Leak detection locates water escaping somewhere you cannot see — inside walls, under floors, below a slab or in the buried service line — using meter testing, pressure isolation and acoustic equipment. Main water shutoff work covers replacing a failed or seized main valve and adding automatic shutoff protection for the whole house.
Leak detection and automatic shutoff are part of Smith's Fault Before Failure™ monitoring. Learn how Fault Before Failure™ can help protect your home.
Smith helps homeowners locate water issues, make smart shutoff decisions, and reduce the damage hidden leaks can create.
Leak Detection and Shutoff Protection
Leak detection and main water shutoff solutions help you address today’s leak and reduce the risk of the next one becoming more damaging or expensive. Smith helps identify the issue clearly and present the right next-step options for repair and protection.
When This Service Can Help
- Hidden leaks behind walls, under sinks, or near water-using equipment
- Water stains, moisture, or unexplained water usage
- Recurring plumbing concerns that need clearer answers
- Main water shutoff concerns or outdated shutoff access
- Homes that may benefit from added leak protection or automatic shutoff options
Repair and Protection Should Work Together
Leak detection and shutoff value should not be split into disconnected messages. The right service path helps homeowners understand the immediate leak concern while also reviewing whether better shutoff control or protection makes sense for the home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Smith help find where the leak is coming from?
Yes. Smith helps homeowners locate water issues, understand what is happening, and review the right repair path when a leak or hidden water concern is affecting the home.
Can main water shutoff solutions help protect the home?
Yes. Main water shutoff solutions can help homeowners regain control and reduce the risk of future water damage. Smith can explain what type of shutoff or protection option makes sense for the home.
Is this only for homes with an active leak?
No. This page supports both immediate leak concerns and protection-oriented upgrade conversations. Homeowners can use it to solve a current problem or to review better protection before the next issue becomes more damaging.
How does this connect to Whole-Home Water Protection?
Leak Detection & Main Water Shutoff supports immediate location, repair, and control decisions. Whole-Home Water Protection is the broader protection page that explains leak risk reduction, shutoff positioning, and faster response for the whole home.
Related Smith Services
Schedule a Plumbing Evaluation
Smith helps homeowners locate water issues, make smart shutoff decisions, and reduce the damage hidden leaks can create.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if I have a hidden water leak?
Turn off every fixture and appliance that uses water, then look at the water meter. If the low-flow indicator is still turning, water is moving somewhere. Repeat the test with the main valve to the house closed: if it stops, the leak is inside; if it keeps going, the leak is in the service line between the meter and the house.
Where is my main water shutoff valve?
Look where the water line enters the house, typically in the basement or a mechanical room on the street-facing side, often within a few feet of the meter. Some homes have it in a utility closet or crawlspace instead. Label it and turn it fully closed and open once a year so it does not seize in place before you need it.
What is an automatic water shutoff valve?
It is a motorized valve installed on the main line that closes on its own when a sensor detects water on the floor or when flow continues abnormally long. It turns a burst supply line or failed water heater from a flooded house into a small puddle, which matters most for homes left empty during winter trips.
Is a leak detection visit enough to know what repairs I need?
Not by itself. Leak detection locates where water is escaping and roughly how fast, using meter tests, pressure isolation and acoustic listening. It does not measure what the water has already done to framing, insulation, drywall or subfloor, and it does not open the wall. The repair scope and any restoration work get defined once access is opened at the located spot.
Will an automatic shutoff valve protect against every kind of water damage?
No. An automatic shutoff valve closes the main when it sees abnormal flow or a sensor gets wet, which covers burst supply lines, failed water heaters and split washer hoses. It does nothing about a sewer backup, groundwater in a basement, roof or window leaks, or a drain line that overflows, because none of that water comes through the main.