High Water Bill? Let's Find the Leak

Where the Water Usually Goes

When a Pinellas County water bill jumps and nothing looks wet, the leak is almost always in one of four places:

• Under the slab. The most common hidden leak in our 1950s to 1970s slab homes. Copper lines pinhole with age, and hot water lines fail first. A warm spot on the floor is the giveaway.
• The service line. The pipe between the meter and your house. It runs under the yard, so the water disappears into sandy soil instead of pooling on the surface.
• Inside a wall. Slow drips that stay hidden until paint bubbles or baseboards swell. The bill usually notices before you do.
• The irrigation or reclaimed side. A cracked irrigation line wastes plenty of water. One catch: if you are on reclaimed water, that leak may show up as soggy grass but not on your drinking water bill.

How We Trace a High Water Bill to the Leak

1. Meter test and isolation. We confirm water is actually leaving the system, then isolate hot from cold and indoor from outdoor to cut the search in half.
2. Pressure testing. Tells us which line is losing water.
3. Acoustic listening and thermal imaging. We hear the leak through concrete and see the temperature signature of hidden water, without tearing anything open.
4. Exact location, marked and documented. You get the spot marked, photos, and a written summary. That paperwork is exactly what the county reimbursement and many insurance claims ask for.

The service call is $89. Detection runs $89 per hour after that, $178 total for the first hour, never more than $350.

What a Hidden Leak Costs If You Wait

A steady hidden leak wastes thousands of gallons a month. You pay for that water every month it runs, and water moving under a slab or through a wall keeps damaging flooring, drywall, and wood the whole time. Homeowners often spend two or three high bills hoping it fixes itself. It never does. Finding it early is the difference between a small repair and a remodel.

High Water Bill Questions We Hear Every Day

The water company checked and said everything is fine. Now what?

The utility only checks the meter and their side of the line. Everything past the meter is yours, and that is where hidden leaks live. If the meter moves with your fixtures off, the leak is on your side.

Could it just be the toilet?

Yes, and we want you to check that first. A worn flapper is the cheapest fix in plumbing. If the toilets check out and the meter still moves, the leak is somewhere harder to find.

How much water does a small leak actually waste?

A pinhole leak under pressure can lose thousands of gallons a month. That is often 2 to 4 times a normal household bill, which is why a jump with no habit change is such a reliable warning sign.

Will you find it in one visit?

Most of the time, yes. We find most hidden leaks in a single visit with acoustic and thermal equipment, and you get exact numbers before any repair conversation.

Does the county really pay you back for leak detection?

Pinellas County Utilities has reimbursed up to $300 for professional leak detection after the repair, plus a possible credit for some of the leaked water. St. Petersburg and Clearwater run their own utilities with their own adjustment policies. Keep every receipt and ask your utility, or read our guide to the county leak rebate on the blog.

Stop Paying for Water You Never Used

Call (727) 239-0089 any time, day or night. $89 service call anywhere in Pinellas County, most leaks found in one visit, and documentation that helps you claim the money back.