Pipe failures range from a slow pinhole leak weeping inside a wall to a full main line rupture. Locating the failure precisely โ before opening drywall or digging โ is the skill that separates a clean, affordable repair from an expensive and destructive guessing operation. Masters Plumbing Service's pipe technicians in Pullman, WA use acoustic listening devices and thermal imaging cameras to find the leak first, then open only what needs to be opened.
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The biggest cost variable in pipe repair isn't parts โ it's how much structure gets opened to find and access the failure. Precise pre-repair location tools reduce that cost significantly.
Pressurized water escaping a pipe creates a characteristic acoustic signature. Our listening devices amplify ground and structure-borne sound to pinpoint a leak location within inches โ through concrete slabs, behind drywall, or under flooring. This means we open only the section of wall, floor, or slab directly over the failure.
We use thermal imaging as a complement to acoustic detection โ particularly useful for slab leaks and leaks inside insulated wall cavities where sound transmission is reduced.
Press-fit copper connections โ particularly useful for repairs in occupied spaces where open flame is a concern โ are available as an alternative to torch sweating where code permits.
Every supply line repair is pressure-tested before we close the wall or floor. We pressurize the repaired section, hold the test pressure for the required duration, and confirm zero drop before considering the repair complete. You don't find out there's a second leak next week โ we find it before we pack up.
From a pinhole copper leak behind a kitchen cabinet to a full galvanized repiping, our pipe crew in Pullman, WA handles the full range.
Copper failures most often involve pinhole corrosion in soft copper tubing from aggressive water chemistry, failed soldered joints, or fatigue cracks at fittings in high-vibration locations. We locate the failure precisely, cut out the failed section, and install either a sweated repair coupling or a press-fit connector โ both rated to ASTM B88 standards for potable water service.
Galvanized steel pipe was standard in homes built before the 1960s. It corrodes from the inside out โ zinc coating depletes, iron oxide (rust) accumulates on the inner wall, progressively narrowing flow and leaching into the water supply. Repairs on severely corroded galvanized are generally temporary; the pipe is failing systemically along its full run.
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) is the current standard for residential supply piping. Failures are uncommon but occur at crimp or clamp fittings that were improperly installed, at pipe runs exposed to UV degradation, or at locations where the pipe was kinked during installation. We repair using expansion fittings (for PEX-A) or crimp fittings with the correct ring size for the pipe diameter.
We also inspect upstream of the burst for additional sections that froze but haven't yet failed โ because a partially-thawed line sometimes shows multiple failure points only after pressure is restored.
Supply line leaks under a concrete slab are identified by acoustic detection and confirmed by thermal imaging. Once located, we evaluate three repair options: direct-access repair (jackhammering to the pipe, repairing the section, and patching the slab); rerouting the line through the wall framing above slab to bypass the failed underground run; or epoxy pipe lining for older copper systems with systemic pinhole corrosion.
A full repipe in Pullman typically completes in 2โ3 days for a standard single-family home. You're without water for a portion of each day; we plan the schedule to minimize disruption to occupied rooms.
We don't open walls at random. Acoustic and thermal detection tools tell us exactly where to cut before we pick up a saw.
Active leak? Our dispatcher walks you through shutting off the main supply valve while we drive to you. Describing what you see โ water stain on a ceiling, drop in water pressure, wet flooring โ helps us arrive with the right detection tools loaded.
This detection step routinely saves homeowners $500โ$2,000 in unnecessary drywall removal compared to opening walls speculatively.
You receive a flat-rate quote covering the specific repair based on what the detection confirmed. We open only what needs to be opened โ typically a 12โ18 inch drywall or flooring access, not a full wall section.
Repair executes immediately on approval. After the repair, we repressurize and hold a pressure test to confirm the failure is fully resolved โ not partially. The access opening is left clean for your drywall patch or left ready for your contractor.

Water stain appeared on my kitchen ceiling from the bathroom above. I expected them to tear up the entire bathroom floor. Instead the tech ran a pressure test, found a 12% pressure drop over 10 minutes, then used the acoustic device and identified the leak at a failed sweat joint in the copper supply to the toilet โ accessible through a 14-inch drywall cut in the ceiling below. Repair was maybe $280 including the detection. I'd been dreading a $2,000 floor demo.
Had an under-slab leak diagnosed by Masters Plumbing Service with acoustic equipment. They found the leak at 6 feet from the wall โ a single copper elbow that had developed a pinhole. Presented three options: direct slab access, reroute through the wall framing above, or copper lining. I chose the reroute โ they ran a new PEX line through the crawl space and connected at both ends without touching the slab. Pressure tested, verified no remaining drop. No jackhammering at all.
I noticed my water meter spinning with all fixtures off โ confirmed a leak in the supply system. Masters Plumbing Service ran a pressure test and acoustic scan, found a pinhole in a copper section under the slab in the utility room. They rerouted the line through the wall above slab, tested, and closed out the permit. The reroute was exactly the same cost as direct slab access would have been, but no damaged floor tile.

Masters Plumbing Service dispatches pipe repair technicians throughout Pullman and the broader Pullman, WA service area. Same-day service is available on most calls. Emergency burst pipe response is available 24 hours a day.

Active pipe leaks compound fast โ mold growth can begin in 24โ48 hours of sustained moisture. Masters Plumbing Service's pipe repair crew is in Pullman today, equipped with acoustic and thermal detection tools to find the failure precisely before anything is opened.
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