Irrigation System Leak Detection in Georgia That Finds Every Hidden Leak
Licensed leak detection for sprinkler and drip systems statewide
Irrigation System Leak Detection in Georgia starts with a simple question: why is your water bill climbing while your lawn stays dry? Our technicians trace broken sprinkler heads, cracked PVC pipe, and failed valves across the entire state. We use acoustic listening gear and thermal imaging to pinpoint the break without tearing up your whole yard. One visit, one clear answer, one repair plan.
What Irrigation System Leak Detection in Georgia Actually Involves
Irrigation System Leak Detection in Georgia is the process of locating water loss inside a sprinkler or drip irrigation network using pressure testing, acoustic listening, and thermal imaging rather than guesswork. A zone valve opens, water flows, and the technician follows the sound of escaping water through soil and turf. We pressurize each zone with a gauge, walk the line with an electronic leak detector, and confirm the break before anyone lifts a shovel. Most residential systems have four to eight zones, and we test every one.
Georgia yards punish irrigation lines. Red clay swells and shifts after heavy rain, then bakes hard in July, cracking PVC pipe and pulling fittings apart at the joints. Fescue and Bermuda roots wrap around drip tubing. From Sandy Springs to Moultrie, homeowners call us when a zone runs but the grass above it stays brown, or when the water bill jumps $60 to $200 in a single month. If you are searching for how to find an irrigation system leak in your Georgia yard, the answer starts with a zone-by-zone pressure test.
Why Georgia Homeowners Book Irrigation Leak Detection
Finding the leak is the cheap part. Letting it run is what costs you. Here is what a proper irrigation leak detection service in Georgia actually saves you.
Stop the Water Bill Bleed
A single broken sprinkler head can waste 15 to 30 gallons a day, which is roughly 450 to 900 gallons a month. At Georgia rates that is $40 to $120 you never see coming. We locate the break in one visit, usually within two hours, so the meter stops spinning before the next billing cycle.
Save the Turf You Paid For
A leak steals pressure from the rest of the zone, so heads at the end of the run spray weak and the grass above them dies in stripes. We map the pressure drop, find the culprit, and restore even coverage. Most lawns recover within three to four weeks once the zone runs at full pressure again.
Avoid Needless Excavation
Digging up a whole zone to hunt a leak destroys sod, beds, and sometimes the driveway edge. Acoustic and thermal tools narrow the break to a two-to-three-foot area before we dig. That means one small patch of turf instead of a trench across the front yard.
Protect Your Foundation and Beds
Irrigation lines run close to foundations, walkways, and retaining walls. A slow underground water leak can soften soil under a slab or drown a flower bed. Finding it early keeps the water where it belongs and keeps a $300 repair from turning into a $3,000 foundation conversation.
How Our Irrigation Leak Detection Process Works
Every job follows the same five steps. You get a clear answer, a written price, and a tested system before we pull out of the driveway.
Phone Intake
You call or book online and tell us what you are seeing: a spinning meter, a soggy patch, a zone that will not hold pressure. We ask for your system type, roughly how many zones, and the last water bill. That takes five to ten minutes and lets us load the right gear before we leave.
Zone Pressure Test
On site, we isolate the backflow preventer and pressurize each zone one at a time with a pressure testing gauge. A zone that drops from 45 psi to 20 psi in under a minute has a leak. We log the numbers for every zone so you can see exactly which run is failing and by how much.
Acoustic and Thermal Sweep
We walk the suspect line with an acoustic leak detection unit and a thermal imaging camera. Escaping water makes a hiss the microphone picks up, and wet soil reads cooler on the infrared camera. Together they narrow the break to a two-to-three-foot window, usually in 30 to 45 minutes per zone.
Confirm and Mark
Before any digging, we confirm the spot with a pipe locator and, when the line is deep, a tracer gas leak detector. We flag the break, photograph it, and show you the reading on screen. You see the evidence, not just our word for it.
Repair and Retest
We cut out the failed section, rebuild it with PVC pipe, CPVC pipe, or PEX tubing and new fittings, then seal the joints with pipe sealant and Teflon tape. The zone goes back under pressure for 15 minutes. If it holds, we backfill, water the patch, and walk you through what happened.
Why Our Irrigation System Leak Detection in Georgia Stands Apart
Plenty of companies will dig first and ask questions later. We do the opposite. Here is what you get when you book with us.
We Find It Before We Dig
Acoustic leak detection equipment, a thermal imaging camera, and a pipe locator go on every truck. We narrow the break to a two-to-three-foot window before a shovel touches your yard. That is the difference between patching one square of sod and re-sodding half a zone.
