For plumbing & leak detection companies
Leak Detection Equipment for Plumbers
Stop walking away from the leaks you can’t hear. Hydrogen tracer gas leak detection finds buried water leaks in plastic pipe, under slabs, in low-pressure lines and beneath pool decks — the jobs where acoustic equipment comes up empty. It turns “we couldn’t find it” into a billable leak location.
Sound familiar?
The plastic pipe problem
PVC, PEX and poly lines barely carry leak noise. Your ground mic hears nothing, and the customer still has a high water bill.
The low-pressure line
Not enough pressure to make an audible leak — so acoustic methods have nothing to work with.
The slab or driveway guess
Breaking concrete in the wrong spot costs you time, materials and the customer’s trust.
The noisy site
Traffic, pumps and HVAC equipment drown out the sound you’re listening for.
The deep or long run
Main service lines, irrigation and long yard runs make it hard to narrow the search.
The job you hand off
Every leak you refer to a specialist is revenue — and often the repair — walking out the door.
How hydrogen tracer gas finds leaks you can’t hear
Instead of listening for a leak, you trace it. The isolated line is filled with a safe, non-flammable blend of 5% hydrogen and 95% nitrogen. Hydrogen is the smallest, lightest molecule there is, so it escapes through the leak and rises straight up through soil, asphalt and concrete. At the surface, a sensitive hydrogen detector picks it up and leads you to the spot.
- Doesn’t depend on leak noise — works on plastic pipe, low pressure and noisy sites.
- Reads through hard surfaces — concrete, asphalt and pavers, through cracks, joints or small bar holes.
- Safe for potable water — the 5/95 mix is non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-flammable.
- Low-cost, easy-to-find gas — sold by industrial and welding gas suppliers as “forming gas.”
- Confirms what other tools miss — customers report a 92% correct-location rate with H2Leak equipment.
Hydrogen tracer gas vs. acoustic leak detection
Acoustic equipment is a great first tool. Hydrogen tracer gas is what you reach for when acoustics can’t get the job done — and many contractors carry both.
| Acoustic (ground mic / correlator) | Hydrogen tracer gas | |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic pipe (PVC, PEX, poly) | Often weak or no signal | Works well — no noise needed |
| Low-pressure lines | Limited | Works at low test pressure |
| Noisy environments | Background noise interferes | Unaffected by noise |
| Under slabs & pavement | Possible, but sound is muffled | Hydrogen rises through to the surface |
| Very small leaks | May be too quiet to hear | Highly sensitive to small leaks |
| Setup | Quick on pressurized metal pipe | Isolate, fill with tracer, allow time to migrate |
Plumbing jobs you can take on
Main water service lines
Locate leaks between the meter and the house — including long plastic runs under lawns and driveways.
Slab leaks
Pinpoint leaks under concrete floors so you open the slab once, in the right place.
Pool & spa plumbing
Trace return, suction and skimmer line leaks beneath decks and pavers.
Irrigation & fire lines
Find leaks in long, low-pressure plastic systems that defeat acoustic tools.
Commercial & industrial lines
Process water, plastic pipelines and multi-tenant properties where shutting down to dig blindly is costly.
Municipal & utility work
Service connections and distribution lines for cities and water departments. See underground applications →
The equipment: Hydro-Lokâ„¢ underground leak detector
The Hydro-Lok was built for plumbers and leak-detection crews — the sensitivity of industrial hydrogen detectors in a compact, truck-ready unit.
- Cone tip for scanning ground surfaces; pinpoint tip for cracks, joints and bar holes
- 3-level sensitivity — scan wide, then dial in to the leak
- Graduated display with rising alert tone as you close in
- Field-replaceable flex hose and hydrogen sensor
- USB-C rechargeable
- 12-month warranty
What you need to get started
- Hydro-Lok detector
- 5% Hâ‚‚ / 95% Nâ‚‚ tracer gas cylinder from your local industrial or welding gas supplier
- Regulator and hose/fittings to connect to a hose bib, meter or line opening
- Bar or probe for small test holes through hard surfaces (optional)
We help new customers set up their first jobs and can ship hoses and fittings so you can start right away.
