Burst Pipe & Plumbing Leak Water Damage
Extraction, drying, and repairs after supply line breaks, pinhole leaks, slab leaks, and failed valves, coordinated with your plumber.
Leak detection
Leak detection that finds the source before anything is torn out
Pressure tests, acoustic listening, thermal imaging, and moisture mapping narrow a hidden leak to one spot, so the repair opens a small section of floor or wall instead of a whole room.
- 24/7 emergency line
- IICRC Certified Firm
- Insurance claim documentation
On call 24/7
Free inspection
Schedule a no-cost on-site inspection. A restoration specialist will contact you within a few minutes to confirm the details.
Request received
Thank you. A restoration specialist will contact you at the number provided to confirm the details. If water is still coming in, call now and we'll walk you through shutting it off.
(954) 289-0566Recognized by
How non-invasive leak detection works
Most South Florida homes run their water lines under a concrete slab or inside block walls, so a leak rarely shows up as a drip. It shows up as a higher water bill, a warm spot in the tile, a meter that keeps turning, or a stain that never dries. Leak detection is the work of turning that symptom into a spot you can mark on the floor.
No single tool does it. A pressure test tells us which line is losing water. Acoustic equipment listens through concrete and drywall for water escaping a pressurized pipe. Thermal imaging shows the heat pattern of a hot water leak or the cool pattern of wet material, and moisture meters map how far the water has spread. For drain lines, a video camera run through the pipe shows cracks, separated joints, and corrosion.
Once the leak is found, we mark it and explain what we found and why. We can coordinate the repair with your plumber. If the leak has already soaked drywall, cabinets, or flooring, we dry those areas so the problem does not turn into mold.
What to look for
Signs of a hidden leak
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The meter keeps moving
With every faucet, appliance, and irrigation zone off, the meter's leak indicator should sit still. If it turns, water is going somewhere.
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Warm spots on the floor
A hot water line leaking under the slab heats the concrete above it. You may feel it barefoot, or notice a pet that always lies in one spot.
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Cracked or hollow tile
Tile that cracks, lifts, or sounds hollow in one area can point to water working its way under the floor.
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Swollen baseboards or a musty closet
A slow leak inside a wall or under a cabinet often shows first as a soft baseboard or a damp smell.
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A water heater that never rests
A leak on the hot side makes the heater refill and reheat over and over. If it rarely shuts off, the hot line is a suspect.
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Soggy yard spots or sinking pavers
A patch of lawn that never dries, or pavers that settle, can mean a leak in the service line or irrigation.
Our process
How we find a hidden leak
We work from the broadest test to the most precise one, and nothing is cut open to go looking.
- 01
Review the symptoms
We start with your water bills, where the symptoms appear, the age of the plumbing, and whether the lines are copper, CPVC, PEX, or cast iron.
- 02
Meter and pressure tests
With fixtures off, we read the meter, then isolate and pressure-test lines to learn whether the leak is on the hot side, the cold side, the service line, or the irrigation.
- 03
Acoustic listening
Ground microphones and listening equipment pick up water escaping a pressurized line through tile, concrete, and soil. The sound is strongest closest to the leak.
- 04
Thermal imaging
Infrared cameras show the heat signature of a hot water leak and the cooler pattern of moisture in walls, ceilings, and floors.
- 05
Moisture mapping
Meters confirm what the camera shows and trace how far the water has traveled, which tells us how much drying the area needs.
- 06
Video pipe inspection
For drain and sewer lines, a camera is run through the pipe to look for cracks, separated joints, roots, and corrosion.
- 07
Mark, report, and coordinate
We mark the leak, give you a written summary with photos and thermal images, and coordinate the repair with your plumber. If water has reached the structure, drying starts right away.
Types and causes
Leaks we detect
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Slab leaks
Supply lines under the concrete slab that wear through where they rub against concrete or corrode with age, common in older South Florida homes.
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Leaks inside walls and ceilings
Supply lines, fittings, and drain joints behind drywall and above ceilings, including stacked plumbing walls in condo buildings.
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Pool and spa leaks
The shell, skimmer, return fittings, light niches, and the buried plumbing between the pool and the equipment pad.
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Service lines and irrigation
The buried line from the meter to the house, plus irrigation pipes and valves, which can leak into sandy soil for months without a puddle.
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Shower pans and tubs
A failed shower pan or drain seal sends water into the wall or slab every time the shower runs, and often shows up in the next room.
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Roof, window, and AC drain leaks
Rain or condensate water that travels before it shows, traced with thermal imaging and moisture readings back to where it enters.
Timing
What a hidden leak costs over time
A leak you cannot see keeps running until someone finds it. The longer it runs, the more material it soaks and the bigger the repair.
- First days
Water spreads under tile and into the bottom of walls. The meter and the water bill are often the only clues.
- First weeks
Baseboards swell, drywall wicks water upward, and a musty smell develops as mold starts on damp materials.
- First months
Flooring loosens, cabinets come apart, and mold spreads inside wall cavities. Water under a slab can wash out the soil beneath it.
- Long term
Many policies exclude damage from leaks that continued over weeks or longer, so the cost of a long-running leak can fall on the owner.
Why Restoration USA
Why call Restoration USA for leak detection
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Several methods, checked against each other
Pressure testing, acoustic listening, thermal imaging, moisture mapping, and video inspection are used together, so no conclusion rests on one reading.
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Detection and drying from one call
If the leak has already soaked walls or floors, we start structural drying instead of sending you to a second company.