Statewide Coverage, Local Techs
We run crews across Georgia, from Sandy Springs and Stonecrest to Dublin and Moultrie. Because our technicians live in the regions they serve, they know the soil, the typical system age, and the local water pressure quirks. You are not waiting on a crew from three hours away.
Upfront Pricing, No Surprise Invoice
You get a flat price for the inspection and a separate price for the repair before we start. If the repair is simple, like a cracked riser or a bad valve, it is often $150 to $350. If the line is deep and the break is under a walkway, we tell you that number upfront too.
Licensed, Certified, and Insured
Our team carries the Georgia State Plumbing License, Backflow Prevention Certification, and OSHA Safety Certification. We test backflow assemblies to state code and document every repair. If you need affordable irrigation system leak detection in Georgia without cutting corners on credentials, this is what that looks like.
What Our Irrigation System Leak Detection Includes
Every inspection covers the full irrigation network from the backflow preventer to the last head on each zone. We test, locate, and confirm the break, then quote the repair separately so you decide with real numbers in front of you.
What's Included
Zone-by-Zone Pressure Testing
We isolate and pressurize every zone with a pressure testing gauge, logging the starting and ending psi for each run. A zone that loses more than 15 psi in a minute has a leak. You get the numbers for all zones, not just the failing one.
Acoustic and Thermal Location
An acoustic leak detection unit picks up the hiss of escaping water, and a thermal imaging camera shows the cooler, wet soil above the break. Together they narrow the leak to a two-to-three-foot window, usually in under 45 minutes per zone.
Valve and Backflow Inspection
We check every zone valve for stuck diaphragms, cracked bodies, and leaking solenoids, then test the backflow preventer for proper operation. A failing valve can waste as much water as a broken pipe, and it is a $150 to $300 fix instead of a dig.
Sprinkler Head and Riser Check
Broken heads, cracked risers, and leaking nozzles are the most common irrigation leaks we find. We walk each zone, flag every failed head, and give you a per-head replacement price so you can decide whether to fix them now or in stages.
Written Findings and Repair Quote
You get a one-page summary: which zones failed, where the breaks are, what caused them, and what the repair costs. No vague verbal estimates. If the fix is simple, we can often do it the same visit.
Post-Repair Pressure Retest
After any repair, the zone goes back under pressure for 15 minutes. If it holds steady, we backfill, water the patch, and show you the final gauge reading. You see the system holding before we leave the property.
Irrigation Problems We Solve for Georgia Homeowners
Most irrigation leaks fall into a handful of patterns. Here are the ones we see most across Georgia, and what happens if you let them run.
Water bill spikes with no visible puddle
A hidden underground water leak can waste 450 to 900 gallons a month, adding $40 to $120 to every bill while slowly saturating soil near your foundation.
We pressure test each zone and use acoustic listening to find the break underground. Most hidden leaks sit 8 to 18 inches down and get located in under an hour, then repaired with a targeted dig of two to three square feet.
One zone sprays weak while others run strong
Pressure loss means the far end of the zone gets starved, so grass dies in stripes and you overwater the rest trying to compensate. That shortens the life of every head on the run.
A zone pressure test shows exactly how much psi the run is losing. We trace the drop to a cracked pipe, failed fitting, or broken head, repair it, and retest until the zone holds its original pressure.
Soggy patch that never dries out
Constant moisture drowns roots, breeds fungus, and can soften the soil under a walkway or slab. Left alone for a season, a $300 repair can turn into a $3,000 landscape or foundation job.
We use a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera to map the wet zone, then confirm the source with pressure testing. If it is irrigation, we fix the line. If it is a sewer or slab issue, we tell you and route you to the right service.
Meter spins even with the system off
That points to a leak upstream of the zone valves, often at the backflow preventer or the main supply tee. It runs 24 hours a day and can waste thousands of gallons before you notice.
We isolate the irrigation feed from the main water line and pressure test both sides. The gauge tells us which pipe is losing water, and we repair the failed section with new PVC pipe, fittings, and Teflon tape.
When to Call for Irrigation Leak Detection in Georgia
You got a water bill that jumped $80 or more compared to the same month last year, and nothing else in the house changed.
We run a full zone-by-zone pressure test and acoustic sweep, then check the backflow preventer and main supply tee. Most bill-spike calls trace back to one failed zone or a leaking valve.
You get a located break, a repair quote, and a system that holds pressure. Typical bill savings after repair run $40 to $120 a month.
A section of your lawn stays mushy for days after the sprinklers run, even in the middle of a dry Georgia July.
