Leak Detection in Sarasota, FL

Sarasota at a glance

Sarasota has a lot of pools, lanai homes and condos along the Gulf, and a lot of seasonal owners who aren’t there when a leak starts. Pool leaks and slab leaks are the two biggest calls here.

Why leaks happen in Sarasota

• Pools and spas in a large share of homes; pool leak searches are high here.
• Seasonal homes where a leak can run for weeks unnoticed.
• Slab foundations close to the water table.
• Salt air that corrodes exposed fittings and equipment.
• Condos and multi-unit buildings where one leak affects neighbors.

Many Sarasota homes are single-story slab houses with pool cages. Older copper supply lines under slabs can pinhole, and pool return lines often run under the deck where a leak is invisible.

Slab leak detection and repair in Sarasota

A slab leak is a broken water line under the concrete foundation. Common signs in Sarasota 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 Sarasota

The buried service line from the meter to the house is the homeowner’s responsibility in most of Sarasota; the utility, City of Sarasota Utilities or Sarasota County Utilities, 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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota

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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota

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 Sarasota: frequently asked questions

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