When a stunningly remodeled home in Oldsmar, Florida started showing signs of a sky-high water bill, the homeowners were confused and frustrated. Everything in the house was brand new—appliances, cabinets, tile floors—painstakingly restored after the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene and Milton the year before. On the surface, this home located just off Tampa Road, near Sheffield Park and Forest Lakes, looked flawless.
But under the surface? Water was silently flooding the slab.
That’s when the homeowner called I Find Leaks—Oldsmar’s trusted leak detection professionals.
The first sign of trouble wasn’t visual—it was audible. The homeowner reported hearing the sound of running water beneath the floor, despite never seeing any visible signs of moisture. After carefully pinpointing the source using professional equipment, our technician placed a blue arrow on the tile to mark the exact location of the hidden slab leak beneath the kitchen.
From a wider angle, the severity of the situation became more poignant. Brand new appliances—still wrapped in protective plastic. Gleaming floors. Pristine cabinetry. This Oldsmar kitchen had never even been used. The family had only just returned after months of restoration, and now, a potential slab leak threatened to tear it all apart again.
Oldsmar residents know that the City of Oldsmar Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the city’s infrastructure, including water lines leading to each property. But once the water enters your home, it’s up to you to find and fix leaks—especially hidden ones under concrete.
That’s where slab and underground leak detection comes in.
Inside the base cabinet, our technician Jeremy got to work using a precise ultrasonic leak detector, honing in on a CPVC pipe suspected of leaking. The device picked up activity under the concrete slab—exactly where the main kitchen water line ran.
From a slightly different angle, the evidence became even clearer. The angle stop valve leading to the sink was in view, and the ultrasonic tool confirmed the leak was close by. This was more than just a nuisance. This was an active, high-volume slab leak.
But just how bad was it?
The digital Neptune water meter provided the shocking answer: 8.9 gallons per minute. That’s not a trickle—that’s a flood. With that much water escaping, it was only a matter of time before the slab started to erode or the beautiful new kitchen began to show signs of water damage.
For context, an average running faucet flows at about 2 gallons per minute. This leak was like having four faucets running nonstop under the foundation.
Without expert leak detection, a plumber might’ve jackhammered the entire kitchen, blindly searching for the source. But with I Find Leaks’ water leak detection services, we were able to pinpoint the exact location of the leak—saving thousands in unnecessary damage.
This final photo shows where it all came together. A blue arrow on the tile floor marks the spot directly beneath the brand new sink cabinet. Rather than destroy the kitchen, we recommended rerouting the kitchen water lines, which is a cleaner and more efficient solution that preserves the homeowner’s renovation.
If you live in Oldsmar, whether it’s near Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve, East Lake Woodlands, or anywhere near R.E. Olds Park, you need to know this: slab leaks don’t care how new your kitchen is. If you’ve got a spike in your water bill, if you hear water running when nothing’s on, or if your flooring feels warm or wet—don’t wait.
Start with the most trusted name in leak detection. Our team provides non-invasive, highly accurate slab leak detection throughout Oldsmar and surrounding areas, including Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, and Westchase.
Learn more about our Oldsmar water leak detection process and why we’re the go-to choice for precision diagnostics.
Need to know more about your local water system? Visit the City of Oldsmar’s official site or their Water Utility Information page.
And when you’re ready to protect your home from hidden water damage, trust the experts at
👉 I Find Leaks
📱 Call or text us anytime at 727-409-2815
