4 Questions to Ask Seattle Leak Detection Companies

There are a host of reasons why you might want to engage the services of a Seattle leak detection company. Perhaps your utility bills are higher than you think they should be. Or you notice evidence of water damage. Or perhaps you just want a survey or leak audit performed on a property.

But how do you know which leak detection company to choose for your job? Before making a decision, here are four questions you should ask.

1. What kinds of leaks do you have experience detecting? You need to make sure that the company is experienced not only in your type of property (residential, commercial, or municipal), but also in the type of leak being discovered. For residences, this means water service lines, pool and hot tub lines, and pipes under concrete. For commercial properties, the company should be as comfortable with finding leaks in apartments and individual units as they are with those in utility and sewer lines. And with municipalities, that expertise should extend to water mains, building supply lines, and fire hydrants as well.

2. What type of equipment do you use? Almost anyone can go digging in search of a leak. But you want a company that can detect a leak while keeping damage to a minimum. So make sure that your Seattle leak detection business uses the latest technology, such as infrared inspection, which can identify leaks in walls and ceilings without the use of a single hammer or cutting tool. If you need utility pipe systems mapped, ground-penetrating radar can perform this task more accurately than metal detectors or other technologies.

3. What type of insurance do you have? All leak detection companies try to be careful when working on a property. But it’s impossible to prevent 100% of the mishaps that may occur during the leak detection process. That’s why it’s vital that a leak detection company maintain proper professional insurance. Otherwise, any accident that takes place could lead to a lawsuit against you as the property owner. You should never worry about offending a contractor when asking about its level of insurance coverage. Truly professional companies won’t mind telling you, and it’s one less thing you have to worry about.

4. What about the price? Like insurance, there’s no reason you should be hesitant to ask about the amount you will be charged for leak detection. This is especially true if you are faced with a leak emergency. While it’s appropriate for a leak detection company to charge an “emergency response fee,” it is unethical to arbitrarily raise prices simply because a customer is in a bind. In these instances, it is wise to “trust your gut” if you suspect that you are being gouged by a company based on your crisis situation.

Photo credits: BasementCleanupLocal, Farther Along