How much does leak detection cost?

Most leak detection diagnostics on Long Island run $300-$550 depending on pool size and complexity. We give you a clear quote upfront — diagnostic cost is separate from the actual repair cost.

How much water loss is too much?

Anything beyond 1/4 to 1/2 inch per week (Long Island summer evaporation rate) is a leak. Some homeowners notice gradual increases; others notice when the autofill never shuts off. Both are worth diagnosing.

How long does it take to find a leak?

Most leak detection visits are 2-4 hours on site. Some leaks reveal themselves quickly; others take systematic testing. Either way, we do not leave without an answer.

Can you find leaks without breaking the deck?

Almost always. Pressure testing and dye testing identify the location precisely — usually within inches. That tells us whether the repair needs to expose the leak or whether it can be addressed from the surface.

What is the most common leak source?

Plumbing connections — at the skimmer, at the return fittings, or at the equipment pad. These are also the cheapest leaks to fix because they do not require structural work.

Can a leak get worse over time?

Yes. A small plumbing leak undermines the soil around your pool, which can lead to deck settlement, hardscape cracking, and even shell stress. Fix early, fix cheap.

What about liner leaks — can you patch them?

Small pinhole leaks in vinyl liners can be patched and last for years. Larger tears or multiple leaks usually point to an aging liner that is better replaced than patched.

Pool Leak Detection · Suffolk + Nassau

Find the leak. Fix it once.

Pressure testing, dye testing, and electronic detection across gunite, vinyl liner, and fiberglass pools — by techs who know where pools actually leak.

A pool losing water is one of the most expensive problems in residential property ownership — not because the water costs anything, but because the secondary damage from a slow leak runs into the tens of thousands. Saturated soil destabilizes pool walls. Eroded backfill cracks the deck. Wet soil rots wood structures, attracts termites, and undermines patios. A leak found early is a $1,500 fix. A leak found two years late is a major reconstruction.

How we find leaks

Bucket test confirmation — eliminates evaporation as a cause before any other testing
Static pressure testing — every plumbing line individually pressure-tested with isolation plugs to identify the failed line
Dye testing — fluorescent or color dye injected at suspected failure points to confirm location
Electronic listening / sonar — hydrophone equipment for underground leaks at depth
Visual inspection — skimmer throats, returns, light niches, main drain, tile line, coping joints, shell
Equipment pad inspection — pumps, filter, heater, valves — sometimes the leak is on the equipment side, not the pool

Common leak locations

Skimmer throat cracks — most common gunite leak. Concrete joint between the skimmer body and the shell separates over time.
Plumbing line failures — usually at fittings, often where lines come up through the deck or transition to equipment
Light niche separations — gasket failures or shell separations behind underwater lights
Liner tears at returns and lights — most common vinyl pool leak source
Coping joint deterioration — water entering at coping/deck joints and finding its way down
Main drain seal failures — rare but consequential, typically requires partial drain to access
Shell cracks — uncommon on properly built pools but possible on aging or settled shells

What it costs

Diagnostic visit with pressure testing and dye testing: $350–$675
Electronic / sonar detection for elusive leaks: $475–$925
Repair quote provided separately once the leak is located

If we find the leak quickly and can do basic repair on-site (skimmer throat, simple plumbing repair, tile/grout repair), we’ll often quote a combined diagnostic-plus-repair number.

Frequently asked

How much water loss is normal vs a leak?

Long Island pools typically lose 0.25″–0.5″ per day to evaporation in summer, less in spring and fall. Anything over 1″ per day is almost certainly a leak. The bucket test definitively separates evaporation from leak loss.

How long does leak detection take?

Standard diagnostic visit: 2–4 hours on-site. Complex multi-line testing or sonar work: half day to full day.

Can leaks be found without draining the pool?

Almost always yes. Modern pressure testing and electronic detection work on full pools. Draining is occasionally needed for very specific repair work (main drain reseat, certain shell repairs) but not for diagnostic work.

Do you do leak detection on pools you didn’t build?

Yes — most leak detection work is on pools built by other companies. Bring us the water-loss pattern, the age of the pool, and any recent repair history.

Request a Consultation

Where We Work

All of Long Island

We bring this service to homes across the Hamptons, North Shore Gold Coast, and Central Suffolk. Pick your town for local permit details, pricing, and timeline.

East Hampton
Southampton
Bridgehampton
Sag Harbor
Westhampton Beach
Lloyd Harbor
Cold Spring Harbor
Oyster Bay
Old Westbury
Smithtown
Dix Hills
Huntington