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Documentation for your claim
Photos, thermal images, and moisture readings show where the leak was and what it reached, which is what an adjuster asks to see.
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IICRC Certified Firm
Licensed and insured, with drying done to IICRC procedures in homes, condos, and commercial buildings.
Reviews
What clients say
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I had a huge pipe water leak that went un-noticed for about a week until I saw the damage coming through my bathroom walls and flooring ...AHHHHH Thanks to Restoration USA I was able to call them at 11pm when I noticed it and they answered! They arrived at my house early the next morning giving me a affordable quote and had the issue resolved very quickly ! Thanks again guys.
Google review View source
★ Every job is documented: photos, readings, and an itemized scope.
Insurance
Leak detection and your insurance
Homeowners policies generally cover sudden water damage from a plumbing leak, and many also pay the reasonable cost of tearing out and replacing part of the building to reach the pipe. The failed pipe itself is often not covered, and damage from leaks that continued over a long period is commonly excluded.
Whether the cost of finding the leak is covered depends on your policy. We document the location, the source, and the extent of the water damage with photos, thermal images, and moisture readings so your adjuster has what is needed to decide. Report a leak to your carrier promptly, since Florida policies set deadlines for reporting claims.
Usually covered
- Sudden pipe bursts and supply-line failures
- Water heater ruptures
- Toilet, sink, and tub overflows
- Appliance and AC overflows
- Burst or accidentally discharged fire sprinklers
- Water that enters through storm damage to the roof or windows
- Mold caused by a covered water loss, often up to a set limit
What we document
- Source of the loss and affected areas
- Daily moisture readings and equipment logs
- Thermal images of hidden moisture
- Every material removed, and why
- Each condo unit and common area, documented separately
- Dated photos and an itemized scope of work
Carriers we've worked with: Citizens Property Insurance, Universal Property & Casualty, Tower Hill Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, USAA, and many more.
Coverage decisions belong to your insurer and depend on your policy. Florida does not allow assignment of benefits on property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, so you stay in control of your claim.
How water damage claims work in FloridaFAQ
Leak Detection: common questions
How do I check my water meter for a leak?
Turn off every faucet, appliance, and irrigation zone, and make sure no toilet is running. Find the meter, usually in a ground box near the street, and watch the leak indicator, a small dial or triangle that turns with even a trickle of flow. If it moves, or the reading changes over an hour or two with no water in use, there is a leak somewhere after the meter.
What is a slab leak, and will you have to break up my floor?
A slab leak is a leak in a water line under the concrete foundation. We locate it from above with pressure testing, acoustic equipment, and thermal imaging, so the floor is not opened to search for it. The repair usually means opening a small section of floor at the marked spot, or your plumber may reroute the line through the walls or attic instead.
Can you find a leak in my pool?
Yes. A bucket test is a good first check: set a bucket of pool water on the step, mark the water level inside the bucket and the pool level outside it, and compare after 24 hours. If the pool dropped noticeably more than the bucket, it is likely leaking. We then check the shell, fittings, lights, and underground plumbing to find where.
Do you repair the leak too?
We locate and mark the leak and give you a written summary of what we found. The pipe repair is plumbing work, and we can coordinate it with your plumber. If water has already damaged walls, floors, or cabinets, we dry and restore those areas.
How much does leak detection cost?
It depends on the size of the property, how many lines need testing, and whether the leak is in the house, the yard, or the pool. Call and describe the symptoms, and we will explain what the visit involves and what it will cost before any work begins. Ask your water utility whether it offers a bill adjustment once the leak is repaired.
Related services
Often needed alongside leak detection
Water Damage Restoration
Extraction, moisture mapping, and structural drying for leaks, overflows, and floods, with documentation your adjuster can use.
Structural Drying & Dehumidification
Dehumidification, air movement, and targeted drying for wall cavities, block, slabs, and hardwood, tracked with daily moisture readings.
Ceiling Water Damage
Tracing, making safe, drying, and repairing ceilings soaked by condo leaks, attic AC units, plumbing, and roof leaks.
Mold Remediation
Containment, HEPA filtration, removal of moldy materials, and detailed cleaning to IICRC S520, with the moisture problem found and corrected so growth does not return.
AC & Appliance Leak Cleanup
Cleanup and drying after AC condensate overflows, water heater failures, and washer, dishwasher, and ice-maker leaks, including damage under cabinets.
Service areas
Leak Detection near you
We cover Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. These are some of the cities where we handle leak detection most often.
City guides for leak detection
- Water damage restoration in Pompano Beach Broward County
- Water damage restoration in Boca Raton Palm Beach County
- Water damage restoration in Fort Lauderdale Broward County
- Water damage restoration in Coral Springs Broward County
- Water damage restoration in Davie Broward County
- Water damage restoration in Coconut Creek Broward County
- Water damage restoration in Oakland Park Broward County
- Water damage restoration in Boynton Beach Palm Beach County
Don't wait. Go with the pros.
Water in the building right now?
Call the 24/7 line. We will help you stop the source, tell you what to move, and get a crew scheduled. Not urgent? Send a request and we will call you back.
Call 24/7 (954) 289-0566- 1 We answer 24/7, day or night
- 2 We help you stop the water and protect belongings
- 3 We schedule a crew and tell you when to expect them
On call 24/7
Free inspection
Schedule a no-cost on-site inspection. A restoration specialist will contact you within a few minutes to confirm the details.
Request received
Thank you. A restoration specialist will contact you at the number provided to confirm the details. If water is still coming in, call now and we'll walk you through shutting it off.
(954) 289-0566Recognized by