We map the wet area with a moisture meter and thermal imaging camera, then confirm the source with pressure testing. If it is an irrigation line, we mark the break and repair it the same visit when possible.
The soggy patch dries out within a week, roots stop drowning, and the zone runs at full pressure again.
You are prepping a home for sale and the buyer's inspector flagged the irrigation system for low pressure or a leaking valve.
We inspect every zone, document the findings with gauge readings and photos, and complete the repairs needed to clear the inspection. We provide a written summary you can hand to the buyer's agent.
A documented, pressure-tested irrigation system that clears the inspection and removes a negotiation point from the table.
A zone will not hold pressure at all and water is surfacing in the yard while the system runs.
This is an active line break, so we prioritize it. Our 24/7 irrigation system leak detection service in Georgia routes the closest crew, shuts the zone down, and locates the break with acoustic and tracer gas gear.
The break gets isolated and repaired, usually within 24 hours, stopping the water loss and preventing further damage to the yard.
Tools and Methods We Use to Find Irrigation Leaks
Tools & Equipment
Acoustic Leak Detection Equipment
A ground microphone amplifies the hiss of water escaping a pressurized line. We use it to walk the zone and narrow the break to a two-to-three-foot window before any digging starts.
Thermal Imaging Camera (FLIR)
Wet soil reads cooler than dry soil on infrared. The FLIR camera shows us the damp plume above a buried leak, which confirms the acoustic hit and speeds up location on deep lines.
Pressure Testing Gauge
We pressurize each zone and log the psi drop over 60 seconds. A zone losing more than 15 psi has a leak. The gauge reading is the first hard evidence we collect on every job.
Pipe Locator (Schonstedt, SubSurface Instruments)
These units trace the path of buried PVC and poly pipe so we know exactly where the line runs. That keeps the repair dig small and prevents us from striking a gas or sewer line.
Tracer Gas Leak Detector
For deep lines or stubborn leaks that acoustic gear cannot isolate, we introduce a safe tracer gas and follow it to the surface. It pinpoints the break even when the line sits three feet down.
Video Pipe Inspection Camera (RIDGID, General Pipe Cleaners)
When a leak might be in the sewer lateral rather than the irrigation line, we run a camera through the pipe. The footage tells us whether the water in your yard is clean irrigation water or something worse.
Moisture Meter
A pin-type moisture meter measures water content in soil and turf. We use it to map the wet zone and confirm that the area above a suspected leak is actually saturated before we commit to a dig.
Methods
Zone Isolation Pressure Testing
We close every zone valve, pressurize one zone at a time, and watch the gauge. A zone that cannot hold pressure is the failing run. This method narrows a twelve-zone system down to the one or two bad zones in about 30 minutes, so we are not searching the whole yard.
Acoustic Correlation
Two sensors placed along the pipe listen for the leak sound and calculate the distance to the break based on the time difference. On long runs, correlation gets us within a foot or two, which means a smaller dig and less turf damage.
Thermal Sweep
We walk the zone with the FLIR camera while the system runs. Wet soil shows as a cooler band on screen. The thermal sweep confirms the acoustic hit and shows us how far the moisture has spread underground.
Backflow Prevention Testing
We test the backflow assembly to Georgia code as part of the inspection. A failing backflow preventer leaks continuously and can contaminate the irrigation supply, so it gets checked on every visit.
Post-Repair Pressure Verification
After the repair, the zone goes back under pressure for 15 minutes with the gauge attached. If the reading holds, the fix is confirmed. If it drifts, we keep working until it holds. No repair leaves our truck unverified.
How Irrigation Leak Detection Runs in Georgia
Georgia irrigation systems live in red clay, and red clay moves. It swells after a wet spring, shrinks hard in a dry August, and that cycle pulls fittings apart at the joints. Most of the breaks we find sit 8 to 18 inches down, right where the clay transitions to the sandy subsoil. In metro Atlanta, systems installed in the 1990s and 2000s are still running original PVC manifolds, and those are now hitting the end of their service life. Down in Moultrie and Douglas, sandy soil drains fast, so a leak that would puddle in Decatur can disappear underground and show up only on the meter. We adjust our search method to the soil. In clay, thermal imaging works well because the moisture stays put. In sand, we lean harder on acoustic correlation and tracer gas. Backflow prevention testing follows Georgia code on every job, and our technicians hold the Georgia State Plumbing License. If you need affordable irrigation system leak detection in Georgia, the price depends less on the brand of your system and more on how deep the line sits and what the soil is doing.
Service Areas
Older systems on larger lots with long poly runs, often under mature landscaping. Acoustic correlation works well here because the runs are straight and long.
