More leak issues...

So I've been trying to diagnose a leak issue I've been having for awhile.

I've been trying to fix some leaks in my house, but haven't found them all yet. Right now, I'm leaking probably around 20 gallons a day. Not much, I know. But I understand that you should leak 0.

I've done some Internet searching, but the solutions seem kind of hocus-pocus. I saw one website advertising some sort of infrared leak detection system.

I have a shutoff valve before my water softener. That disables all the interior plumbing. However that does not stop the leak. I have checked all the valves outside and they all seem to be in working order. This leads me to believe the leak is either outside underground or, worse, on the slab.

What's the best way to handle this? Should I just live with the leak? Are there methods to find it short of digging up a yard?

Thanks!

20 gallons a day is a huge amount to leak. Wherever it is,it is quite likely to eventually damage something. Find a good leak detection company. They use ultrasonic type detection equipment, and can usually figure it out.

jimbo said:

20 gallons a day is a huge amount to leak. Wherever it is,it is quite likely to eventually damage something. Find a good leak detection company. They use ultrasonic type detection equipment, and can usually figure it out.

Click to expand...

So I called one leak detection company and they quoted me $450, with no guarantees. Seems awfully steep for maybe an hours worth of work.

Is that the standard rate for this sort of service? Surely there's a cheaper way.

Call around. Here, the company I use only charges $150.00 for locating a residential leak, regardless of how long it takes. Make sure the company you call is a "leak locating specialist, NOT a plumber who does leak detection. $450 is a lot for an hour's work, but small leaks CAN take a lot more time than that, and you are not paying for just the time, but the "experience" of the technician, the "overhead" of the equipment used, and often the "materials" such as CO2 and/or Helium which is injected into the pipes to pinpoint the source of the leak. DO NOT waste time and money buying ANY equipment to try to find a small leak like that yourself. It WILL NOT work.