Pressure isolation
Closing valves and testing sections of the system tells us whether the leak is on the hot side, the cold side, the yard line or a specific branch.
Newport Beach plumbing service
Leak detection and slab leak repair in Newport Beach
A water bill that jumped, a warm spot on the floor, or the sound of running water when everything is off? We find the leak first, then give you repair options in writing.
Call (949) 620-1945Request service
Written and fact-checked by John, editor, MBA in marketing
Updated against City, utility and state sources
Quick answer
To check for a hidden leak, turn off every fixture and watch your water meter. If it keeps moving, water is leaking on your side. A plumber then uses acoustic, thermal and pressure tests to pinpoint it before opening a wall or floor. Slab leaks are fixed by spot repair, rerouting the line overhead, or repiping. Call (949) 620-1945.
- Typical household leaks
- 9,300+ gallons a year (EPA)
- Homes with big leaks
- 10% waste 90+ gal/day (EPA)
- Median home built
- 1978
- Price
- In writing first
How to check for a hidden leak yourself
Your water meter is the best leak detector you own. With every fixture off, it should not move.
Turn everything off
Stop the dishwasher, washer, irrigation and ice maker. Make sure no toilet is refilling.
Read the meter
Find the meter box near the curb. Look for a small leak indicator dial or a digital flow reading. Write down the numbers.
Wait and read again
Wait 15 to 30 minutes without using water. If the reading changed or the indicator is spinning, water is going somewhere.
Split the house from the yard
Close the main shutoff at the house and check the meter again. If it still moves, the leak is in the line between the meter and the house. If it stops, the leak is inside the home or in irrigation.
Rule out the toilets
EPA WaterSense suggests a drop of food coloring in each toilet tank. If color shows in the bowl within 10 minutes without flushing, the flapper is leaking. Flush afterward so the tank does not stain.
Signs of a slab leak
A slab leak is a leak in a water line running under or through a concrete foundation, and it often shows up as heat, sound or a bill before you ever see water.
- A warm or hot spot on a tile or wood floor, a sign of a hot water line leak
- The sound of running water when nothing is on
- A water heater that runs constantly
- Damp carpet, cupping hardwood or cracked tile with no visible source
- Low water pressure that came on gradually
- A water bill well above the same month last year
- A meter that moves with everything off
Slab leaks are common in Newport Beach neighborhoods built on concrete slabs in the 1960s and 1970s, including Eastbluff and Harbor View and parts of Westcliff and Dover Shores. Census estimates put the median Newport Beach home at 1978, so a lot of copper in town is more than 45 years old.
How we find a leak without tearing up the house
Leak detection combines several tests to narrow a leak to a small area before anyone cuts drywall or breaks concrete.
Acoustic listening
Water escaping a pressurized pipe makes a distinct sound. Ground microphones and listening equipment trace it through slab and walls.
Thermal imaging
Hot water leaks warm the surrounding concrete or drywall. A thermal camera shows the pattern.
Moisture mapping
Moisture meters confirm how far water has spread, which matters for drying and for your insurance claim.
Once the leak is marked, you get a written report of what was found and the repair options, with photos. That paperwork helps with insurance adjusters and with HOA boards in condo buildings.
Slab leak repair options
There are three ways to fix a slab leak, and the right one depends on the age and condition of the rest of your copper.
Spot repair
- Open the slab at the leak and repair that section
- Best for a single leak in otherwise healthy pipe
- Means breaking and patching concrete and flooring
Reroute
- Abandon the leaking line and run a new one through the attic or walls
- Avoids opening the slab
- Often the best value for one bad line
Repipe
- Replace all supply lines in the house
- Best when several pinhole leaks have appeared
- Ends the cycle of repeat leaks
If you have had two or more pinhole leaks in a few years, the pipe is telling you something. Repairing leak after leak usually costs more over time than a planned repipe.
Other hidden leaks we track down
- Yard service lines. The line between the meter and the house can leak underground, especially in sandy soil near the harbor where it shows up as a wet patch or sinkhole.
- Shower pans and valves. Water behind tile or under a shower pan can rot framing for months before it shows on a ceiling.
- Condo and townhome leaks. A stain on your ceiling may come from the unit above. Finding the source quickly helps owners and HOAs sort out responsibility.
- Irrigation and pool lines. If the meter stops when the irrigation is off, the leak is in the landscape system.