1920s to 1950s bungalows with tight yards and shallow lines. Breaks tend to show up fast as soggy patches near the foundation.
Newer subdivisions with multi-zone systems and backflow assemblies that need annual testing to Georgia code. Valve failures are common here.
Sandy South Georgia soil drains quickly, so leaks rarely puddle. We rely on pressure testing and tracer gas rather than visual clues.
Clay-heavy soil west of Atlanta that shifts hard between wet and dry seasons, cracking PVC at the joints and pulling fittings loose.
Local Considerations
Red clay expansion and contraction
Clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which stresses pipe joints twice a year. Most cracked fittings we find fail in late summer or early fall after a dry stretch.
Long, hot Georgia summers
Systems run longer and more often from May through September, so leaks waste more water and show up faster on the bill. This is our busiest season for irrigation leak calls.
Freeze events in North Georgia
A hard freeze can crack above-ground backflow assemblies, valves, and exposed risers. We see a spike in calls each winter after the first hard freeze, especially in Sandy Springs and Duluth.
Sandy coastal plain soil
In South Georgia, water drains away from the surface quickly, so leaks hide underground and rarely show a puddle. Pressure testing becomes the primary detection method.
Water Bill Cut in Half After One Repair
A Sandy Springs homeowner saw the monthly water bill climb from $95 to $240 over three months. The lawn looked fine, no puddles anywhere, and two different landscapers could not find the problem. The system had six zones, all running.
We pressure tested all six zones and found zone four dropping from 45 psi to 18 psi in under a minute. Acoustic gear located a cracked PVC fitting under the driveway edge. The repair took two hours and cost $310. The next bill came in at $105.
Maintenance & Follow-up
We recommended a spring pressure check on all zones and a backflow test to Georgia code. Catching a 15 psi drop early keeps a $300 repair from becoming a $900 dig under concrete.
A Decatur homeowner had a 12-foot soggy patch in the front yard that never dried, even with the irrigation off for two weeks. The smell suggested a sewer issue, and a plumber quoted $1,800 to dig up the lateral.
We ran a video pipe inspection camera through the sewer lateral first and found it clean. Pressure testing then showed zone two losing pressure, and thermal imaging located a leaking valve box fitting. The repair cost $285, and the lawn was dry within seven days.
Maintenance & Follow-up
We set the homeowner up with a twice-a-year zone pressure check. Valve box fittings fail quietly, and a $285 fix beats an $1,800 excavation every time.
A Duluth property manager had two of twelve zones losing pressure, and the landscaping was showing dry stripes along the far end of both runs. The owner wanted documentation before approving any repair spend.
We tested all twelve zones, logged the psi readings, and located two breaks with acoustic correlation. Both were cracked risers at sprinkler heads. We replaced the heads, retested both zones to full pressure, and tested the backflow assembly to code. Total repair was $540.
Maintenance & Follow-up
We scheduled quarterly pressure checks and an annual backflow test. Documented readings give the owner a maintenance record and catch failing heads before they kill the landscaping.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irrigation Leak Detection in Georgia
Have questions? We have answers.
Call UsHow much does irrigation system leak detection cost in Georgia?
Most residential inspections run $180 to $450 in 2026, depending on how many zones we test and how deep the lines sit. A simple four-zone system with an obvious break lands near the low end. Larger properties with eight or more zones, or lines under driveways, take longer and cost more. The repair is quoted separately, and common fixes like a broken head or cracked riser add $75 to $300.
What are the signs of an irrigation system leak in Georgia?
The four clearest signs are a water bill that jumps $60 or more in one month, a zone that sprays weak while others run strong, a permanently soggy patch of lawn even in dry weather, and a meter that keeps spinning with every zone shut off. If you see two or more of those, shut the system down at the backflow preventer and book an inspection.
Can irrigation system leak detection find broken sprinkler heads in Georgia?
Yes. A broken sprinkler head is one of the most common leaks we find, and it shows up fast during a zone pressure test. We watch the gauge drop, walk the line with acoustic gear, and confirm the failed head or riser on the spot. Most head replacements take 20 to 30 minutes and cost $75 to $150 installed, including the new nozzle.
Who offers irrigation system leak detection near me in Georgia?
Pro Leak Detection covers the entire state, with technicians based across metro Atlanta, Middle Georgia, and South Georgia. We schedule most inspections within 24 to 48 hours and keep 24/7 irrigation system leak detection service in Georgia available for active line breaks flooding a yard. Call 1-888-682-0578 and we will route the closest crew.
