Our licensed plumbers detect and repair every type of water leak — with advanced equipment and minimal disruption to your home.

Every Leak Detection & Repair Need, One Trusted Company

From simple slab spot repairs to full re-pipes — the right fix recommended honestly.

Water Leak Detection & Repair in South Florida

Erica’s Plumbing uses advanced electronic leak detection equipment to locate leaks precisely — without tearing open your home searching for the source. Our licensed plumbers serve homeowners and businesses across Palm Beach and Broward County with same-day detection and repair service, 24/7 emergency response for active leaks and gas line issues, and upfront pricing before any work begins.

Warning Signs You Have a Hidden Leak

Most hidden leaks give signals before visible damage appears. Contact us if you notice any of these:

• Unexplained spike in your water bill — The clearest sign. If your usage hasn’t changed but your bill has jumped, water is going somewhere it shouldn’t be.
• Sound of running water when nothing is on — Listen near walls, floors, and the water meter. Persistent running sounds with all fixtures off indicate a leak in the line.
• Warm or hot spot on the floor — A classic sign of a slab leak on a hot water line. The leaking hot water warms the concrete above it.
• Wet or damp flooring without an obvious source — Flooring that feels soft, buckles, or shows discoloration — especially near the slab — often indicates water migrating up from below.
• Cracks in walls or flooring — Slab leaks saturate the soil beneath your foundation, causing settling and cracking that looks structural but is actually water-driven.
• Mold or mildew smell without visible mold — Mold growing inside a wall or under a floor from a hidden leak produces a distinctive musty smell before it becomes visible.
• Low water pressure throughout the home — A significant drop in pressure in multiple fixtures can indicate a supply line break losing volume before it reaches your fixtures.
• Meter running when all water is off — Turn off all fixtures and appliances and watch your water meter. If the dial moves, you have an active leak somewhere in the system.

How to Check Your Water Meter for a Leak

Before calling us, you can do a simple test: turn off every water-using fixture and appliance in your home. Locate your water meter (typically near the street, in a covered box in your yard). Watch the meter dial or the leak indicator (a small triangle or star on most modern meters) for 15 minutes. If the dial moves or the indicator spins, water is flowing through your system — and you have a leak that needs to be located.

Our Leak Detection Process

We use non-invasive electronic leak detection equipment that locates leaks with pinpoint accuracy — before any cutting, digging, or demolition begins:

Electronic Acoustic Detection

Sound-based detection equipment amplifies the sound of water escaping under pressure through pipe walls. Our technicians use acoustic listening devices and ground microphones to trace the exact location of a leak inside a slab or underground — typically to within inches.

Pressure Testing

We isolate sections of your plumbing system and pressurize them to identify which section is losing pressure — narrowing down the location of a leak before more targeted detection equipment is deployed.

Thermal Imaging

Infrared thermal cameras detect temperature differences caused by leaking water — particularly effective for hot water slab leaks and hidden leaks inside walls and ceilings where temperature variation makes the leak visible as a thermal signature.

Video Pipe Inspection

For suspected leaks in drain lines, sewer lines, and accessible pipe runs, we use camera inspection to visually confirm the location and condition of the pipe — identifying not just leaks but cracks, corrosion, and root intrusion that may cause future problems.

Slab Leaks in South Florida

Slab leaks are the most destructive and most common hidden leak in South Florida. Homes built on concrete slab foundations — the majority of construction in Broward and Palm Beach County — have copper supply lines embedded in or beneath the slab. Over decades, South Florida’s slightly acidic groundwater, corrosive soil conditions, and shifting ground cause these copper pipes to develop pinhole leaks and eventually fail.

Left undetected, a slab leak saturates the soil beneath your foundation, causes concrete to heave and crack, destroys flooring from below, and creates the persistent moisture that feeds mold growth inside your walls. A slab leak that has been running for months can cause structural damage that costs tens of thousands of dollars to remediate.

Slab Leak Repair Options

Once we locate the leak precisely, we discuss the repair options honestly:

• Spot repair — Opening the slab at the exact leak location, repairing the pipe, and patching the concrete. Best for isolated leaks in otherwise sound pipe.
• Pipe re-routing — Running new pipe through walls and ceilings, bypassing the leaking section entirely. Avoids opening the slab and is often preferable when the slab is finished with tile or expensive flooring.
• Epoxy pipe lining — Lining the interior of existing pipes with epoxy — sealing pinhole leaks without excavation. Best for pipes in good overall condition with isolated leak points.
• Full re-pipe — When pipes are aged throughout the system and multiple leaks are occurring or expected, re-piping the entire home with modern PEX or CPVC is often the most cost-effective long-term solution.

Underground & Water Main Leak Detection

Leaks in underground supply lines between the water meter and your home waste significant water and can go unnoticed for months — the water saturates the soil rather than appearing inside the house. Our electronic detection equipment locates underground leaks without requiring extensive excavation — we identify the precise location before any digging begins, minimizing disruption to your yard and landscaping.

Gas Leak Detection — Emergency Response

Gas leaks require immediate response. If you smell sulfur or rotten eggs, hear hissing near gas lines or appliances, or see dead vegetation in a line above your underground gas line — leave the building immediately, avoid all electrical switches, and call us. We provide 24/7 emergency gas leak detection and repair for natural gas and propane systems. Our licensed plumbers carry gas detection equipment and are qualified to locate and repair gas line leaks safely.

If you suspect a gas leak: Leave first, call from outside.

Pool & Irrigation Leak Detection

South Florida homes with pools and irrigation systems have extensive underground plumbing that develops leaks over time. Pool plumbing leaks waste thousands of gallons monthly and cause the surrounding soil to shift. Irrigation system leaks add significantly to water bills while watering areas that were never intended. We detect and repair underground pool plumbing and irrigation system leaks with minimal excavation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does leak detection cost in South Florida?

Electronic leak detection typically ranges from $150–$400 depending on the complexity of the search and number of systems involved. This cost is separate from the repair. We always provide detection findings and repair pricing upfront before any work begins.

Can you find a leak without opening walls or breaking the slab?

In most cases, yes. Our electronic acoustic detection and thermal imaging equipment locates leaks to within a few inches — meaning we open only where the leak actually is, not a wide area searching for it. Some repairs require a targeted opening, but we minimize it to the smallest practical area.

How do I know if I have a slab leak?

Common signs include a warm spot on the floor (hot water line leak), the sound of water running when nothing is on, unexplained increase in your water bill, cracks appearing in flooring or walls, and moisture or mold appearing near the base of walls. If you notice any of these, call us — early detection prevents structural damage.

What causes slab leaks in South Florida?

The primary causes are the age of copper pipes, South Florida’s slightly acidic groundwater chemistry that corrodes copper over time, abrasive contact between pipes and the concrete or soil surrounding them, and ground movement caused by South Florida’s expansive sandy and limestone soils.

How long does slab leak repair take?

A spot repair — opening the slab at the exact leak point — is typically completed in one day. Re-routing through walls or a full re-pipe takes longer depending on the scope. We’ll give you an accurate timeline after the leak is located and the repair approach is determined.

Is a slab leak covered by homeowners insurance?

Coverage varies by policy. Many homeowners insurance policies cover the resulting water damage but not the plumbing repair itself. Some policies cover “access” — the cost of opening the slab — but not the pipe repair. We provide detailed documentation of our findings and repair work to support insurance claims.

What should I do while waiting for the plumber if I suspect an active leak?

Locate your main shutoff valve (usually near the water meter or where the main line enters your home) and turn off the water supply to the house. This stops additional water flow while you wait. For gas leaks, leave the building immediately and call from outside.