The cost of leak detection depends on how hidden the leak is. A dripping supply line under a sink is found in minutes. A leak inside a wall, under a slab or in the yard takes longer to locate and more work to reach. At Plumbing Doctor the visit starts with a $49 service call, and you get a flat price for the repair before work starts.
What changes the price?
- Where the leak is. Exposed pipes in a basement are quick. Leaks inside finished walls and ceilings, under a concrete slab or underground take more time to pinpoint and reach.
- How long it has been leaking. A long-running leak may have damaged more pipe, fittings or framing around it.
- Pipe type. Old galvanized steel or corroded copper may need a longer section replaced than the spot that's leaking.
- Openings. We open walls or ceilings only where the repair has to happen, but drywall patching afterward is a separate cost.
- Time of day. Nights, weekends and holidays add our $250 after-hours fee.
How do I know if I have a hidden leak?
Turn off every faucet and appliance, then watch your water meter. If it still moves, water is going somewhere. Other signs: a water bill that jumps for no reason, stains on ceilings or walls, warped floors, a musty smell, or the sound of running water when nothing is on. Mike covers more in How to tell if you have a slab leak.
Why finding it first saves money
Guessing means opening the wrong wall. We confirm the leak at the meter, then isolate sections of the plumbing until it's narrowed to one line or fixture, and only then open anything. That keeps drywall and flooring repairs small.
When does repiping make more sense?
If you're fixing a new leak every few months, the pipe itself is failing. At that point repiping the worst sections, or the whole house, often costs less than patching leak after leak.
How Plumbing Doctor quotes
You get a flat price for the repair once the leak is found, and it doesn't change once work starts. Every repair comes with 1 year on parts and labor. See leak detection and repair or call 908-873-6686.
Michael Holt
Owner and operator of Plumbing Doctor, NJ Master Plumber (Lic. #36BI01345600) and U.S. military veteran.
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