Schedule the test
Call or text with the property address and requested date. We coordinate smoothly with buyers, sellers, Realtors, and inspectors.
Call 361-444-9939Residential building drain testing
Hydrostatic testing with a result you can trust.
Professional testing and straightforward reporting for homeowners, buyers, sellers, Realtors, and home inspectors throughout Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend.
Licensed Responsible Master Plumber M-43071
Testing focusedNo repair work tied to the outcome
Clear reportingProfessional pass-or-fail documentation
Local serviceCorpus Christi and the Coastal Bend
A focused approach
The result reflects the test—not an opportunity for additional work.
Coastal Flow Plumbing was built to provide a dependable, independent option for residential hydrostatic testing. Our role remains the same whether a property passes or fails: perform the test correctly, document what the building drains show, and provide a clear report.
Because the outcome does not create repair or isolation work for us, clients can move forward with confidence in the result.
What to expect
A straightforward test from start to finish.
Set up and fill the system
The building drains are accessed through the cleanouts or another suitable access point when necessary. A temporary test plug is installed, and water is added through the home's plumbing fixtures until it reaches slab level. Walls and floors are not opened to perform the test.
Observe the water level
The water level is observed to see whether the building drains hold. A stable level means the system held water; a drop means water is being lost somewhere within it. The water is then released and the test equipment is removed.
Receive the report
You receive a professional report documenting the test location, procedure, and clear pass-or-fail result.
What the test tells you
Whether the building drains hold water during the test.
- Pass: The building drains held water during the test
- Fail: Water is being lost somewhere within the building drain system
Important to understand
A failed test confirms water loss, but not its exact location.
If the water level drops, it indicates that water is being lost somewhere within the building drain system. An isolation test is recommended to help determine the affected area.
The test covers the building drains—not the water supply lines or the yard line beyond the building.
Who we serve
Reliable information for an important decision.
Home buyers
Understand whether the building drains held before moving forward with a purchase.
Homeowners & sellers
Know what will happen at the property and receive clear documentation of the result. A properly performed hydrostatic test will not cause any damage to the plumbing drains. We work carefully, respect the home and property, and do not open walls or floors to perform the test.
Realtors & inspectors
We are set up to work directly with Realtors and inspectors and understand the timing of option periods. Because hydrostatic testing is our focus, we maintain strong availability for these time-sensitive appointments.
Service area
Serving Corpus Christi, the Coastal Bend, and surrounding areas.
Corpus Christi · Padre Island · Flour Bluff · Calallen · Portland · Ingleside · Aransas Pass · Port Aransas · Rockport · Sinton · Odem · Robstown · Alice · Kingsville · Riviera
Need service outside these areas? Call or text to ask about availability.Common questions
Before scheduling your test.
How long will the appointment take?
The total appointment time varies depending on the property, available access, and the time needed to set up and fill the building drains.
Do you add pressure to the drains?
No. The test uses the natural head pressure created by filling the building drains with water to slab level. It is not a closed, pressurized system and no air pressure is used.
Can a hydrostatic test damage the plumbing drains?
No. A properly performed hydrostatic test will not cause any damage to the plumbing drains. It simply fills the building drains with water to slab level so the water level can be observed. No air pressure is used.
What happens if the test fails?
A failed test means the water level dropped, indicating that water is being lost somewhere within the building drain system. The report documents the result, but the hydrostatic test does not identify the exact location. An isolation test is recommended to help determine the affected area.
What is the difference between a hydrostatic test and a camera inspection?
A camera inspection shows visible conditions along the path the camera can travel, such as buildup, roots, obstructions, standing water, separations, or damaged piping. However, it cannot reach every branch or always reveal small cracks, leaking joints, or concealed openings. A clear camera view does not confirm that the building drains are leak-free.
A hydrostatic test answers a different question: Do the building drains hold water? If the water level drops, water is escaping somewhere within the tested portion—even when the problem cannot be seen with a camera. The hydrostatic test confirms water loss but does not identify its exact location; additional isolation testing may be needed.
Simply put: A camera shows what it can see. A hydrostatic test tells whether the tested building drains hold water. Both are useful, but they do not replace one another.
What should a seller expect at the property?
We locate the proper access point, install a temporary test plug, add water through the home's plumbing fixtures, and observe whether the building drains hold. Afterward, the water is released and our equipment is removed. We work carefully, respect the home and property, and do not open walls or floors to perform the test.
How do you access the building drains for testing?
Current plumbing code requires cleanouts at specific points in the drain system and requires them to remain accessible. When piping is concealed or located below a slab, the cleanout must be extended to a finished wall, floor, ground surface, or outside the building so it can be reached without opening finished construction. However, on some older or altered properties, the cleanouts are not visible or accessible at grade.
We begin by looking for the cleanouts that provide proper access to the building drains. If they are not readily visible, and the plumbing system allows, we may use a drain camera as a courtesy for a practical amount of time to help locate them. If proper access still cannot be found, we explain what is needed before the test can be completed.
When is a camera used as a courtesy?
At times, and when the plumbing system allows, we may use a drain camera as a courtesy for a practical amount of time to help locate cleanouts needed for the test. This limited courtesy use is not a full camera inspection and does not locate the exact source of a failed test.
Will I receive a report?
Yes. A professional report documenting the test procedure and pass-or-fail result is delivered after payment.
Ready to schedule?
Get a clear answer about the building drains.
Call or text Coastal Flow Plumbing with the property address and requested date.