Direct Answer
AnyLeak provides leak and moisture detection services in British Columbia using non-invasive methods — acoustic correlation, tracer gas, thermal imaging, and moisture metering — to find leaks without digging or damage. Every inspection includes a written, insurance-ready report. Call (604) 269-5325 for a free phone consult.
🔄 Reviewed and maintained by the AnyLeak team — October 2026. Rated 5 stars by BC customers.
The water main — the buried supply line that runs from the city connection or curb stop to your building — is one of the most expensive places to have a leak and one of the hardest to find. It’s underground, often beneath a driveway, lawn or slab, and a leak can run for weeks before anyone notices. AnyLeak.ca has located buried water-line leaks across British Columbia since 1999, using non-invasive equipment so you dig one small spot instead of trenching the whole yard.
Signs of a water main or service-line leak
- A water bill that climbs with no change in usage
- Low or dropping water pressure at fixtures
- Soft, wet or unusually green patches in the yard or boulevard
- The sound of running water when no fixture is on
- The water meter creeping or spinning with everything shut off
- Sinkholes, settling or eroding soil along the service-line route
How we locate buried main leaks
Finding a buried leak is about listening to the pipe and confirming the spot before excavation:
- Acoustic leak correlation. Sensors placed on the line at two points measure the sound of escaping water and calculate the leak position between them. See acoustic leak detection.
- Ground microphones. Highly sensitive listening confirms the loudest point directly over the leak.
- Tracer gas. An inert, safe tracer gas is introduced into the line and rises to the surface at the breach. See pressure and tracer gas detection.
- Pressure and step testing. Isolating sections of the system confirms which run is losing water.
- Line locating. We map the route and depth of the line first, so detection — and any digging — is precise. See underground leak detection.
These methods work on copper and other metal mains as well as PE/poly and PVC plastic service lines, which are common on newer BC properties and call for correlation techniques tuned for plastic.
Residential, strata and commercial mains
We locate leaks on single-family service lines, shared strata and commercial mains, irrigation feeds and fire-line supplies. On larger sites, pinpointing the leak on a long buried run can save a great deal of excavation and disruption.
Why pinpointing matters
A water main leak that’s “somewhere in the yard” can mean an open trench from the house to the street. Accurate location means a contractor digs at the leak, repairs it, and backfills — protecting your landscaping, driveway and budget.
What to expect
Our leak detection process begins with the symptoms and the layout of your property, followed by an on-site survey with the right combination of acoustic, tracer-gas and pressure methods, and a clear report marking the leak location. Documentation supports insurance claims where applicable.
Where we work
Water main leak detection is available across Metro Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan — see all service areas.
Frequently asked questions
Can you find the leak without digging? Yes — location is non-invasive. Excavation only happens at the confirmed spot, for the repair.
My service line is plastic — can you still locate it? Yes. Plastic mains are quieter than metal, so we use correlation and tracer-gas techniques suited to them.
Who repairs the main after you find it? We pinpoint the leak and document it; your plumber or contractor can then excavate and repair the exact location.
Is the tracer gas safe? Yes — it’s a non-toxic, inert gas blend used widely for leak location.
To locate a water main or service-line leak anywhere in BC, call (604) 269-5325 or request an assessment.
A Closer Look at This Service
Hidden water is the most common source of expensive damage in British Columbia homes and buildings. It works silently for weeks or months, and by the time it becomes visible, the repair bill is measured in thousands rather than hundreds.
Every city in British Columbia presents its own combination of soil, climate, construction stock, and water systems, and detection work has to respect those differences. The plan is built accordingly.
The technician works methodically through the checklist, explaining each step as it happens. Questions are welcome at every stage, and the approach is adjusted when the evidence points in a new direction.
How the Investigation Is Delivered
Every investigation follows the same disciplined sequence: consultation, survey, testing, cross-verification, marking, and documentation. The sequence is deliberate, and each step builds on the last.
- Step 1: Consultation to understand the situation and the history
- Step 2: Site survey and indicator mapping
- Step 3: Testing of the suspected systems with matched methods
- Step 4: Cross-verification of the finding
- Step 5: Marking and documentation
- Step 6: Written, dated report
The most common mistake is waiting: waiting for the stain to dry, waiting for the bill to settle, waiting for the leak to announce itself. Water does not wait, and every week of waiting grows the repair scope.
What This Costs
Pricing for this service in British Columbia depends on the scope of the investigation: the systems to be tested, the size of the property, and whether the finding is confirmed with a second method. A fixed quote is provided before any work begins, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Every property is different, which is why pricing follows the investigation plan rather than a menu. The free consultation defines the scope, and the fixed quote follows it. What you are quoted is what you pay.
Insurance and Documentation
The report also protects the policyholder. When the cause is documented at the time of the loss, there is no later dispute about what was found, when it was found, or what the condition was.
Insurance claims fail most often because of missing documentation. A dated, photographed, method-by-method report removes that failure point and gives the adjuster a professional document they can rely on.
What the Report Includes
You keep the report. It documents the finding, the condition at the time of the investigation, and the guidance for the repair, which is useful for warranty, insurance, and future reference.
Reports are dated and structured so that any licensed contractor can take the marked location and proceed directly to the repair. They are also accepted by insurers, engineers, property managers, and, when needed, in dispute processes.
When to Call
Call when the indicator is persistent, when it repeats after a repair, or when it is accompanied by a second indicator. A single passing event can be a coincidence; a pattern is a leak.
Call when a repair contractor cannot find the source. Blind replacement of pipe, membrane, or roofing is expensive, and it fails when the true cause is elsewhere. The investigation answers the question the contractor could not.
How to Prepare the Property
The best preparation is information: when the issue started, what changed around that time, what the weather did, and what has already been tried. That history is often more valuable than any instrument.
Clear access to the meter, the main shut-off, the water heater, and the areas showing indicators speeds the investigation. A cleared path saves the technician’s time, which is your time on the quote.
Common Questions
Is this service non-invasive?
Yes. Every method used works from the surface and leaves no marks. Nothing is cut, dug, or permanently marked during the investigation.
How accurate is the location?
With cross-verified methods, locations are typically within a metre or less, and slab locations within inches.
Is the report useful for insurance?
Yes. The report documents the cause, the extent, the methods used, and the readings, structured for claims and engineering review.
How long does an investigation take?
Most property-level investigations complete within a day, and the written report follows within one to two business days.
Do you repair leaks?
No. Detection and documentation are the service. The report guides the repair contractor to the exact location.
What does this cost?
The quote is fixed before work begins, based on the scope defined in the free consultation. What you are quoted is what you pay.
Call (604) 269-5325 or email info@anyleak.ca for a free consultation. The report is dated, documented, and written to the standard insurers and engineers expect.
★★★★★
"I recently hired AnyLeak for leak repairs on my roof and deck canopy, and I couldn't be happier with the results."
Trevor Houston
Google Review