Emergency service · San Francisco
Leak Detection & Repair
Water stains, a rising SFPUC bill, mildew behind a baseboard, or a Leak Alert notification usually mean a hidden leak, and in San Francisco's pre-1960s housing stock, it's most often a pinhole in aging galvanized supply line, a slab leak stressed by seismic movement, or a drip migrating through original plaster. We use acoustic sensors, thermal cameras, and pressure testing to pinpoint the failure with surgical precision, protecting your Victorian finishes from exploratory demolition.
What this service includes
- Non-invasive leak location with acoustic, thermal, and static pressure testing
- Galvanized pinhole diagnosis in pre-1960s SF homes (and a clear repipe recommendation when it's time)
- Slab leak and underground leak location under additions, garages, and ground floors
- Wall, ceiling, and foundation leak repair, preserving original plaster and wood
- SFPUC Leak Alert response and Leak Allowance paperwork support
- Video pipe inspection to confirm the source before we open anything up
Why neighbors call Lutz
We've been doing this in San Francisco since 1929. Over the decades we've learned that the best plumbing service has less to do with clever marketing and more to do with showing up on time, diagnosing honestly, and doing the work right the first time.
Every Leak Detection job we take on comes with our craftsmanship warranty, fully licensed technicians, and transparent pricing. If you've been burned by the industry before, we hope we'll be the company that restores your faith in it.
Our process
- 1Diagnose
We inspect the actual problem with camera or thermal tools where it matters, before we quote anything.
- 2Quote
Written quote before any work starts. Simple jobs get a fixed price; complex ones get a clear scope plus how we'll handle anything we discover along the way. No surprise invoicing.
- 3Fix
Permitted, licensed, and to code. Tidy site management. Done in the smallest number of visits possible.
- 4Warranty
We sign off on our own work. If it's not right, we come back.
Common questions
How quickly can you get here?
We aim to dispatch within a few hours for emergencies across San Francisco, depending on crew availability. Scheduled service is usually available same-day or next-day.
Do you handle permits?
Yes. Every job that requires a permit is permitted by us, signed off by DBI or SFPUC as appropriate, and the paperwork is handed to you when we're done.
What's your warranty?
Craftsmanship is warrantied for one year. Most manufacturer warranties we'll handle on your behalf if an issue comes up.