| Service | Typical Gold Coast cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Leak detection, house | $200 to $500 or more |
| Pool leak detection | $300 to $600 or more |
| Burst pipe repair, accessible | $250 to $650 plus parts |
| Under-slab leak repair | $1,500 to $4,000 plus |
What does professional leak detection actually include?
A proper leak detection visit includes pressure testing, acoustic listening equipment, thermal imaging where useful, and a clear answer about where the leak is before anything gets cut open. We isolate sections of the plumbing to confirm which line is losing water, then use listening gear to pinpoint the noise of water escaping under pressure, and thermal imaging to spot the temperature signature of a hot water leak under a slab or behind a wall. The point of paying $200 to $500 or more for detection is precision: one small access hole in the right place instead of exploratory demolition across a bathroom. You get the location, the cause and a fixed repair quote before any repair starts.
How do I know if I have a hidden leak?
The water meter test tells you in 10 minutes: turn off every tap and appliance, then watch the meter, and if it is still ticking over, water is going somewhere. Do it at night or when the house is empty so nothing muddies the result. Other signs we see constantly on the Gold Coast: a warm patch on a tiled or concrete floor, which usually means a hot water line leaking under the slab, unexplained damp or mould on a wall, the sound of running water when everything is off, a hot water system running more than usual, and a water bill that has jumped without a change in habits. Any one of these is worth a phone call. Two or more together is a leak until proven otherwise.
Why do leaks happen under concrete slabs?
Slab leaks happen because pipes buried in or under concrete corrode, rub through at contact points, or crack as the slab moves, and Gold Coast homes have plenty of all three risk factors. Homes from the 1970s through 1990s often have copper hot water lines run under the slab, and decades of hot water flow plus slightly aggressive water chemistry thins the pipe wall until it pinholes. Sandy and reactive soils let slabs move seasonally, stressing rigid pipes. Hot water lines fail more often than cold because heat accelerates corrosion, which matches what we find: the majority of slab leaks we detect are on the hot side. Left alone, a slab leak soaks the ground under your footings, so early detection protects the house, not just the water bill.
What does it cost to fix the leak once it is found?
An accessible burst pipe costs $250 to $650 plus parts to repair, while an under-slab leak runs $1,500 to $4,000 plus. Accessible means we can reach the pipe through a wall cavity, under the floor or in the ceiling without breaking structure. Under-slab repairs cost more because the options are cutting the slab at the precisely located leak point, or rerouting that section of pipe overhead through the roof and walls to bypass the buried run entirely. Rerouting often wins on older homes because it retires the whole failing line rather than patching one pinhole in a pipe that will pinhole again a metre along. We price both options after detection so you can choose with real numbers.
How does pool leak detection work and what does it cost?
Pool leak detection costs $300 to $600 or more and works through a process of elimination: bucket testing to confirm the loss is a leak rather than evaporation, pressure testing the pipework, and dye or listening tests on the shell, fittings and light niches. Gold Coast pools lose a surprising amount to honest evaporation in summer, so the bucket test matters before anyone spends money. If the pool only loses water with the pump running, the suspect is the pipework. If it loses water constantly to a certain level, the shell or a fitting at that level is leaking. Finding a pool leak early saves real money, both in water top-ups and chemicals, and in avoiding damage to the surrounding structure.
Is leak detection worth it, or should I just start cutting?
Detection almost always costs less than exploratory demolition, which is exactly why we do it first. Cutting open walls or jackhammering a slab on a guess routinely wrecks $1,000 or more of tiling and plaster before the leak is even found, and you still pay for the repair and the reinstatement. Spending $200 to $500 or more to put one hole in the right place is the cheap part of the job. It also gives you paperwork: a located, documented leak with photos supports insurance claims for the resulting damage and proves to a future buyer that the problem was found and properly fixed.
Think you have a hidden leak?
We find leaks under slabs, behind walls and in pools across the Gold Coast, and quote the repair as a fixed price before we start. Call Jieye on 0472 657 042 or book through our leak detection service page.