. Here is the complete list:
Installations
Water Filtration: System selection and installation for cleaner water throughout the home.
Tankless Water Heater: Install, repair, and maintain gas and electric tankless units.
Pipe Repair & Replacement: Diagnosis, trenchless repair, and full repiping for water and drain lines.
Fixture Repair & Replacement: Faucets, toilets, tubs, water heaters, and softener systems.
Repair
Drain Cleaning, Clog Removal, and Inspection: Hydro-jetting, mechanical cleaning, and camera inspection.
Plumbing System Diagnostics & Troubleshooting: Full-system evaluation when the source of a problem isn't obvious.
Plumbing
Emergency Plumbing: 24/7 dispatch for burst pipes, overflowing fixtures, and active leaks.
Leak Detection (you are here): Acoustic and infrared detection for hidden water and sewer leaks.
Quick Turnaround Repairs During Real Estate Transactions: Fast fixes for issues flagged during a home inspection.
A Plumb Perfect Club membership is worth asking about if you'd rather catch a leak on a scheduled visit than notice it on your next bill.
Local Know-How
Why hidden leaks are common in Lexington homes
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service classifies most of Lexington County's ground as Cecil and related soil series, sandy clay loams with a dense clay layer sitting just below the topsoil. That clay expands when saturated and contracts as it dries, and any pipe buried in it takes on that same slow movement year after year.
Slab foundations sit on shifting ground. A large share of homes in the Lexington and Columbia area were built on concrete slabs, with water lines running directly beneath them. When the clay underneath shifts, a supply line can develop a pinhole leak that seeps upward through the slab for months before it's visible as a warm spot on the floor or an unexplained rise in the water bill.
Rainy season hides symptoms longer than usual. The Midlands sees its heaviest rainfall during the region's hurricane season from June through November. Ground that's already saturated from rain can mask a slab leak or yard leak for weeks, since the extra moisture from the leak blends into ground that's already wet.
Older plumbing means more failure points. Homes built before the 1980s in this area often still have original galvanized or copper supply lines. Both materials are prone to pinhole leaks as they age, and because the failure point is usually a single small spot rather than a full break, the leak can run quietly for a long time before anyone notices.
How It Works
Our simple, reliable process
- 1
Call or request service online.
Contact us at (803) 761-9935 or fill out our online form. If a leak is active or worsening quickly, we prioritize same-day scheduling.
- 2
On-site detection.
We use acoustic listening equipment, infrared imaging, and pressure testing to narrow down the leak's location without opening up walls or flooring first.
- 3
Review your findings.
We show you exactly where the leak is and what's likely causing it, along with straightforward pricing for the repair, before any work starts.
- 4
Repair and confirm.
Once you approve the plan, our technicians complete the repair and verify the leak is fully resolved before we leave.
What's included in our leak detection service
A leak detection visit from Dr Rooter is built to find the actual source, not just the closest visible sign of one. Every service call includes:
- Acoustic listening to isolate the sound of water escaping under pressure
- Infrared imaging to spot temperature differences caused by moisture
- Pressure testing to confirm whether a supply line is holding
- Inspection of slab, wall, and underground sections where applicable
- A clear findings report identifying the leak's location and likely cause
- A recommendation for repair, with pricing, before any work begins
We also flag anything else we notice during the inspection, like corrosion or pressure issues elsewhere in the system, even if it's unrelated to the leak you called about.
Built around your needs
Licensed plumbers with real experience. Our technicians are trained on the detection equipment and methods that actually work for Lexington's mix of slab and crawl space construction.
Transparent pricing, no hidden fees. You'll know what the detection visit costs and what any recommended repair costs before we start either one.
Responsive service with accountability. If a leak isn't where we expected or the first fix doesn't hold, we come back and make it right.
Warning Signs
Signs it's time to schedule a leak detection visit
Some leaks announce themselves clearly. Others only show up as a small pattern that's easy to dismiss. Consider scheduling a detection visit if you notice:
- A water bill that's climbed without a clear reason
- A warm or damp spot on the floor, especially on a slab foundation
- The sound of running water when every fixture is off
- A musty smell or unexplained mold in one part of the home
Catching a leak at this stage almost always costs less than waiting for it to become visible on its own.
Membership Program
Ask about the Plumb Perfect Club
Most costly leaks start small and stay hidden for months. The Plumb Perfect Club builds a pressure and moisture check into every scheduled visit, so early leak signs get caught before they turn into a damaged floor or a surprise water bill.
- Priority scheduling ahead of non-member appointments
- Pressure and moisture checks built into every visit
- Discounted rates on any leak repairs an inspection turns up
Our team can walk you through which tier makes sense for your home.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Why choose Dr Rooter
Established since 1999. For more than 25 years, Lexington and Columbia homeowners have called on us to track down and fix leaks other companies couldn't find.
Certified technicians. Our plumbers are trained on acoustic, infrared, and pressure-based detection equipment suited to this area's mix of slab and crawl space homes.
Transparent pricing. Our findings report includes clear costs for any recommended repair, and nothing changes once you've signed off on it.
Locally owned and operated. Dr Rooter is based in Lexington, not dispatched from out of state.
Consistently rated by real customers. 4.9 stars across more than 766 Google reviews.
Where We Work
Proudly Serving the Midlands
Based in Lexington, SC, our trucks cover Columbia, Cayce, Irmo and the surrounding communities. Tap a pin to find your area, or check your address below.
View All Service AreasCommunities Covered
Find the leak before it finds a way to cost you more
A hidden leak doesn't stay hidden forever. It shows up eventually, either as a damaged floor, a mold problem, or a water bill that finally gets your attention. Finding it early with the right equipment is almost always simpler and cheaper than waiting for it to surface on its own.
If detection turns up something structural, our team can also handle the pipe repair or replacement, drain work, or emergency service that follows, all without bringing in a second contractor.
Schedule Service Online
Fill this out and we'll call you back to confirm the details. For an emergency, call (803) 761-9935 instead.