Leak detection: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering leak detection

Leak detection is a diagnosis job, and the customer is paying for the right answer, not the most equipment. Confirm the source before anyone opens a wall or slab.

What customers ask

  • How do you find the leak without breaking the floor?
  • Can you tell whether the leak is in the slab or in the wall?
  • What does a thermal scan show, and how accurate is it?
  • Why did my water bill go up with nothing running?
  • Will you fix the leak too, or only find it?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask where the customer feels the water, how long it has been happening, and whether the meter moves with the fixtures off.
  • Bring pressure gauges, listening gear and a thermal camera to the first visit, and a drain camera if the drain line is part of the problem.
  • Walk the customer through each test as you run it, so they see the result and not only the conclusion.
  • Give a written report with the test used, the reading, the location and photos, and mark the spot on the floor or on a plan.
  • Quote the finding and the repair as separate lines, so the customer can decide without pressure.
  • Open the smallest access you can, and show the customer the source before anything else is opened.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of a thermal scan, with the hot line visible on the image
  • A sample leak test report with the test steps and results
  • List the leak types you find, such as slab, wall, drain and supply
  • Note the equipment you use, such as pressure gauges, acoustic gear, a thermal camera and a drain camera

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Schedule a meter check a few weeks after the repair to confirm the leak is gone
  • Offer a whole-house pressure check when the leak was on an older line
  • Suggest a periodic meter check for homes with a history of hidden leaks

Licenses and permits

Leak detection and repair on water and drain systems is commonly licensed plumbing work, and gas leak work may need its own license and equipment. Confirm the rules with your state or local licensing agency before you take a call.

Questions

Can you find a leak without a camera or thermal scan?

Sometimes, with a pressure test and listening gear. The tool depends on the leak type, and the report should show which one was used and why.

What should I tell a customer who wants the slab opened before testing?

Explain the tests first and show the damage that opening the wrong spot would cause. Confirm the source with a test before any concrete is cut.

Do you handle suspected gas leaks?

Only if you are licensed and equipped for gas work in that area. A suspected gas leak is an emergency to refer to the gas utility.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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