Leak Detection and Slab Leak Repair in Whittier, CA
A water bill that keeps climbing. A meter that won't stop spinning. Water seeping up through the floor. We find the leak and fix it — using acoustic listening, thermal imaging and pressure testing to pinpoint it before opening anything.
Warning Signs
Signs of a Hidden Water Leak in Your Whittier Home
"Our water bill has slowly been creeping up." Hidden leaks rarely announce themselves with a puddle. Watch for these signs.
Water Bill That Keeps Rising
Your usage hasn't changed, but the bill keeps going up. This is one of the most consistent early signs of a slow hidden leak.
Meter Moving When Everything Is Off
The small triangle or dial on your water meter spins whenever water flows — even a trickle. If it's turning with all taps closed, water is going somewhere it shouldn't.
Sound of Running Water With Nothing On
Water moving through a pressurized pipe makes a faint rushing or hissing sound. If you hear it when everything is off, that's a leak.
Warm Spot on a Tile or Wood Floor
A hot water slab leak heats the concrete from below. Walking across a floor and feeling unexpected warmth in one spot is a strong indicator of a slab leak on the hot line.
Stains, Bubbling Paint or Damp Walls
Water working its way through a wall eventually shows up as a yellow stain, bubbling paint or peeling drywall. By the time it's visible, the leak has been there a while.
Soggy Yard Patch or Extra Green Grass
A section of lawn or garden that stays wet or grows noticeably greener than the rest often sits above an underground service line leak. The EPA puts average household leak waste at over 9,300 gallons per year.
Check It Yourself First
High Water Bill or Meter Running? How to Check for a Leak Yourself
"The meter is running with the water off." These simple checks take minutes and tell you a lot before anyone arrives.
The Two-Hour Water Meter Test
Write down your meter reading, use no water for two hours, then read it again. If the number changed, you have a leak. The EPA recommends this test. Most meters also have a small triangle or dial that spins when even a little water is flowing — if it's turning with everything off, water is going somewhere.
Shut Off the House Valve to Find Which Side the Leak Is On
Close the main shutoff where the water line enters your house, then check the meter.
- Meter still moving? The leak is in the underground line between the meter and the house.
- Meter stopped? The leak is inside — a wall, slab, toilet or fixture.
Check Toilets With a Dye Test
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 10 minutes without flushing. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. See toilet repair. If water is gushing right now, shut it off at the meter and see our emergency plumber page.
Got a Leak Alert From the Water Department?
City of Whittier water customers can call (562) 567-9530 with meter questions. Some Whittier homes are served by Suburban Water Systems — check your bill. The meter and main belong to the provider; everything from the meter into your home is yours.
Slab Leaks
Slab Leak Detection and Repair in Whittier
"Water is like seeping up through the concrete." A slab leak is a leak in a water line buried in or under your home's concrete foundation — and one of the most common reasons Whittier homeowners call us.
Which Whittier Homes Get Slab Leaks
Many homes built from the 1940s through the 1960s in East Whittier, Friendly Hills, South Whittier and West Whittier sit on concrete slabs with copper water lines running through or under the concrete. After decades, those lines wear through. Homes near Uptown and Whittier College were often built on raised foundations with crawlspaces instead — their leaks are usually under the house, not in a slab.
Hot vs Cold Water Slab Leaks
A hot water leak often shows up as a warm spot on the floor, making it easier to find. A cold water leak gives no warm spot — so we pressure test each line separately to find which one is losing pressure before we pinpoint the exact spot.
Slab Leak Repair Options
Once we find the leak, we explain your options and recommend the one that fits your home.
| Repair Option | How It Works | Best For | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repair | Open a small section of slab, fix the pipe, patch the concrete | One leak on an otherwise sound line | $500–$3,000 to open + $250–$800 to patch |
| Reroute | Run a new line through walls or attic, abandon the leaking section | Older lines where one run has failed | $600–$4,000 per line |
| Whole house repipe | Replace all water lines, move them out of the slab | Homes with repeat leaks | $4,000–$15,000 |
| Epoxy lining | Coat the inside of the pipe to seal small leaks | Some pipes in fair condition | $500–$2,000 |
Cost ranges from HomeAdvisor and Fixr. For full repiping, see pipe repair and repiping.
Can a Slab Leak Damage Your Foundation?
Water running under a slab for months can wash away soil, add to cracking and settling, ruin flooring and lead to mold. Finding a slab leak early matters — call the Whittier Plumbing Pros team as soon as you see signs.
Yard & Service Lines
Underground Water Line Leaks Between the Meter and Your House
"There is a nice patch of weeds right above the line." The water line from your meter runs underground through the yard — sometimes under a driveway. When it leaks, you might notice:
Extra Green Grass or Soggy Ground
A patch that stays wet or grows noticeably greener than the rest, directly above where the line runs.
Meter Running After You Close the House Valve
If the meter still moves after you shut the valve at the house, the leak is in the underground line between the meter and your home.
Leaks Under Driveways and Concrete
We cut only the section needed to reach the leak. When the line is old or has leaked before, running a new line around the concrete is often the better choice.
Pipe repair and repiping →Many newer service lines are plastic, which doesn't carry leak sounds as well as metal pipe. We combine line tracing, pressure testing and acoustic listening to find leaks in plastic lines.
Meter Running or Water Bill Spiking? Call Us Today.
Evening and weekend visits available. We find it and fix it in the same job.
Inside the Home
Wall, Ceiling, Attic and Crawlspace Leak Detection
Ceiling Leaks From a Bathroom Above
"It started leaking through the ceiling down into the dining room." Shower valves, tub drains and toilet seals are the most common culprits. We trace the source before opening the ceiling.
