Leak Detection and Repair by licensed Orleans, Kanata, and Barrhaven plumbers.
When you need a leak repaired, and you don’t want to destroy your walls, ceilings, and floors in the process, you call John The Plumber.
Since 2006, John The Plumber has been the trusted plumber near you to detect leaks and fix them. Many of our testimonials and reviews are from appreciative customers who used other plumbing services that failed to find the leak’s real source. After that, they called John The Plumber, and they never called anyone else again.
If you’re dealing with a plumbing emergency, then you need an emergency plumber! John The Plumber is ready to help! We’ve got plumbers nearby everywhere in Ottawa!
Call John The Plumber for all your leak problems and we’ll get you fixed up in no time!Jump to the information you're looking for.
While some plumbing leaks are obvious, others can go unnoticed for months.
A hidden leak may first show up as a change in the way your plumbing sounds or performs, damage to surrounding materials, or an unexplained increase in water use. Keeping an eye — and an ear — out for these warning signs can help you catch a possible leak sooner.
Pay attention to sounds that are new or out of the ordinary when faucets, toilets, showers or other plumbing fixtures are being used.
Discolouration, staining or a ceiling that begins to sag can indicate that moisture is collecting above the visible surface.
Water escaping from plumbing can eventually affect flooring and the materials underneath it, even when the source of the moisture isn't immediately visible.
Persistent moisture creates conditions where mold and mildew can develop. If it appears in an area that should normally stay dry, moisture may be getting in from somewhere.
A noticeable reduction in water pressure can be a sign that something has changed within the plumbing system and is worth paying attention to.
If your household habits haven't changed but your water usage has, water may be going somewhere you aren't expecting.
If you've noticed one or more of these warning signs, leak detection can help determine where the water is coming from before the problem causes additional damage.
You do not need to diagnose a hidden plumbing leak before booking a plumber. The useful starting point is what you can safely observe: where the water appears, when it appears, which fixture was being used and whether the water meter continues to move when everything is turned off.
An unexplained increase can come from a running toilet, a dripping fixture, a leaking supply line or another leak that is not immediately visible. Turn off faucets and water-using appliances, then check whether the meter still shows flow. Do not take apart a meter or open finished walls. A plumber can isolate fixtures and inspect the likely supply and drainage points.
If water appears below a bathroom, stop using the shower, tub, sink or toilet most closely associated with the leak. The cause may be a supply connection, drain, overflow, toilet seal or another component. The fact that water appears near a light or ceiling joint does not prove that the leak started directly above that spot.
Stop using the fixture and, if you know which local shut-off controls it and can operate it safely, close that valve. A plumber may need to check the faucet connections, shut-off valves, supply hoses, dishwasher connection, basket strainers, trap and drain piping.
Water at the base can come from a supply connection, tank component, condensation, a failed seal or a damaged toilet. If the leak increases when the toilet is flushed, stop using it until it is assessed. Water showing on the ceiling below the toilet should be treated as an active leak, even when the bathroom floor looks dry.
Water near a hot-water tank may come from the tank, a valve, a connected pipe or nearby equipment. Do not assume the tank itself has failed. Avoid electrical components and arrange an assessment. If you smell gas, leave the area and contact the gas utility or emergency services from a safe location.
The plumber narrows the source by comparing the visible damage with the fixtures, supply lines and drains serving that area. Testing may include operating one fixture at a time, checking shut-off valves and connections, observing the meter, inspecting accessible piping and opening a small access point only when necessary and authorized.
Often, yes. The first goal is to narrow the likely source without unnecessary damage. The exact method depends on whether the suspected leak is in a water supply, drain, fixture, appliance connection or concealed pipe.
No if using it causes more water to appear. Stop using the affected fixture and contain the water if it is safe to do so. Small visible leaks can still damage cabinets, flooring, drywall and the ceiling below.
Yes. Water can leak from the tank into the bowl continuously without appearing on the floor. That wasted water can produce an unexplained increase in usage.
When you notice signs of a leak, it’s important to act fast.
Taking a few simple steps early can help limit water damage and make it easier to deal with the source of the leak.
If it is safe to do so, shut off the water supply to the affected fixture or the main water supply to help stop more water from escaping.
Take pictures of the leak and any visible water damage so you have a record of what happened before cleanup or repairs begin.
If the source is visible, note where the water appears to be coming from. Hidden leaks may require further investigation before the repair can begin.
If the problem is something you are comfortable handling yourself, repair it. Otherwise, call John The Plumber for professional leak detection and repair.
Water can travel along pipes, framing or other building materials before becoming visible, which is why locating the actual source matters before repairs are made.
A few examples of leak repairs completed by John The Plumber.
If you are not sure where the water is coming from, John The Plumber can help locate the problem and complete the appropriate repair.
Some leaks are more common than others and can go unnoticed for longer than you would expect.
To minimize the risk of ongoing leaks causing ongoing damage, we advise you to periodically inspect for:
Bathtub, shower, and sink drain leaks keep plumbers employed.
