Leak detection in Lee & Collier County
A small leak does quiet damage. It raises your water bill, rots cabinets, feeds mold and weakens flooring, and you may never see a drop. Our job is to find the leak you can't see and fix it with the least disruption to your home.
- Hidden leak detection: pinpointing leaks inside walls, ceilings, under floors and along underground lines.
- Slab leak repair: leaks in pipes that run under or inside the concrete slab your home sits on.
- Supply line leaks: pressurized water lines between the meter, the house and your fixtures.
- Water heater and fixture leaks: connections, valves and supply lines that drip slowly. See water heater service.
- Irrigation and outdoor leaks: spots in the yard where water keeps pooling or the grass grows greener than the rest.
- Repair or reroute: fixing the damaged pipe, or running a new line around the problem area.
We're a Florida state-certified plumbing contractor (license CFC1429748) based in North Fort Myers, and a second-generation family business. Owner Mike leads every job, and our licensed plumbers explain what they find.
Signs of a hidden water leak
Most hidden leaks give hints. These are the ones we hear about most from Southwest Florida homeowners.
- Higher water billA bill that climbs with no change in how you use water is the most common first clue.
- Meter keeps movingWith every fixture off, a spinning or ticking water meter means water is going somewhere.
- Warm spots on the floorA hot water line leaking under the slab can warm the floor above it.
- Sound of running waterHissing or trickling from a wall or floor when nothing is on.
- Damp or discolored floorsCurling laminate, lifting tile, stains on baseboards or a musty smell.
- Low water pressureA leak steals pressure before it reaches your faucets.
- Cracks in walls or tileWater under a slab can shift soil and crack grout lines or walls.
- Pool of water outsideA soggy patch in the yard with no rain may be a supply line leak.
Ask us to check for a hidden leak. Most visits are scheduled same day.
What is a slab leak, and why are they common in Florida?
Most Florida homes are built on a concrete slab foundation. In many of them, the water lines run through or beneath that slab. A slab leak is a leak in one of those lines. Because the pipe is buried in or under concrete, you rarely see water, only the effects.
Several things raise the odds in Southwest Florida. Copper pipes in some homes can corrode from the inside out. Pipes that run through the slab can rub against concrete and gravel as the house settles. Water pressure that runs high, and the mineral content in some local water, both add stress. Older homes also have older pipe materials, and our repipe page explains when replacing the lines makes more sense than patching one leak after another.
We do not guess at slab leaks. We confirm where the leak is first, so that any opening in the floor is as small as it can be.
How we find a leak without tearing up your home
The goal is simple: find the leak, not hunt for it. We start with questions about what you've noticed, then work through a process of elimination.
- Check the meter and the main. We shut off every fixture and watch the meter to confirm water is actually leaking and not just being used.
- Isolate the system. We test whether the leak is on the hot side, the cold side or outside the house, which narrows the search area a lot.
- Pressure test the lines. Pressurizing sections of pipe shows which run is losing water.
- Listen and locate. Electronic listening equipment picks up the sound of escaping water through floors and walls so we can pinpoint the spot.
- Confirm before opening. We mark the location and explain what we found before any floor or wall is opened.
Pinpointing the leak first means a small, targeted opening instead of a large one. It also means you pay for the repair you need, not for exploratory work.
Slab leak repair: spot repair or reroute?
Once the leak is found, there are two main ways to fix it. We explain both, give you an upfront price for each and let you decide.
Spot repair. We open the floor at the leak, cut out the damaged section and replace it. This fits a single, isolated leak in pipe that is otherwise in good shape. It is usually the quickest option.
Reroute. We abandon the leaking line and run a new one overhead or through walls, bypassing the slab. This makes sense when a line has leaked more than once, when the pipe is old throughout or when the leak sits where opening the floor would be extremely disruptive. Rerouting avoids tearing up finished floors and gives you new pipe in an accessible place.
If a home has repeated pinhole leaks across several lines, the honest advice may be a full repipe. We will tell you that only when the evidence supports it, and we'll show you what we found. Otherwise, we fix what is broken and leave the rest alone. Floor and wall access are explained before we start, so there are no surprises about what will be opened.
We'll confirm it before any floor is opened. Estimates are free.
Leak detection for storm and flood season
Hurricane season brings its own plumbing problems. Shifting soil, fallen trees and flooding can crack buried lines. After a major storm, a few quick checks can save you from a very large water bill.
- Check your meter once the storm passes. A running meter with everything off signals a break.
- Look for soggy spots in the yard near the meter or the house.
- Listen for hissing near the water heater, the main valve and exterior walls.
- Don't use electrical outlets or switches near standing water, and if you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility.
- Call us early. Small cracks get worse, and many insurance claims are easier when the leak is documented quickly.
Leaks also come with emergency plumbing situations, and our line is open 24/7 for active leaks.
Why fix a small leak now
People wait because the leak seems small. The cost of waiting is the part that grows.
- Your water bill. A steady leak runs all day and night, and you pay for every gallon.
- Mold and moisture. Humid Florida conditions help mold grow quickly in damp areas.
- Structural damage. Water softens drywall, rots wood and undermines flooring.
- Soil movement. Water under a slab can wash out soil and cause settling or cracks.
- Insurance headaches. Long-term, slow leaks are treated differently from sudden ones by many policies. Check yours, and have a written finding from a plumber.
An honest answer costs less than a guess. If we check and find no leak, we'll tell you that too.
Leak detection near you
We find and repair leaks in every city in Lee and Collier County, including:
Leak detection FAQ
How do I know if I have a slab leak?
Common signs include a higher water bill, a water meter that moves when everything is off, warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water and damp or buckling flooring. A plumber can confirm a slab leak with pressure testing and listening equipment before any floor is opened.
Do you have to break the concrete to fix a slab leak?
Not always. We pinpoint the leak first so any opening is as small as possible, and in some cases we can reroute the water line through walls or overhead instead of cutting the slab. We explain the options and the access needed before we start.
How much does leak detection cost?
The cost depends on how hard the leak is to locate and what repair it needs. We give free estimates and agree on an upfront price before work begins, so you know what you'll pay before we start.
Can I tell if the leak is on my side or the utility side?
Often yes. Checking the meter and testing the supply line shows whether water is being lost between the meter and the house, which is your responsibility, or elsewhere. We explain what we find so you know who needs to fix it.
Does homeowners insurance cover a slab leak?
Coverage varies by policy and by how the damage happened, so check yours or ask your agent. We can document what we found and what the repair involves, which many homeowners find useful when talking with their insurance company.
Do you handle leaks on weekends?
Yes. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we answer emergency calls 24/7, including weekends and holidays. An active leak counts as an emergency.
What does your guarantee cover on leak repairs?
Our 1-year personal guarantee covers parts and service. If a repair we made fails, we fix or replace it free.