Old Copper Joints Behind Shower Walls
In older Whittier homes, solder joints behind a shower wall can give out after decades. We use thermal imaging to trace the leak before cutting anything.
Crawlspace Leaks — Sounds Under the Floor
"It sounded like someone was in the shower underneath my house." Older Whittier homes with crawlspaces have supply and drain lines running under the floor. We find burst lines, cracked fittings and sagging drains. Shut off the main and call — water in a crawlspace causes rot and mold fast.
Irrigation and Sprinkler Line Leaks
"When the irrigation valve is on, it's running really fast." Irrigation leaks waste a lot of water when the system runs daily. We test zone by zone, find the broken line or valve, and repair it. Signs include soggy spots, weak spray and a meter that spins hard only when sprinklers are on.
Our Equipment
How We Find Leaks Without Tearing Up Your Home
"Do you guys have machines that can see leak detections in walls or underground?" Yes. Finding a leak is about using the right tools in the right order — pinpointing the spot before opening anything.
Acoustic Listening Equipment
Water escaping a pressurized pipe makes a sound. Sensitive listening equipment picks it up through concrete, soil and walls — telling us exactly where along the line to look.
Thermal Imaging Cameras
Hot water leaks and damp areas show up as temperature differences. Thermal imaging spots leaks behind walls and under floors without touching them.
Pressure Testing to Isolate the Line
We test hot and cold lines separately to find out exactly which line is losing pressure — before we use any other equipment on it.
Line Tracing for Buried Pipe
We map where buried pipes run so we know exactly where to listen and where to dig — especially important for plastic lines that carry leak sounds poorly.
Moisture Meters
Moisture meters confirm how far water has spread inside walls, floors and ceilings — helping us understand the full damage before any repair.
Camera Inspection for Drain Leaks
For leaking drain and sewer lines, a camera shows the crack or break from inside the pipe. See drain cleaning and sewer line repair.
Missed Leaks
Another Plumber Couldn't Find Your Leak? We Can Help.
"The plumber is not able to locate the area." We get these calls often. Leaks get missed for a few common reasons:
- The leak is very slow, so it makes little sound
- It's on a cold water line, with no warm spot to follow
- The pipe is plastic, which carries sound poorly
- It's hidden under tile, cabinets or a shower pan
We work step by step — isolate which line is leaking, trace it, then listen and scan to pinpoint the spot. That process finds leaks that a quick look misses. If you'd rather make the repair yourself, we can find and mark the leak only.
Call for Leak DetectionCost Guide
Leak Detection Cost in Whittier
Here's what homeowners typically pay, based on HomeAdvisor data.
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Slab leak detection | $150 – $400 |
| Pinhole leak repair | $150 – $800 |
| Pipe leak repair | $250 – $850 |
| Single burst pipe repair | $200 – $3,000 |
| Water main leak repair | $150 – $5,000 |
| Slab leak repair | $630 – $4,400 (avg ~$2,280) |
What Affects the Price of Leak Detection
- Size of the home. More bathrooms and lines means more to test.
- Number of lines. Testing hot, cold, irrigation and the service line takes longer.
- Where the leak is. Slab and underground leaks take more equipment.
- Hot or cold line. Cold water leaks need more testing to isolate.
- Access. Tile, cabinets and concrete add time.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Slab Leaks?
It depends on your policy. In many cases, fixing the pipe itself isn't covered, while finding the leak and repairing the damage it caused sometimes is. Call your insurer before repairs begin. We share photos and notes on where the leak was to help with your claim.
Leak Detection for Rentals, Multi-Unit Buildings and Businesses
"It's a triplex, so I have no idea where the leak may be." Shared meters make leaks harder to track. We find leaks in duplexes, triplexes, apartment buildings, offices and retail plazas. We also do pre-sale leak checks for buyers and sellers. See commercial plumbing.
How It Works
Our Leak Detection Process
Tell Us What You're Seeing
Bill, meter, sounds, wet spots or warm floors — it tells us where to start and what equipment to bring.
We Isolate and Pinpoint the Leak
We test the lines, trace them and use listening and thermal equipment to find the exact spot.
We Show You the Leak and Your Options
We mark the spot, explain your repair options and give you upfront pricing. Nothing starts until you say yes.
We Repair, Test and Clean Up
We fix the leak, test the line to make sure it holds and clean up the work area before we leave.
Why Choose Us
Why Whittier Calls Whittier Plumbing Pros to Find Hidden Leaks
We Find It and Fix It
You don't need one company to locate the leak and another to repair it. We handle both in the same visit. If you'd rather repair it yourself, we find and mark it only.
We Open Only What We Need
Pinpointing the leak first means smaller openings and less damage to your floors, walls and yard. No guessing, no unnecessary cutting.
Evening and Weekend Visits
Leaks don't wait for weekdays. We offer evening and weekend appointments for leak detection.
Local to Whittier
Our team works in Whittier every day — you're not waiting on a crew from across the county. Hablamos español, so you can explain the problem in Spanish.
Where We Work
Leak Detection Across Whittier and Nearby Cities
We find and fix leaks in Uptown, East, South and West Whittier, Friendly Hills, Whittier Hills, Whittwood and Los Nietos, across ZIP codes 90601 to 90606. We also serve Santa Fe Springs, Pico Rivera and La Mirada.
Common Questions
Leak Detection Questions From Whittier Homeowners
Need a Hidden Leak Found in Whittier Today?
High water bill, running meter or water where it shouldn't be? Call Whittier Plumbing Pros and we'll find the leak and fix it.
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