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spbrendasp · Feb 15, 2007, 07:15 PM

We have a leak .Plumber couldn't find,said we needed to get a leak detection business.They said it would cost an estimate of 2-$300.00 just to find leak, why is that? And I read on here they would find leak and then bared it and bag dirt what exactly do they do?What's this mean? We think it is under concrete slab? And does this charge including the leak finding and bared the pipe and bag the dirt? I think that's how I read it.Thanks...

speedball1 · Feb 16, 2007, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by spbrendasp

We have a leak .Plumber couldnt find,said we needed to get a leak detection business.They said it would cost an estimate of 2-$300.00 just to find leak, why is that? And I read on here they would find leak and then bared it and bag dirt what exactly do they do?Whats this mean? We think it is under concrete slab? and does this charge including the leak finding and bared the pipe and bag the dirt? I think thats how I read it.Thanks......

When you have a leak under the slab it's impossible to pin-point it so we call in a company called Sleuth. They bring in a sensitive listening device and mark the spot on the slab where the sound's the loudest. They then jackhammer up the slab and dig down to the pipe bagging the dirt that's dug up. This is all included in one price. Then they call us and we drain the system, replace the bad section of pipe, fill and patch the hole. The exception to this is if the leak's located under a cabinet.
Then they mark the leak and we have to remove the cabinet and jackhammer up the slab ourselves.
This service's worth the money as the leak can be some distance away from where water or a warm spot in the slab's is located and you can tear up a lot of slab if you're trying it yourself. Regards, Tom

spbrendasp · Feb 16, 2007, 08:39 PM

Thanks speedball1.We had someone come out but they did not dig nothing they just found it and charged me 200.we are fixing the problem.I spent 310.00 for someone to tell me I had a leak and where1 Something I already new... OUTRAGEOUS!! That's why no one never likes to call on a plumber because they are so high.Oh well Thanks anyway for your reply.

letmetellu · Feb 16, 2007, 09:39 PM

Just wait until the day that you are up to your knees in poop and then you can call Home Depot or Lowe's, tell them what your problem is and see how fast they get over there with the equipment to take care of your stopped up sewer. If you have a good relationship with a plumber over a period he will treat you right in every way.
The guy with the leak detector is the guy that wants to make his money with out getting his hands dirty, and he has not spent up to seven years working in the business just so he can get his license. He doesn't have to have one.

doug238 · Feb 17, 2007, 03:13 AM

Brenda, was the leak under the concrete? Was it a pinhole leak or was it a leak from a hard object rubbing the pipe? If you got a pinhole leak on a copper pipe then your problems are just beginning. Typically a pinhole leak is caused by electrolosys and that pinhole was simply the weakest spot in the system. If you do not stop the electrolosys then you can expect more leaks. Alsop, many people that repair their own copper below the floor have a leak on that repair in the future and have to redo the repair.