Homes & vacation rentals
For homes, our leak detection in Malibu, CA covers leaks under slabs, inside walls and in the line from the meter, then fix them with the smallest opening we can.
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Local Leak Detection in Malibu, CA
High water bill, warm spot on the floor, or the sound of water when nothing's on? We find the leak first, then talk about fixing it.
Written by Sergio, owner of Malibu Plumbing Pros. Last updated October 2026.
Did your water bill jump and nothing changed at your house? Is there a warm spot on the tile, or a hiss in the wall when every faucet is off? That's when you call for leak detection in Malibu, CA. I'm Sergio. My job is to find the leak first, with as little tearing open as possible, and then tell you what it'll cost to fix before anybody touches a hammer.
And I'll be straight with you. Sometimes the "leak" is a toilet flapper, a cheap part you can swap yourself. If that's what it is, I'll show you how and you won't need us for the rest.
When Leak Detection May Be the Right Next Step
Sound familiar? These are the calls we get most.
My water bill doubled
Same family, same habits, but the bill keeps climbing. Water is going somewhere you can't see.
Warm spot on the floor
One patch of tile or wood feels warm under bare feet. That's often a hot water line leaking under the slab.
I hear water with it all off
A hiss or trickle inside a wall at night when nobody's using water.
Mold smell in one room
A musty smell, bubbling paint or a soft spot in the drywall, usually near a bathroom or kitchen.
Meter spins when nothing's on
You checked the meter, every tap is off, and the dial still moves.
Wet spot in the yard
A soggy patch of lawn or a green strip that never dries, even in summer. Could be the main line from the meter.
Leak Detection in Malibu, CA for Homes & Businesses
Shops, restaurants & property managers
For shops, restaurants and rentals, we track down leaks that push up water bills or show up as stains between units, and we work around your hours.
Request Commercial QuoteOur Approach
Same four steps on every leak detection job.
- STEP 01
Check the meter
We shut everything off and watch the meter. That tells us if there's a leak and how fast it's going.
- STEP 02
Split the system
We test hot and cold, house and yard, one at a time, so we know which line is losing water.
- STEP 03
Pinpoint the spot
We listen, check temperatures and moisture, and mark the spot before anything gets opened.
- STEP 04
Fix it and show you
You get the price first. Then we repair it, test it and show you the old part.
On this page
Slab leaks: the leak under your floor
A lot of homes here sit on a concrete slab, with copper water lines running right through or under it. Over time a pipe can rub on rock or concrete, or wear thin from the inside, and a pinhole opens up. The water has nowhere to go but into the slab and the dirt under it. You see it as a warm floor, a high bill, or a damp carpet edge that never dries.
Slab leaks are a big part of leak detection in Malibu, CA, and they're the jobs a lot of plumbers don't want. There's two ways to fix one. You can open the floor and repair the pipe right there. Or you can reroute: leave the bad pipe and run a new line through the walls or attic instead. Rerouting means no jackhammer in your kitchen, but it's not always the cheaper choice. I'll lay out both with real prices and let you pick.
Try this before you call for leak detection in Malibu, CA
You can check for a leak yourself in about two hours. The EPA's tip: look at your water meter, don't use any water for two hours, then look again. If the numbers moved at all, you probably have a leak.
- Toilets first. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait 15 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking. That's a cheap DIY fix.
- Look under sinks and behind the washer for drips or swollen cabinet bottoms.
- Check the water heater for water at the base or dripping from the side pipe.
Most Malibu homes get water from LA County Waterworks District 29 (they've been upgrading tanks and lines around town). If water is bubbling up between the street and your meter, call District 29's 24-hour leak line at 1-877-637-3661. That pipe is theirs. On your side of the meter, it's yours, and that's where we come in.
Why small leaks are a big deal here
The EPA says the average home's leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year, and nine percent of homes have leaks wasting 50 gallons or more a day. Across the country, that adds up to nearly 1 trillion gallons a year.
In Malibu there's one more reason to care. Most homes here aren't on a sewer. They're on septic. A leaking toilet or a dripping fixture sends extra water into your tank all day long, and the EPA says using water wisely helps a septic system work right. One running toilet alone can add up to 200 gallons a day. That's a lot of water for a leach field to soak up.
How long it takes and what it costs
Most leak detection in Malibu, CA takes a couple of hours. A simple fix, like a valve or a fitting under a sink, is often done the same visit. A slab repair or a reroute usually takes one to three days, depending on how far the new pipe has to run.
We always give you the price before work starts. For the national range, Angi's 2026 slab leak guide says slab leak detection runs $150 to $400, with an average around $280. Slab leak repair averages $2,280 including detection, and most homeowners pay between $630 and $4,400. A reroute runs $600 to $4,000. Pinhole leak repairs run $150 to $800.
Permits, and if the leak comes back
A small repair usually doesn't need a permit. A reroute or new pipe run does. In Malibu we pull it through City of Malibu Building Safety. In Pacific Palisades, it's the City of Los Angeles, through LADBS plumbing permits. In Topanga, it's LA County Building and Safety. We handle the paperwork and the inspection.
If the spot we fixed leaks again, call me. We come back and make it right. That's Sergio's Done-Right Guarantee. If a different pipe starts leaking later (it happens with older copper), I'll tell you straight if it's connected and what your choices are, including repiping if it gets to that point.
What to Expect
Here's what leak detection in Malibu, CA looks like with us.
Time: A couple of hours to find most leaks. Simple repairs are often done the same day. Slab repairs or reroutes, one to three days.
Mess: We mark the spot first so the opening is small. Drop cloths down, dust kept in check, and we clean up when we leave. Patching drywall or tile after is usually a separate trade, and I'll tell you up front.
Permits: Small repairs, usually none. Reroutes and new pipe runs, yes. We pull them.
Cost: I quote before I start. The national range for slab leak detection is $150 to $400, per Angi.
Last updated October 2026.
How do I know if I have a slab leak?
Look for a warm spot on the floor, a water bill that keeps going up, or the sound of water when everything is off. A meter that moves with all taps off is the best clue. Call us and we'll check the meter and test the lines before anything gets opened up.
Will you have to tear up my floor?
Not always. We find the exact spot first, so if we do open the floor, it's a small hole, not a whole room. A lot of times a reroute is the better choice. That means a new pipe through the walls or attic, with no jackhammer in your kitchen. I'll give you both prices.
Can I find a leak myself?
Yes, you can start. Check your meter, use no water for two hours, then check it again. If it moved, there's a leak. Food coloring in the toilet tank catches leaky flappers. If you can't find it after that, call us for leak detection in Malibu, CA and we'll take it from there.
Is a leak an emergency?
If water is spraying, pooling or coming through a ceiling, yes. Shut off the main and call. A slow hidden leak is usually not an emergency, but don't wait weeks. Water under a slab or in a wall can cause mold and damage over time. See our emergency plumbing page.