- Salt-corroded fittings. Exposed copper and brass near the water corrode faster. Hose bibs and exterior valves on Balboa Island and the Peninsula are frequent culprits.
How to prepare for a leak detection visit
A little preparation makes the test faster and more accurate.
- Note your water meter reading and the time, and any readings you took with everything off
- Have your last few water bills handy so we can compare usage
- Clear access to the water heater, main shutoff, meter box and under-sink cabinets
- Do not run irrigation, the dishwasher or the washer during the visit
- Tell us about past leaks, repairs and any reroutes, if you know them
- In a condo, let the HOA know in case a building shutoff is needed
What you get after leak detection
You get a written report you can use with your insurer, HOA or contractor.
- The location of the leak, marked on site and noted in writing
- Whether it is on the hot or cold side, or in the yard line
- Photos of the readings and the area
- Repair options with written prices: spot repair, reroute or repipe
- Notes on any other pipe concerns found during testing
If water has soaked flooring, drywall or cabinets, drying should start quickly. Your insurer may send a water mitigation company. We focus on stopping and repairing the leak so drying can begin.
Leaks in the yard line and near the harbor
The water service line between the meter and the house is the owner's to repair, and in sandy soil a leak can travel before it surfaces.
On the Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island and Lido Isle, homes sit on sandy ground close to the water table. A leaking service line may not puddle where it breaks. Instead you may see a damp strip along a walkway, a settling paver, or a meter that moves when the house shutoff is closed. If the main shutoff at the house is closed and the meter still moves, the leak is between the meter and the house. Replacing a long-failing service line is often smarter than patching it.
Leaks on the street side of the meter belong to your water agency. City customers can call 949-644-3011, or Newport Beach Police at 949-644-3717 after hours, who dispatch a City crew.
Leak symptoms and where they usually point
The type of clue narrows the search before any equipment comes out.
| What you notice | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Warm spot on the floor | Hot water line under the slab |
| Meter moves with the house shutoff closed | Service line between the meter and the house |
| Meter stops when irrigation is off | Landscape irrigation system |
| Ceiling stain below a bathroom | Shower pan, valve, drain or toilet seal above |
| Damp baseboard near a kitchen or bath wall | Supply line or drain in that wall |
| Water heater runs constantly | Hot side leak somewhere in the house |
| Running water sound at night | Toilet flapper or a pressurized line leak |
Leak detection and repair costs: published estimates
Finding a leak costs far less than the damage it causes, and published figures show the gap.
| Service | Published figure | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Slab leak detection | $150 to $600, about $280 average | HomeAdvisor via Angi, 2024 |
| Slab leak repair | $630 to $4,400, about $2,300 average | HomeAdvisor via Angi, 2024 |
| Leaking pipes, Newport Beach | About $712 average | This Old House, April 2024 |
| Burst pipe, Newport Beach | About $5,936 average | This Old House, April 2024 |
| Whole-house repipe | $1,500 to $15,000, about $7,500 average | Angi |
Leak calls across Newport Beach
Harbor View slab home
A warm hallway floor and a water heater that never stops. Leak detection finds a hot line under the slab, and a reroute through the attic avoids breaking the floor.
Balboa Island cottage
A damp strip along the side walk and a meter that keeps turning. The service line in sandy soil has failed, and replacement makes more sense than a patch.
Eastbluff townhome
A stain on the downstairs ceiling. The source is the shower valve upstairs. Written findings go to the HOA and both owners.
Corona del Mar remodel
Old galvanized lines found behind a kitchen wall during demolition. The best time to repipe is while the walls are open.
Leak mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for the next bill to confirm it. The meter test takes 30 minutes and costs nothing.
- Opening walls or floors before the leak is located. Detection first saves patching in the wrong place.
- Patching a third pinhole leak. At that point a repipe usually costs less over time.
- Skipping documentation. Photos and written findings help with insurance and HOAs.
- Leaving wet materials to dry on their own. Start drying quickly after the repair.
Water pressure and repeat leaks
High water pressure strains every pipe, fitting and supply hose in the house, so it is worth checking after any leak.
A pressure gauge on a hose bib takes a minute to read. If static pressure is high, or if a pressure reducing valve has failed, fixtures can drip, pipes can bang, the water heater relief valve can discharge, and weak spots in old copper can let go. Many homes have a pressure reducing valve near the main shutoff. When it fails, pressure creeps up without anyone noticing. Replacing a failed valve is a small job compared with the leaks it can cause. Keep in mind that a pressure reducing valve can make the plumbing a closed system, which brings in the California Plumbing Code requirement for an expansion tank or other approved device on homes with a storage water heater.
