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.
Some drainage problems leak air before they leak water you can see: the sewer smell nobody can locate, the drain that breaches somewhere behind a wall, the mystery connection between a downspout and the sanitary line. Smoke testing answers these — a safe, non-toxic smoke is introduced into the drainage system, and wherever it escapes, that’s your breach, open fitting or failed trap. AnyLeak.ca uses smoke testing alongside camera inspection across BC. Since 1999.
What smoke testing finds
- Sewer odour sources — dried traps, failed wax rings, open cleanouts, cracked vents inside walls — the smell’s actual doorway, located instead of guessed.
- Drain and vent breaches — cracks and open joints that camera heads can’t reach or see, especially in vent stacks.
- Cross-connections — roof drains or perimeter drains tied into the sanitary system (or vice versa), a frequent surprise on older BC properties.
- Illicit or forgotten connections — the abandoned line still tied in somewhere.
How a test runs
Traps are protected or noted, the section is isolated, and smoke is introduced with a blower at a cleanout. Escaping smoke is photographed where it appears — at a baseboard, a rooftop vent, a yard box — and the finding goes in writing. The smoke is non-toxic, non-staining and leaves no residue; occupants are briefed before any test. Pairs with drain & stack leak testing when the symptom is water rather than odour.
Who calls for smoke testing
Homeowners with a smell no plumber has solved; stratas chasing an odour through three units; commercial tenants with a recurring washroom mystery; and facility teams mapping old drainage before renovations.
FAQ
Is the smoke safe indoors? Yes — purpose-made, non-toxic test smoke; we ventilate as part of the procedure.
Will it set off alarms? We coordinate that before testing — detectors are accounted for in the plan.
Camera or smoke first? Water symptoms → camera; air/odour symptoms → smoke. Often both, one visit.
Smell you can’t source? Call (604) 269-5325 for a free phone consult or book a smoke test.
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.
A city’s building code, its typical construction era, and its soil behaviour all leave their fingerprints on the leaks it produces. Reading those fingerprints is what makes an investigation accurate on the first visit.
The investigation is a quiet, methodical process. Instruments are calibrated on site, readings are recorded, and the technician explains what each step is looking for. There is no demolition, no noise beyond the instruments, and no mess left behind.
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
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.
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 produced after a this investigation investigation is written with insurers in mind. It documents the cause, the extent, the methods used, and the readings taken, so the adjuster has everything needed to process the claim.
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.
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.
The written report is the deliverable that separates professional detection from a good guess. It includes the confirmed location, the depth where applicable, the readings, the photographs, the methods used, and an interpretation of the cause and contributing factors.
When to Call
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.
Call when a decision needs documentation: an insurance claim, a real estate transaction, a strata dispute, or a warranty process. Those decisions run on evidence, and the evidence has to exist before the deadline.
How to Prepare the Property
Nothing else needs to be done. The investigation does not require demolition, preparation of the systems, or any work on your part beyond access. Showing up with the history is the whole preparation.
If there is an active leak, the priority is containment: shut off the water at the fixture or main if it can be done safely, move valuables away, and photograph the scene. The technician can be guided by phone while en route.
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.
★★★★★
"We had a roof leak at our warehouse and they were great to work with. They came out quickly and found the problem."
Christo Sypsas
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