Tracing a pipe leak

[fredpuli47]

There's a leak somewhere in the ceiling/ floor space in a house I have (unoccupied). We know where the water is coming in (more than one place, but primarily one) but we don't where it's coming from. Is there a way that a plumber can trace the leak without first having to take up the floorboards etc for,possibly the length of the house to find it. ? Or is it simply a question of going above where most water is coming into the room(s) ?.

[S_C]

following the trail of water is the only way

[buildersmate]

Agree. I've had situations where a small leak has run horizontally down the outside of a pipe to drip off some distance (3 feet) from the actual leak. Also leaks often manifest themselves on the ceiling as a wet patch at the joint between 2 plasterboard sheets - not at the point of the dripping.

[fredpuli47]

Thanks. It sounds from what you say, BM. that the leak won't be far from the signs of entry.That's a relief.

[Naomicorlett]

You could try a listening rod (Dont know it's proper name ) but my dad used a piece of metal one end held against bone behind ear and the other on floor to hear the sound of a leak in a solid floor . Hmm would it work on wood ? dont know but worth a try to find out. Good luck. We did fino under wooden floor by crawling around tonto style.

[fredpuli47]

Naomi, that's exactly what I was thinking . But, from what's been said, it looks as though the leak must be very near the evidence of it so, with any luck, such a device won't be needed. I remember now, years ago the Water Board used one to detect and then locate the source of a loss of water in this village, but they had less to go on and a much bigger area to search ! Thanks.

[S_C]

if the leak was fast enough to make enough noise this could help locate it . however if we are talking in a ceiling which is basicly a hollow space where noise can travel " unhindered" and a possible slow leak which is making not much noise other than the drip as it drops from the pipe to the ceiling below then as stated by buildersmate if the pipe is dripping at a distance from the actual leak then it could give you a false location.
it is not likely that the water has travelled that far a distance in a ceiling area anyway anymore than a few foot in distance in a modern house is unlikely before it starts to show on the ceiling below.