While water damage in the ceiling will usually be fairly obvious, we advise you to check underneath your sinks from time to time. Make sure to run water while observing, so you can catch a leak in the act!
Traditional Hot Water Tanks store large amounts of water with varying temperatures. The heat and pressure that builds up can decay seals and prompt leaks.
Periodically inspect the hot water tank and the surrounding area, checking the tank’s pressure relief valve, as this is the most common water heater leak source.
Dishwashers are more complex than most plumbing appliances, and several things can cause a leak. Always keep an eye out for puddling around the dishwasher, but also periodically check in the basement under the dishwasher while it’s running. Catching a dishwasher leak early is the key to preventing mould.
Toilets can leak from multiple places, such as the valve, the bowl, and the drain. A pool of water around the toilet is a sure sign that you have a leak, but keep an eye out for water damage and leaking from lower floors as well!
While a leaking faucet is usually safer than most other leaks because of the sink drain underneath, it’s advisable to take care of it sooner than later as any leak is wasteful and expensive over time. Furthermore, faucets can leak at the hose connections, so remember to check under the sink from time to time!
Drain pipes can leak for various reasons, such as loose or worn compression nuts, incorrectly fitted pipes, damaged pipes, water pressure, lousy leak patches, and several other possibilities. While less consistent and pressurized than waterline leaks, drain leaks are used and dirty water, which can be hazardous.
Water supply lines have to deal with constant water pressure and varying water temperatures. Combine this with age, corrosion, or poor plumbing fittings, and you’ll eventually have a water supply leak. These leaks often appear behind drywall, in the ceiling, in floors, and basements.
Unlike most substances, water expands when it freezes. As a result, your pipes are susceptible to bending, damage, and bursting during the cold winter months. We Canadians are no strangers to cold winters!
Properly winterizing your home and plumbing system can save you tons of trouble and money! But we’re here when you need us!
At John The Plumber Kanata and Ottawa, we use advanced plumbing technology and techniques to repair leaks in difficult-to-reach places.
We can identify leaks behind walls or in ceilings, which allows us to repair leaks with minimal damage to your home.
Unfortunately, sometimes a bit of drywall needs to be removed to reach a pipe, but you might be surprised at how small a hole is required!
More often than not, a leaking drain pipe or water pipe can be repaired, or a small section of pipe can be replaced. But if your plumbing system is old and worn, we may advise that it’s time to consider re-piping your plumbing system.
At John The Plumber, we know that this is daunting, and we don’t say it lightly. We will always try and find the best solution that fits your budget, but we’ll always be honest with our recommendations.
If we suspect that your plumbing system is likely to fault, again and again, we may offer to replace your plumbing system with new pipes.
A little awareness around your plumbing can make it much easier to react quickly when something starts leaking.
Know the location of your home’s main water shut-off valve! We advise that you share this information with your family so that they can act in your absence!
Locate shut-off valves for individual fixtures and appliances and consider adding shut-off valves where they should be.
Consider installing a flow sensor or a leak detector. These devices can help prevent a leak from turning into a catastrophic basement flood!
Don’t overstuff cabinets with pipes. Crammed sink cabinets and vanities will block your visibility of potential leaks and risk loosening connections when the lines inevitably get bumped.
Have a plumbing inspection done once in a while by a licensed plumber. Plumbers are trained to identify leaks and potential problems before they happen.
When it comes to your home and plumbing system, you want a professional that you can count on and someone who can fix your problems fast and correctly.
Choosing John The Plumber means choosing:
See what customers have said about their experience with John The Plumber for leak detection and plumbing repairs.
We had a leak under our kitchen sink and called John the Plumber. He arrived the next day with a smile and ready to answer our questions. He was very professional, knowledgable, and kind. Our leak was fixed within the hour and we couldn’t be more pleased with the job done.
I called John the Plumber for urgent service due to a water leak. Michelle was kind enough to arrange for the plumber to come the same day.
This service was amazing. I had them come to help me out with a leak. They even showed up early which was amazing!! They were a great help to me
I had a leak around my kitchen faucet and called john the plumber for help. I was able to get someone to come assess the same day. He did an excellent job replacing the faucet. He was efficient and on time.
Called John the plumber to find mystery water leak from my basement ceiling. John the plumber came quickly and detected where water leak is coming from. he explained the problem and repaired the pipe. Thank you for the reasonable price and great service.
His confidence, as a home owner, is exactly what you need when you have a basement leak! I’ll definitely refer him to my friends.
Got a leak coming from the bathub. He showed up quickly in the timeframe and did an amazing job. Really effective and great price.
We had a nasty leak in our main floor ceiling and called John The Plumber. They arrived, assessed the situation, cut a tiny hole in the ceiling in the EXACT spot the leak was coming from. He repaired the pipe that had come apart in LESS THAN A MINUTE.
Thank you for coming out and fixing my leak so quickly. Was lovely to get a phone call to tell me you were close by, and I appreciate the face mask during the pandemic.
I also had them come in for a leak that had developed on a discharge line in my home. Their employee had it fixed very quickly and cleanly and talked me through everything he was doing.
