Hydrostatic Pressure Testing for Leak Detection
Hydrostatic pressure testing proves whether a system is leaking and isolates which one is responsible — before anyone opens a wall or slab. By pressurising a sealed section of pipe or filling a capped drain and watching for pressure or level loss, we confirm the leak and narrow it to a specific zone, so the follow-up locating work is fast and the excavation is targeted.
What a pressure test proves
A hydrostatic test answers two questions a listening device cannot: is there actually a leak, and which system is it on? That certainty prevents opening the wrong slab or chasing a symptom. It is the diagnostic-confirmation step that de-risks every repair decision.
Pressurised vs. gravity/drain testing
We test both supply and drainage systems with the appropriate method:
Domestic & mechanical water lines
Sections are isolated and pressurised; a pressure drop confirms a leak in that branch.
Sanitary & drain isolation
Drains are capped and filled to a head of water; a falling level confirms a leak and isolates the affected run.
Isolating to a single zone before excavation
By testing branch by branch we narrow a building-wide symptom to one riser, loop or drain run. That isolation is what turns an open-ended search into a targeted locate — saving demolition and downtime.
Then we locate the confirmed leak
Once a test isolates the leaking zone, we deploy acoustic, tracer gas or camera methods to pinpoint the exact spot to open. Confirmation and location together give your contractor a single, precise repair target.
Where this applies
- Recurring slab or sub-slab moisture in commercial buildings
- Pre-purchase and due-diligence investigations
- Insurance-claim confirmation of a leak source
- Industrial and institutional piping verification
What you receive
- Pass/fail confirmation per tested system
- The isolated zone or branch responsible
- Follow-on pinpoint location (with paired methods)
- Report suitable for engineers and insurers
Hydrostatic Pressure Testing across Metro Vancouver & BC
We serve property managers and clients throughout British Columbia — Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Interior.
Frequently asked questions
What does a pressure test tell you that listening can't?
It confirms a leak actually exists and isolates which system it is on. Listening locates noise; a pressure test proves the leak and rules systems in or out.
Will it damage my pipes?
No. We test within safe, code-appropriate pressures for the system and isolate sections so the test is controlled.
Can you test the drains separately from the supply?
Yes. Supply lines are pressure-tested; drains are isolated and water-tested. Testing them separately tells us which system is leaking.
Is this needed for an insurance claim?
Often, yes. A documented positive test establishes the leak source — strong evidence for a claim. We provide the report.
What happens after a positive test?
We pinpoint the confirmed leak with acoustic, tracer-gas or camera methods so your contractor opens one targeted spot.
Confirm the leak before opening a wall or slab — book a pressure test.
LeakInspections.ca — a division of Anyleak.ca and the Leak.ca family. Professional, non-invasive leak detection across British Columbia since 1999. Call 604-239-9934.