How a tracer gas leak locate works on the job
- Isolate the suspect line and drain or reduce the water where practical.
- Introduce tracer gas (5% Hâ‚‚ / 95% Nâ‚‚) through a hose bib, meter or line opening at a safe test pressure for the pipe.
- Give it time to migrate from the leak up through the soil or slab — usually longer for deeper lines and dense surfaces.
- Scan the pipe route with the cone tip on high sensitivity to find the area of strongest reading.
- Pinpoint by stepping down the sensitivity and using the pinpoint tip in cracks, joints or small bar holes.
- Mark and repair , then re-test the line to confirm the leak is fixed.
What plumbers and leak-detection pros say
“Twenty years of leak detection with acoustic and pipe-locating equipment, and the Hydro-Lok still finds leaks those methods can’t. It’s been standard equipment on the truck for three years now.”
Dave Weeks , Dave Weeks Plumbing, Lakeland, FL“A plastic pipeline, 5 ft underground, only 6 PSIG to work with — acoustic methods weren’t going to find this one. The Hydro-Lok narrowed the leak to within a 6 ft radius.”
Jon Watson , Production Engineer, Evonik Industries AG“The H2Leak Hydrogen Leak Detector product has proved wonders for my business, finding leaks others miss and locating them more quickly.”
Osborne’s Pool Leak DetectionSimply Leak Detection in Washington State has used the Hydro-Lok since 2012.
Watch the Hydro-Lok in action →Will it pay for itself? Run your numbers
Leak location is a service you can bill on its own — and the repair that follows usually stays with you instead of going to another company. Enter your own figures below.
Example values only — use your local rates. Does not include the repair work that often follows a successful locate. More on ROI for plumbing companies →
Questions plumbers ask
What is the best leak detection equipment for plumbers?
Most plumbing companies that offer leak location carry an acoustic ground microphone for pressurized metal pipe and a hydrogen tracer gas detector for everything acoustics struggles with — plastic pipe, low-pressure lines, noisy sites and leaks under slabs or pavement. Together they cover nearly every water leak you’ll be called to find.
Can hydrogen tracer gas find leaks in plastic water lines?
Yes. Tracer gas doesn’t rely on leak noise, so it works on PVC, PEX and polyethylene pipe where acoustic equipment often hears little or nothing.
Is tracer gas safe to put in drinking water lines?
The standard 5% hydrogen / 95% nitrogen mix is non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-flammable, and is widely used on potable water lines. Flush the line normally after testing.
Can it find a slab leak through concrete?
Yes. Hydrogen moves up through concrete and escapes at cracks, joints and edges. For thick or sealed slabs, small test holes help you pinpoint the strongest reading.
Where do I get the tracer gas?
Industrial and welding gas suppliers stock it. Ask for 5% hydrogen / 95% nitrogen, sometimes called forming gas, and use a regulator suited to your test pressure.
How long does a tracer gas locate take?
It depends on pipe depth, soil and surface type. Shallow lines in open soil can read quickly; deep lines or dense surfaces need more time for the gas to migrate. Many jobs are completed in a few hours.
Is it hard to learn?
No. If you can follow a pipe route, you can run a tracer gas locate. We help new users set up and talk through their first jobs.
Can I use pure hydrogen?
No. Use only the 5% hydrogen / 95% nitrogen tracer mixture. The Hydro-Lok is not explosion-proof and must never be used in hazardous or explosive atmospheres.
Add leak location to your plumbing business
Tell us the kinds of leaks you’re being called for, and we’ll help you decide whether hydrogen tracer gas fits your work — and what it takes to get started.
H2Leak · 233 Arnold Mill Road, Suite 300, Woodstock, GA 30188 · 770-479-7138