High Water Bill? Leak Detection Cost in Palm Beach County

A water bill that jumps with no change in your routine can point to a leak. Royal Elite Plumbing's leak detection costs $350 to $750 for the first 2 hours when equipment is needed. We start with a visual inspection. Call (561) 336-0535. Same-day service is available across Palm Beach and Broward counties.

Quick answer

A big jump in your bill with no change in use could mean a leak, according to Palm Beach County Water Utilities.

To check, read your meter, use no water for 2 hours, then read it again.

We look visually first, so you may not need equipment. With equipment, detection costs $350 to $750 for the first 2 hours.

West Palm Beach's leak credit wants repairs within 7 days of finding the leak or getting the bill. Paperwork is due within 30 days of the bill date.

We don't service sprinklers or pools. Call a professional who focuses on them.

What does it cost to find and fix the leak?

Finding the leak and fixing it are two separate costs. Prices depend on your home and the job, and a written quote follows an on-site assessment. A diagnostic fee may apply to the visit, and we'll explain it when you call.

Service	Published price
Leak detection with equipment	$350 to $750, first 2 hours
Toilet repair	From $190
Water heater replacement	From $1,700
Repipe, including polybutylene	$4,500 to $18,000 or more, free repipe estimate
Slab or in-wall pipe repair	Quoted once the leak is located
Smart water shutoff	Call for pricing

The visual inspection is where you can save money. If we can see the problem, you don't pay the equipment charge. A running toilet, for example, doesn't need a thermal camera. Ask us what applies if a search runs past 2 hours.

Seniors 55 and older, veterans, military and first responders get 10% off residential labor. Ask about it when you call.

What happens when we come out?

Most visits follow the same order, so you know what's next at each step.

We go over your bill and your home. Tell us when the bill changed and whether anyone was away.
We inspect visually. We check the meter, toilets, water heater, exposed pipes, floors and walls.
We use equipment only if needed. We tell you first. That means thermal imaging or acoustic detection, depending on the situation, and it's when the $350 to $750 range applies.
We show you what we found. Then we give you repair options and a written quote. If you need a written report of the leak location, ask us.
We make the repair you approve. Our leak repairs carry a 1-year workmanship warranty on labor.

Some leaks mean opening drywall. A slab leak can also mean cutting through flooring and concrete, or rerouting the line. We decide that case by case and tell you before we do it. Rough drywall patching is available as an option and isn't included in the repair.

Can the utility credit your bill after a leak?

Sometimes, but the rules belong to your utility and the deadlines can be short. The City of West Palm Beach leak credit form, as of November 2026, spells out its terms:

Repair window: make repairs within 7 days of discovering the leak or receiving the bill.
Paperwork: within 30 days of the bill's date, send the bill, the form and a certified plumber's repair bill, if applicable.
Credit: 100% of water usage and sewer charges above your average billing, for no more than one billing cycle.
Limits: the leak can't be due to something you did or failed to do. The city may investigate on site, and the utility's director has final approval.
Next credit: accepting a credit blocks another for 36 months.

West Palm Beach customers can check eligibility with customer service at (561) 822-1300 before applying. We give you a repair invoice to send in. Our Florida license is CFC1434273, if the city asks for it. We can't promise any utility will approve a credit.

Other cities and Palm Beach County run their own billing, and we haven't confirmed their rules. Ask your billing office about leak adjustments before the repair if you can. For county customers, that's Water Utilities at (561) 740-4600.

How can you check for a leak yourself first?

You can test for a leak with your water meter, based on the EPA's 2-hour check:

Turn off your sprinkler timer, pool filler, softener, ice maker and anything else that uses water.
Read the meter, usually near the curb, and write down every digit.
Use no water for 2 hours.
Read the meter again. If the number changed, you probably have a leak.

A moving meter can still come from an outdoor line, including irrigation. We can help narrow that down, but we don't service sprinklers, so call a professional who focuses on them. If your condo shares a meter, this test won't isolate your unit, so ask your association.

To test a toilet, the EPA suggests a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If color reaches the bowl within 10 minutes without a flush, the toilet is leaking.

What if the meter doesn't move?

A meter that holds still means no leak big enough to register was running during the test. It doesn't rule out a toilet that leaks on and off, so do the dye test too. If the toilets pass, your sprinklers or pool could be behind the bill. We don't service them, so call a professional who focuses on them.

What usually causes a high water bill?

Palm Beach County Water Utilities says toilets and irrigation systems are the most common household leak sources. EPA figures show why small leaks matter: the average household's leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons a year.

These are the places we check inside the home:

Toilets: worn flappers can leak silently, so you may not hear anything.
Water heaters: we look for water around the base or in the drain pan.
Slab and in-wall pipes: warm floor spots from a hot-water line, damp baseboards or running water sounds can all be signs.
Older supply pipes: repeated leaks in 1970s to 1990s homes may point to polybutylene.

If your home sat empty over the summer, a higher bill deserves a closer look, because nobody was using the water. Our snowbird plumbing checklist covers what to check when you get back.

When should you call right away?

Call (561) 336-0535 the same day if the meter keeps moving with everything off, or if you see water or damp floors. If standing water is near outlets or appliances, leave the home and call 911 first. If it's safe and water is spreading, shut off your main water line.

We work 7 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week, across Palm Beach and Broward counties. That includes West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Wellington, Coral Springs and Pompano Beach.

Once it's fixed, a smart water shutoff can watch for the next leak, which helps if you're away for months.

Frequently asked questions

Is a high water bill always a leak?

No. Guests, a stuck fixture or more outdoor watering can raise it too. So can a rate change or a longer billing period, so compare your gallons with the same month last year. Palm Beach County Water Utilities says a significant increase with unchanged habits could indicate a leak.

How much water use is too much?

The EPA says a family of four using more than 12,000 gallons a month in winter likely has a serious leak. That assumes no outdoor water use. Smaller households use less, so compare with your own past bills. A leak can sit well below that number.

Can you find a leak under my slab?

We can look for it. We start with a visual inspection and use thermal imaging and acoustic equipment if we need them. Reaching a slab leak can mean opening flooring and concrete, and we'll tell you before we do. Repair options depend on where the leak is.

About Royal Elite Plumbing

Royal Elite Plumbing is a team of licensed and insured master plumbers serving Palm Beach and Broward counties. We're led by a master plumber with 25+ years of licensed experience. Our Florida license is CFC1434273. We have 149 five-star Google reviews. Learn more about Royal Elite Plumbing.

Get your high water bill checked

Don't let a high bill run another cycle, especially if your utility has a repair deadline. Call (561) 336-0535 or request leak detection online. Same-day service is available.