Slab leak detection
Under-slab leaks located within a few inches so we can repair or reroute with minimal concrete work.
Services
Leak Detection & Repair in San Diego
A leak you can't see is more expensive than the one you can. We use acoustic, thermal, and pressure equipment to pinpoint hidden leaks before we cut, so the repair is targeted, not exploratory. Every leak repair is code-compliant and pressure tested.
24-hour supportAvailable around the clock for emergencies.
10 years of experienceLicensed San Diego plumbers you can trust.
100% satisfactionGuaranteed workmanship, backed in writing.
Leak Detection & Repair services we cover
- Slab Leak Detection
- Slab Leak Repair
- Water Leak Detection
- Pool Line Leak Detection
- Gas Leak Detection
- Sewer Leak Detection
Wall & ceiling leaks
Acoustic and thermal imaging to find the leak before opening the drywall.
Pinhole leak repair
Common in older copper. We repair the section or recommend a partial repipe if it's a pattern.
Pressure & static tests
Whole-home tests to confirm a suspected leak and estimate volume.
Gas leak location
Sniffer and pressure decay tests to find gas leaks safely and repair to code.
Insurance documentation
Written diagnosis and photos your insurance carrier will accept for water damage claims.
Ready to get it fixed right?
Call us any time, day or night. We answer 24/7.
Warning signs
When to call us
- Water bill spiked with no change in usage
- Warm spots on the floor or wet slab
- Sound of running water when everything is off
- Mildew smell or discoloration on drywall
- Meter dial moves with all fixtures off
Our process
How the job runs
- 1Confirm the leakStatic and pressure tests confirm you actually have a leak and how big it is.
- 2Locate preciselyNon-invasive equipment narrows the leak to a small area before we open anything.
- 3Repair or rerouteDepending on access and pipe condition, we spot-repair or reroute around the failure.
- 4Verify and documentPost-repair pressure test plus written diagnosis for your records and any insurance claim.
San Diego context
What we see across San Diego
Slab leaks are the single most common hidden leak we chase in San Diego, and they're not evenly distributed. The mid-century tract neighborhoods — Clairemont, Bay Park, Serra Mesa, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Linda Vista, and much of Kearny Mesa — sit on top of copper supply lines cast into the slab. When those pinhole, you get a warm spot on the tile before you get a wet spot.
Two-story homes in Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Scripps Ranch, and Carmel Valley more often leak in the ceiling below an upstairs bathroom. Acoustic and thermal imaging locate those without tearing out the whole ceiling.
Older bungalows in Kensington, Normal Heights, and University Heights tend to leak at exterior hose bibs, under-slab gas laterals to detached garages, and at aging main shut-offs. Point Loma and OB add coastal-air corrosion on top of everything else.
From the slab homes near Mission Bay to the two-story tracts up in Rancho Peñasquitos, we locate leaks without breaking anything we don't have to.
Leak Detection & Repair questions we hear a lot
Can you find a leak without breaking anything?+
Yes, most of the time. Between acoustic, thermal, and pressure testing, we locate the leak within inches before we cut.
Is a slab leak covered by insurance?+
Water damage from a slab leak is often covered even when the pipe repair isn't. We provide the documentation carriers ask for.
Should I reroute instead of repair?+
If a slab leak is your first, we usually repair. If it's a second or third, rerouting the line above the slab is typically the smarter long-term fix.
How long does detection take?+
Most detections are complete in 1 to 2 hours. Complex slab leaks can take longer to isolate.
Why do so many Clairemont, Bay Park, and Serra Mesa homes get slab leaks?+
The whole belt was built in the 50s and 60s with copper hot-and-cold lines cast directly into the slab. Six decades of hot water plus hard mineral content thin the pipe wall until it pinholes. Once you've had one, expect another within a couple of years unless you reroute overhead.
My water bill doubled but I don't see anything wet. Where do I start?+
Check the meter with everything off. If the low-flow triangle spins, you have a leak somewhere. Common culprits in San Diego are toilet flappers, irrigation line breaks in the front yard (especially in Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Scripps Ranch where landscaping is bigger), and slab leaks. We isolate it fast.
Do you find pool plumbing leaks?+
Yes. Pool return, suction, and main drain lines are located with air-pressure and acoustic testing. We hand off to a pool plaster specialist if the leak is in the shell itself.
Other services
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, backups, and no-water emergencies handled fast.
Learn moreDrain & Sewer
Drain cleaning, hydro-jetting, camera inspections, and sewer repair.
Learn moreWater Heaters
Tank and tankless installation, repair, and replacement.
Learn moreRepiping & Pipe Lining
Whole-home repipes and trenchless pipe lining solutions.
Learn moreToilets, Faucets & Disposals
Fixture repair and replacement done clean and code-compliant.
Learn moreWater Treatment
Softeners, filtration, and whole-home water quality solutions.
Learn moreOur Promise
The Lefty guarantee
Written guarantee
Every job backed in writing. If it fails, we come back.
Licensed & insured
Fully licensed technicians, insured, and background-checked.
4.9★ from 312+ reviews
Trusted by San Diego homeowners across the county.
Ready when you are
Got a leak? Give Lefty a call.
Real diagnostics. Real prices. Real people who show up.