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.
Helium tracer gas leak detection injects a helium-nitrogen gas mixture into a pressurised pipe system and uses a highly sensitive surface-scanning detector to identify emergence points above the leak location. Unlike acoustic correlation, tracer gas detection is equally effective on plastic, composite, and metallic pipes, making it the preferred method for plastic water service laterals, geothermal loop piping, in-slab hydronic heating lines, and industrial systems where acoustic methods are limited by pipe material or background noise. AnyLeak provides helium tracer gas leak detection for BC commercial, residential, and industrial clients.
Plastic Service Lateral and Water Line Leak Detection
BC water distribution systems increasingly use HDPE and PVC service laterals that do not transmit acoustic leak signals effectively. Helium tracer gas is injected into the isolated service lateral under low pressure, and a scanning detector surveys the surface above the pipe route, identifying the emergence zone to within 0.3 m of the actual leak. This allows a single targeted excavation rather than extended exploratory trenching along the lateral route.
Geothermal and Ground Source Heat Pump Loop Leak Detection
Geothermal ground loops on BC commercial and residential properties use buried HDPE piping that is difficult to locate and trace with conventional methods. AnyLeak uses tracer gas combined with ground-penetrating radar to locate geothermal loop leak positions and verify loop routing, providing the precise source location needed before any excavation is undertaken in landscaped or improved site areas.
In-Slab Hydronic Heating Leak Detection
In-floor radiant heating systems embedded in concrete slabs develop leaks at fitting connections and from PEX pipe failures under slab movement or overheating. Acoustic correlation is less reliable on plastic heating lines under a concrete slab. AnyLeak uses helium tracer gas to locate in-slab radiant heating leaks, identifying the specific zone for targeted slab core access rather than requiring extensive exploratory concrete cutting.
Industrial and Process Pipe Leak Detection
Industrial process piping in BC manufacturing, food processing, and chemical handling facilities uses a range of metallic and plastic materials where conventional acoustic methods may be limited by background noise levels or pipe material. Helium tracer gas provides reliable leak location in challenging industrial environments, including buried or concealed piping and systems carrying fluids that would make acoustic detection unreliable.
Why BC Facilities Choose AnyLeak
- Non-invasive acoustic, thermal, and GPR methods — no unnecessary demolition
- Certified leak detection specialists serving BC since 1999
- Written reports for insurance, strata, engineering, and regulatory use
- Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, and beyond
Contact AnyLeak at (604) 269-5325 or info@anyleak.ca to schedule an assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is helium safe for use near occupied buildings?
Yes. The helium-nitrogen tracer gas mixture used for leak detection is non-toxic and non-flammable. Helium dissipates rapidly and presents no hazard to building occupants.
Can helium tracer gas be used on active water distribution piping?
The pipe section must be isolated and depressurised before tracer gas is injected. We coordinate the isolation sequence with your water utility or building plumber.
How accurate is helium tracer gas location compared to acoustic correlation?
Helium tracer gas typically locates leak emergence to within 0.3 m on plastic pipe, which is comparable to or better than acoustic correlation accuracy on metallic pipe. The key advantage is its effectiveness on plastic and composite pipes where acoustic correlation is less reliable.
Can you detect a geothermal loop leak without knowing the loop layout?
GPR is used in combination with tracer gas when the loop layout is unknown — GPR maps the loop route and tracer gas identifies the leak position along it.
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.
The best detection work is done by people who have seen the region’s buildings and buried systems fail in every common way. That experience is what turns a set of readings into a confident, cross-verified answer.
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
A fourth mistake is hiring a repair contractor to find the leak. Contractors are paid to repair, and their interest is in the work, not in the precision of the location. An independent detection team has no repair to sell, only an answer to deliver.
What This Costs
Most property-level investigations in British Columbia are quoted as a fixed fee once the situation is understood. The quote covers the technician’s time, the instruments, the investigation, and the written report.
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.
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.
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
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.
The report is written in plain language first and professional language second. Owners read the conclusion and the cause; contractors and adjusters read the method notes and the readings. Both are in the same document.
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 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.
How to Prepare the Property
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.
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.
Related Services and Locations
The same standards apply across every service and every community we serve. The links below point to the service pages, city pages, and the site resources most relevant to this topic.
- Water Leak Detection Services in BC
- Underground Water Leak Detection
- Hydrostatic Pressure Testing
- Building Envelope Leak Detection
- Moisture Detection
- Our Guarantee
- How Leak Detection Works
- Reviews
- Contact AnyLeak
Internal links help visitors move between related services and communities, and they help search engines understand how the site’s pages relate to each other.
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.
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