Licensed, Certified, and Proven Across Georgia
Certifications
Reviews
Called about a water bill that doubled in two months. They tested all five zones, found a cracked fitting under the side yard, and fixed it the same day. Showed me the pressure gauge before and after. Bill is back to normal. Highly recommend for anyone in Georgia with a mystery leak.
Professional from the first phone call. The technician explained every step, used a thermal camera to show me the wet spot underground, and gave me a written quote before starting. Repair was $290 and my lawn stopped being soggy within a week. Fair pricing and no upsell.
We manage several rental properties and use Pro Leak Detection for all irrigation issues. They document everything, test backflow assemblies to code, and their reports are clean enough to hand straight to owners. Response time is usually within 48 hours, even for properties outside metro Atlanta.
Had two zones losing pressure and could not figure out why. They used acoustic gear to find both breaks in under an hour and repaired them without tearing up the landscaping. Also tested the backflow preventer while they were here. Exactly what I needed before listing the house.
Other Leak Detection Services We Offer
Water Leak Detection
Irrigation lines tie straight into your main water service, so a leak at the backflow preventer or supply tee often shows up as both. We pressure test the main and the irrigation feed together to confirm which side is losing water before you pay for a repair on the wrong pipe.
Water Leak DetectionPool Leak Detection
Georgia pools and irrigation systems share a lot of plumbing real estate, and a leak near the equipment pad can fool you into thinking the sprinkler zone is at fault. We isolate each system with pressure testing so the repair lands on the right line the first time.
Pool Leak DetectionSlab Leak Detection
Irrigation lines that run close to the house can saturate soil under a slab, which shows up as a warm spot on the floor or a rising water bill. Our thermal imaging camera and moisture meter separate a slab leak from an irrigation leak in about an hour.
Slab Leak DetectionUnderground Leak Detection
Most irrigation breaks happen 8 to 18 inches down, right in the zone where underground water leaks hide. We use acoustic listening and tracer gas to follow the line without trenching the yard, then mark the exact break for a targeted repair.
Underground Leak DetectionPlumbing Leak Detection
When a zone will not hold pressure and the meter still spins with the irrigation shut off, the leak is inside the house plumbing. We test both sides of the system so you are not paying to dig up a yard for a problem behind the drywall.
Plumbing Leak DetectionRoof Leak Detection
Roof leaks and irrigation leaks both drive up water bills, and homeowners sometimes confuse the two after a heavy Georgia storm. Infrared scanning tells us whether the moisture is coming from above or below grade, which keeps the repair budget pointed at the real source.
Roof Leak DetectionGas Leak Detection
Irrigation crews occasionally strike a gas service line while trenching, and the smell or a hissing sound means you call us immediately. Our tracer gas leak detector and electronic leak detector confirm the break and mark it for the utility and the repair crew.
Gas Leak DetectionSewer Line Leak Detection
A soggy lawn can come from a sewer line leak just as easily as an irrigation break, especially in older Georgia neighborhoods. We run a video pipe inspection camera through the lateral to rule out sewage before we commit to an irrigation repair.
Sewer Line Leak DetectionWater Line Leak Detection
The main water line feeds your irrigation manifold, and a slow leak there mimics a sprinkler problem. We pressure test the service line and the irrigation zones separately, so you know exactly which pipe is losing water and what it will take to fix it.
Water Line Leak DetectionWhat Georgia Homeowners Say About Our Leak Detection
Real experiences from customers who chose our Irrigation System Leak Detection services
"My water bill went from $95 to $240 in one month and I had no idea why. Pro Leak Detection tested all six zones and found a cracked PVC fitting under the driveway edge in about 90 minutes. They showed me the pressure drop on the gauge before they dug. Repair was $310 and the bill dropped right back the next cycle."
Marcus T.
Homeowner, Sandy Springs
"Half my front lawn stayed soggy for weeks even with the system off. I figured it was a sewer problem. Their tech ran a video camera and confirmed it was an irrigation line leaking at a valve box. He marked the spot, fixed it the same day, and my yard finally dried out. Fair price and no mess left behind."
Denise R.
Homeowner, Decatur
"We manage a twelve-zone commercial property and had two zones losing pressure. Pro Leak Detection came out within 48 hours, used acoustic gear to find both breaks, and repaired them without tearing up the landscaping. They also tested the backflow assembly to code. That is the kind of documentation I need for the owner."
Raymond P.
Property Manager, Duluth
Book Irrigation System Leak Detection in Georgia Today
One call, one visit, one clear answer. Our licensed technicians carry acoustic and thermal gear on every truck and cover the entire state of Georgia. Call 1-888-682-0578 and we will schedule your inspection, usually within 24 to 48 hours.