After the leak is fixed: drying and next steps
Stopping the water is step one; drying the structure is step two, and it should start quickly.
- Remove standing water and wet rugs, and move furniture off damp flooring
- Run fans and a dehumidifier, or let your insurer's mitigation company set up drying equipment
- Open cabinet doors under sinks and remove baseboards if water reached behind them
- Watch for musty smells or new stains over the following weeks
- Keep the plumber's findings, photos and invoice with your claim
- In condos, share the written findings with the HOA and any affected neighbors
Condo leaks: finding the source settles the question
In attached buildings, who pays usually depends on where the leak started and what your CC&Rs say, so locating the source comes first.
A leak inside one unit's fixture or supply line is often treated differently from a leak in a shared pipe inside a common wall or a building riser. Your HOA's governing documents and insurance policies set the rules. Our written findings show exactly where the water came from, which gives the board, the owners and the adjusters the same facts to work from. If the leak keeps returning in the same stack or riser, a camera or pressure test of the shared line can show whether a building-wide repair is due.
Leaks, insurance and your water bill
Document everything from the first sign of a leak.
Take photos of the damage and the meter reading, keep the plumber's written findings and invoice, and call your insurer early. Many policies treat sudden leaks differently from slow, long-term ones, so fast action and good records help. If your water bill spiked, ask your water agency whether it offers any leak adjustment once the repair is made. City customers can reach Utilities at 949-644-3011, IRWD customers at (949) 453-5300, and Mesa Water customers at (949) 574-1036.
Water where it shouldn't be? Call now.
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Questions Newport Beach homeowners ask
How do I know if I have a slab leak?
Common signs are a warm spot on the floor, running water sounds when nothing is on, a water heater that runs nonstop, damp flooring with no visible source, and a meter that moves with all fixtures off. Leak detection confirms it before any concrete is opened.
How do plumbers find hidden water leaks?
By isolating sections of the system with pressure tests, then pinpointing the leak with acoustic listening equipment, thermal imaging and moisture meters. The goal is to mark the leak precisely before cutting into walls or floors.
Is it better to reroute or repair a slab leak?
If the rest of the pipe is healthy, a spot repair or a reroute works. Rerouting avoids breaking the slab and is often the better value. If you have had several pinhole leaks, a whole-house repipe usually makes more sense.
How much water can a hidden leak waste?
EPA WaterSense says household leaks can waste over 9,300 gallons a year in an average home, and 10% of homes have leaks wasting 90 gallons or more every day.
Why do copper pipes get pinhole leaks?
Pinhole leaks usually come from corrosion working through the pipe wall over time. Water chemistry, high velocity, age and installation quality all play a part. Once one appears in older copper, more often follow.
Will the water company fix a leak on my side of the meter?
No. Your water agency handles its mains and the public side. Leaks in the line from the meter to your house, and inside the house, are the owner's to repair.
Can you help with a leak coming from the condo above me?
Yes. We find the source, document it with photos and written findings, and repair it. That record helps owners and HOAs sort out who is responsible.
How much does slab leak detection cost?
HomeAdvisor data published by Angi lists slab leak detection at $150 to $600, about $280 on average, and slab leak repair at $630 to $4,400, about $2,300 on average, as 2024 estimates. You get a written price before work starts.
Does homeowners insurance cover slab leaks?
Coverage varies by policy. Some policies help with resulting water damage or the cost to access the pipe but not the pipe repair itself. Document the leak and call your insurer early.
Can a slab leak damage my foundation?
Water escaping under a slab for a long time can soak and move the soil beneath it, which is one reason to find and fix slab leaks quickly rather than letting them run.
How long does leak detection take?
Most homes are handled in a single visit, with the leak marked and options written up before the plumber leaves. Large homes or several leaks can take longer.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources, checked October 31, 2026.
- EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak fact sheet
- Newport Beach housing data, ACS 2020 to 2024 (Neilsberg)
- City of Newport Beach Fire, water districts and phone numbers
- City of Newport Beach, Water Maintenance and Repair
- Mesa Water District: water quality report
- IRWD 2026 Water Quality Report
- EPA WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week
- This Old House: Newport Beach plumbing costs
- HomeAdvisor via Angi: slab leak detection cost (2024)
- Angi: whole-house repipe cost