A short phone call can tell you almost everything. Ask about licensing, equipment, documentation, pricing, repairs, and warranty -- and listen for specific answers, not vague reassurance.
Pool leak detection is a specialized trade, and the quality gap between companies is wide. Before you book anyone, a few direct questions will tell you whether you are talking to a professional operation or someone guessing with a listening stick. Here is exactly what to ask.
Ask for the company's Florida contractor license number and confirm it at myfloridalicense.com. Also ask whether they carry liability insurance. A licensed, insured company has met state requirements and has accountability if something goes wrong on your property. An unlicensed operator has neither. Leak and Subsurface Locators holds Florida Pool Contractor License CPC1457277.
Ask the technician to name their tools, not describe a vague "inspection." A properly equipped company should mention acoustic hydrophones, a water pressure testing manifold, rubber test plugs, an electronic pipe locator, and dye testing equipment -- and trace gas for stubborn underground breaks. If the answer is just "we listen for it" or "we check the equipment pad," that is a one-tool operation, not a full diagnostic process.
Ask whether you will receive documentation of what was tested, what each test showed, and what was confirmed or ruled out. A written report matters for three reasons: it gives a repair contractor something concrete to work from, it protects you if the issue resurfaces, and it is often required for real estate transactions or HOA records. A verbal "yep, found it" with nothing in writing is not a professional deliverable.
Ask whether the visit is a flat rate or billed hourly, and whether there is a trip fee for your area. Flat-rate pricing is more predictable and means the technician is not incentivized to work slowly. Also ask what the price includes -- some companies charge extra per plumbing line tested or per return trip. Get the number before the technician arrives, not after.
Ask whether the company only detects leaks or also performs the repair work. There is no single right answer here, but it changes what you should watch for. A detection-only company has less incentive to find (or report) more damage than exists. A company that does both should still hand you a written report before quoting repair work, so you can evaluate the findings independently if you choose to.
Ask what happens if the leak is not found the same day, and whether return visits are included or billed again. Ask specifically what "guaranteed" or "warrantied" means in their pricing -- some companies use those words loosely. Get the guarantee terms in plain language before you book, not after the invoice.
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Licensed CPC1457277. Full tool stack. Written documentation. Call Sandra to schedule.
No. A professional company expects this question and can produce the information immediately. Hesitation or defensiveness in response is itself useful information about who you are hiring.
It is reasonable to call more than one company and compare answers to these questions. Just weigh equipment, licensing, and documentation more heavily than price alone -- the cheapest visit that misses the leak ends up costing more in the long run.
Pricing varies by company and scope of testing. See our pool leak detection cost guide for typical ranges, or call (954) 290-5177 for Broward or (561) 325-2678 for Palm Beach for a direct quote.