Before you pay anyone
Run the free test before you pay for detection
Your water meter will tell you whether you have a leak. That part costs nothing and takes two hours of leaving the taps alone.
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Short answer. Do the meter test first, it is free: turn off every tap, then watch the meter's leak indicator. Professional detection typically runs $175 to $350, with simple jobs from $75 and difficult ones above $1,000. Ask whether the detection fee comes off the repair before you book.
The free test, first
The City of Tampa sets it out plainly, and it works on any meter:
- Find the meter, usually in a box in the ground near the curb.
- Check the serial number on the meter matches the one on your bill, so you are reading your own.
- Turn off every tap and water-using appliance, inside and out.
- Watch the small leak indicator on the dial, a triangle or star. If it turns with everything off, water is moving somewhere it should not be.
Source: City of Tampa, check for leaks.
What detection costs
| Typical residential job | $175 to $350 |
|---|---|
| Simple job | $75 to $150 |
| Difficult case | can exceed $1,000 |
| Acoustic detection | $100 to $800 |
| Video camera inspection | $150 to $500 |
| Pressure testing | $250 to $500 |
| Smoke testing, drains and sewer | about $250 to $300 |
Source: Drizzlex, plumber leak detection cost, 2026.
We found no published price attached specifically to thermal imaging, tracer gas or moisture meters as separate line items, so this page does not invent one.
Slab leaks, where the two sources disagree
Detection alone on a slab leak:
- Angi: $150 to $400, averaging $280.
- Drizzlex: $100 to $700.
The ranges overlap but they are not the same, so treat the lower end as optimistic. Angi puts detection plus the repair at an average near $2,280, from $630 to $4,400 for most jobs, and up to $6,750 where access is difficult.
Sources: Angi, foundation slab leak repair cost, July 2026; Drizzlex, 2026.
Ask whether the fee comes off the repair
One industry guide notes that a flat diagnostic fee may be billed separately or applied toward the repair. We could not find a consumer body confirming this is standard practice, so do not assume it. Ask before the van is booked, and get the answer in writing.
Source: Drizzlex, 2026.
What a Florida utility will and will not do
Worth a phone call before you hire anyone, because the answer differs sharply by city.
| JEA, Jacksonville | A free in-home water assessment. A meter specialist checks the meter, the toilets and the irrigation, and works out what is driving the usage. Also a free irrigation assessment that checks the meter for leaks. |
|---|---|
| Miami-Dade Water and Sewer | No free detection. A bill credit after the leak is found and repaired: a form within 30 days of being notified of high usage, repairs complete, prior balance paid, and a $30 administrative fee. |
| City of Orlando | No free detection. A sewer bill credit after repair, on proof of repair such as a plumbing receipt, applied within one or two billing cycles. |
| City of Tampa | No free detection. A free toilet flapper and a free indoor conservation kit. |
Sources: JEA and News4Jax; Miami-Dade underground leak adjustment form; City of Orlando sewer bill credit; City of Tampa water conservation.
Where this comes from
Every figure above is published by the organisation named beside it. Nothing on this page is our own estimate.
- City of Tampa, check for leaks
- Drizzlex, plumber leak detection cost
- Angi, foundation slab leak repair cost, July 2026
- JEA, free irrigation assessments
- News4Jax, JEA free in-home assessment
- Miami-Dade County, underground leak adjustment request
- City of Orlando, request a sewer bill credit