Our Reviews
You get your water bill and it’s double what it should be. Or you notice that damp spot on the ceiling that wasn’t there last week. Maybe it’s the musty smell in the basement that’s getting stronger.
These aren’t just minor inconveniences. In South Shore’s older homes, hidden leaks turn into major problems fast. The galvanized pipes and aging infrastructure common in our neighborhood can fail without warning, sending water into places it shouldn’t go.
When we find and fix your leak early, you avoid the real headaches. No more surprise flooding. No more mold growing behind your walls. No more watching your property value drop because of water damage that could have been prevented.
All Rooter Hydro Jetting Experts Inc. has been serving Chicago-area homeowners for years, and we understand what makes South Shore properties unique. The beautiful bungalows and historic homes built in the 1910s and 1920s weren’t designed for today’s water demands.
We’ve seen it all in this neighborhood. Lead service lines that need careful handling. Galvanized pipes that look fine on the outside but are corroded within. Slab leaks that develop as these century-old foundations settle and shift.
That’s exactly why we invested in professional-grade thermal imaging and acoustic detection equipment. Your home’s character stays intact while we locate problems with precision that wasn’t possible even a few years ago.
First, we listen. Our acoustic equipment picks up the sound of water escaping from pressurized pipes, even when it’s behind walls or under concrete slabs. These devices can detect leaks within a few centimeters of their actual location.
Next, we look with thermal imaging cameras that show temperature differences caused by water leaks. Hot water leaks show up as warm spots, while cold water creates cooler areas. This technology works through walls, floors, and ceilings without any damage to your property.
Once we’ve pinpointed the exact location, we mark it clearly and explain exactly what we found. You’ll know where the problem is, how serious it is, and what it’ll take to fix it before we do any repair work.
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Underground water line leaks are especially common in South Shore because of our clay soil conditions and the age of the infrastructure. Tree roots from the mature trees that line our streets often find their way into older pipes, creating slow leaks that can go undetected for months.
Slab leaks happen when pipes under your concrete foundation develop problems. In homes built before modern plumbing codes, these pipes weren’t designed to handle today’s water pressure and usage patterns. We use specialized equipment to locate these without breaking up your floors.
Wall leaks are tricky because they can cause significant damage before you notice them. Our thermal imaging catches the temperature changes that indicate moisture behind drywall, plaster, or brick walls common in South Shore’s historic homes.
Thermal imaging technology has advanced significantly and now achieves up to 95% accuracy in detecting underground leaks up to 750mm deep. For hot water leaks, the accuracy is even higher because the temperature difference is more pronounced.
In South Shore’s older homes, this technology is particularly valuable because it works through the thick brick walls and plaster common in 1910s-1920s construction. The cameras detect temperature variations as small as a few degrees, which means we can find even small leaks before they become major problems.
The main limitation is with very small cold water leaks in certain building materials, but we combine thermal imaging with acoustic detection to ensure we don’t miss anything important.
Absolutely. That’s exactly why we invested in advanced leak detection technology instead of relying on traditional methods that require breaking through walls and floors.
Our acoustic equipment listens for the distinctive sound water makes when it escapes from pressurized pipes. These devices are sensitive enough to detect leaks within centimeters of their actual location, even through South Shore’s thick brick and plaster construction.
Combined with thermal imaging that shows us temperature differences through walls and floors, we can pinpoint leak locations with remarkable precision. This means we only open up the exact spot that needs repair, preserving your home’s historic character and saving you from unnecessary restoration work.
Most residential leak detection inspections in South Shore take between 1-3 hours, depending on the size of your home and the complexity of the suspected leak.
Our thermal imaging equipment can scan large areas in minutes, which is much faster than traditional methods. The acoustic detection process takes a bit longer because we systematically check different areas, but it’s still much quicker than the old approach of testing multiple locations by breaking through walls.
If we find a leak, we’ll mark the location immediately and can often provide a repair estimate on the spot. For underground leaks or complex situations, we might need to schedule a follow-up visit, but you’ll know exactly what we found and what the next steps are before we leave.
Galvanized steel pipes are the biggest concern in South Shore’s older homes. These were commonly used until the 1960s and corrode from the inside out, leading to restricted water flow and eventual leaks. Many homes in our neighborhood still have these original pipes.
Lead pipes are another issue, especially in homes built before 1930. While many have been replaced, some sections often remain, particularly the service lines connecting to the street. These can develop leaks and pose health risks.
Cast iron drain pipes, common in homes from the 1910s-1940s, become brittle over time and can crack or collapse. We also see problems with copper pipes that were installed with lead solder, and even some PVC that was added during renovations but wasn’t properly connected to the older systems.
Yes, we provide 24/7 emergency leak detection throughout South Shore and the greater Chicago area. Water emergencies don’t wait for business hours, and neither do we.
Emergency situations include burst pipes, major slab leaks causing flooding, or any leak that’s actively damaging your property. We carry our thermal imaging and acoustic equipment on every emergency call, so we can locate the problem quickly even in urgent situations.
For non-emergency situations like gradually increasing water bills or minor damp spots, we can usually schedule service within 24 hours. But if you’re dealing with active water damage or a situation that’s getting worse rapidly, call us immediately and we’ll dispatch a technician to your South Shore location.
Our leak detection service starts with a comprehensive inspection using both thermal imaging and acoustic equipment. We provide upfront pricing before we begin any work, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
The cost varies based on the complexity of the job and the size of your property, but most residential leak detection services in South Shore fall within a predictable range. If we find a leak and you choose us for the repair, we often apply the detection fee toward the repair cost.
What’s important to understand is that professional leak detection typically saves money in the long run. Finding a leak early with our non-invasive methods costs much less than dealing with water damage, mold remediation, or major structural repairs that result from undetected leaks in older homes.
