Update Nov 2021.. After the failed attempt by BFP, I called a locally recommended plumber, Plumbing By Greg. Using essentially the same piece of equipment and a shovel, he was able to locate and repair my leak. I guess it is a matter of skill and experience... Obviously, a corporate name means nothing. Avoid BFP.

My first experience with BF Plumbing: 2019: They inspected to give me an estimate for running a water service line, they never called me back, even after more calls to them. Going elsewhere.

Second Experience: Jun 2021: I just wasted $1564 with these guys. I had a water leak somewhere on an 800’ water service line to my home & apartments. Before scheduling a visit, I asked lots of questions about their experience, “state of the art” equipment, and success rate. I scheduled my estimate appointment and provided my current job address. Their office scheduler called and said that their senior tech (John) would be there in about 45 minutes. I waited at my job site, and about 90 minutes later I get another call, telling me that he was at a previous property that I had sold months before and was not my current address. So, another 15 minute wait while he drove to the right location… all the while I’m waiting for him by the street in my car. As it says on their trucks, “If there is any delay, it’s you we pay..” Damned Lie.

A nice guy, he walked the water line, looking for damp spots and probing (pointed steel rod) along the way. He didn’t find the source of the leak and suggested that he use his acoustic listening probe to find the leak. He continuously explained how successful he had been with it and had always found the leak, even with pipes located beneath concrete and an asphalt driveways, with lesser flows and more depth. With this assurance, he spent 35 minutes drafting an estimate/contract while I again waited in my car.

(The listening device is essentially what The Lone Ranger’s friend, Tonto would do by putting his ear to the ground.. but with more amplification.) With his “gofer” tapping on the pipe, John was able to hear and locate the pipes under the driveways. Yet, after 4+ hours, he was unable to find the leak. His time, my time and my $1564 are lost… for nothing.

John lost about 30 minutes of time when the probe’s rechargeable battery went dead and required recharging. Poor planning from either not charging before leaving the shop or not charging during the lunch break caused this time loss. Also, the choice of equipment without a swappable battery was a poor choice.

I asked if they had the proper high-tech equipment & training when I called to schedule my visit. They assured me that they did. After the failure to find the fault, he explained that if the leak doesn’t “spray,” it may not make enough “noise” to be heard. Obviously, they did not have the best equipment for the job. (It was a halfway step between the pointed stick and something much better.)

A better choice might have been to use a tracer gas system, such as a Variotech 460, which forces a compressed gas into the pipe and senses that gas on the surface. The gas is lighter than air, moving upward (vs downward like water) toward the surface through porous surfaces like concrete or asphalt.

Overall, the company was poorly managed, poorly equipped and I felt lacked veracity when professing their past success in leak locating. Their saying, “The Punctual Plumbers” is bull.