Leak Detection in Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield at a glance

Bakersfield has hot, dry summers, hard water and a lot of slab homes with pools. Parts of the city are served by Cal Water and parts by the City of Bakersfield’s water system.

Why leaks happen in Bakersfield

• Hard water (about 12.8 grains per gallon reported for the city system) that builds scale.
• Very hot summers and heavy irrigation.
• Slab foundations in most homes.
• Pools in many backyards.
• Soil movement that stresses buried lines.

Most Bakersfield homes are slab-built. A hot-side slab leak shows up as warm tile and a water heater that runs constantly; a pool leak shows up as a pool that drops faster than a bucket of water beside it.

Slab leak detection and repair in Bakersfield

A slab leak is a broken water line under the concrete foundation. Common signs in Bakersfield homes are warm spots on tile, the sound of running water with everything off, a meter that never stops and a water bill that jumps. The line is isolated and pressure-tested, then the leak is pinpointed with acoustic ground microphones and thermal imaging and marked on the floor. The repair is a spot repair through one small opening, or a reroute of the line through the walls or attic. See slab leak repair cost.

Water line leak detection in Bakersfield

The buried service line from the meter to the house is the homeowner’s responsibility in most of Bakersfield; the utility, California Water Service (Cal Water) or the City of Bakersfield, depending on address, usually owns the meter and the line up to it. A soggy strip of lawn, low pressure or a meter that moves with the house shutoff closed points to this line. The line is traced, then listened to with a ground microphone, or tested with tracer gas if it’s plastic, and the leak is marked so only one small hole is dug.

Hidden leak detection inside Bakersfield walls, ceilings and floors

Stains, bubbling paint, soft drywall, a musty smell or a ceiling leak under a bathroom usually mean a supply line, drain, shower pan or valve is leaking out of sight. Moisture mapping and thermal imaging show where the water is, acoustic listening finds pressurized leaks, and the opening for the repair is small and in the right place.

Pool leak detection in Bakersfield

If your pool drops more than a bucket of water set on the step over 24 hours, it’s leaking. Pool leak detection checks the shell, skimmer, returns, main drain, lights and the buried plumbing lines, using pressure testing, dye testing and underwater acoustic equipment. See how to find a pool leak.

How to check for a leak in your Bakersfield home

1. Turn off every faucet, the washer, dishwasher, ice maker and irrigation.
2. Watch the leak indicator on your water meter for 15–30 minutes.
3. If it moves, close the main shutoff in the house. If the meter still moves, the leak is in the buried line outside; if it stops, it’s inside or under the slab.
4. Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank. Color in the bowl after 15 minutes means a toilet leak.
5. Still moving? Call (877) 729-0265 to get the leak found.

Leak detection cost in Bakersfield

The price depends on the type of leak, how many lines need testing and what’s above the pipe: tile, concrete, landscaping or a pool deck. Detection and repair are quoted separately. Finding the leak first keeps the repair small. See what affects leak detection cost.

Leak detection in Bakersfield: frequently asked questions

Service in Bakersfield is provided through our network of independent, local leak detection and plumbing professionals. Sources: Cal Water Bakersfield District. Population: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census.