Clearwater Leak Detection: How I Find Leaks Solved a Year-and-a-Half-Long Mystery

A digital water meter indicating flow with a small arrow that flashes when there is water going through the meter.

When a Clearwater tenant noticed water rising through their vinyl flooring, they never expected the mystery to last over 18 months. Multiple plumbers came and went. Restoration teams cut walls. But no one could find the leak.

That’s when I Find Leaks was called in.

This case study shows how our team used experience, advanced tools, and a systematic process to uncover the truth — and finally stop a hidden leak that had been flooding the home silently for over a year.


📍 Arrival at a Blue Block Home in Clearwater

Our I Find Leaks van pulled into the driveway of a blue concrete block home in Clearwater. The tenant was frustrated, the landlord was overwhelmed, and the plumbers on-site had run out of ideas.

Leak detection van parked in Clearwater driveway near a blue block home.
Our I Find Leaks van arrives in Clearwater to investigate a year-long leak mystery.

💧 Step One: Meter Check — 0.00 GPM

We began by inspecting the digital water meter. At the time of arrival, it read 0.00 gallons per minute, meaning there was no active exterior flow.

Clearwater water meter displaying 0.00 GPM during initial leak check.
Digital water meter showing no active flow at the time of testing.

🧪 Pressure Testing the Interior Plumbing

To rule out hidden leaks inside the pressurized potable lines, Tyler connected a water-filled pressure gauge to the home’s plumbing system.

Leak technician checking water pressure in a Clearwater home.
Tyler attaches a pressure gauge to monitor internal plumbing for slow leaks.

😴 Working Quietly Around a Sleeping Tenant

Inside, we entered a darkened bedroom — someone was asleep. Tyler moved carefully, shining his flashlight on the floor to begin inspecting the area without disturbing the tenant.

Leak technician uses flashlight in Clearwater bedroom with tenant present.
Tyler inspects the bedroom floor in low light while a tenant sleeps nearby.

🚧 Water Coming Up Through Floating Vinyl Floor

The tenant explained that for over a year and a half, water had been rising through the floating vinyl floor, and no one had figured out why. We marked suspect areas with blue tape for further investigation.

Clearwater bedroom vinyl floor marked with tape due to long-term water intrusion.
Blue tape marks where water was seeping through the vinyl plank flooring.

📦 Same Problem in the Closet

The issue wasn’t isolated to one room. In the closet, the same symptoms appeared: warped flooring and moisture coming up from below.

Closet in Clearwater home affected by hidden water leak.
Closet floor showing signs of long-term water damage under the vinyl planks.

🧱 Moisture Escaping Through the Exterior Wall

We stepped outside to check the structure — and spotted a crack in the exterior concrete block wall. Water was visibly seeping out from within, signaling a potential slab or wall-based leak.

Exterior wall leak on concrete block home in Clearwater, Florida.
Water leaking from a crack in the Clearwater home’s concrete block wall.

💦 Water Seeping Under the Wall for 18 Months

Back inside, water was actively seeping from underneath an interior wall. The tenant had been mopping up water and replacing flooring — all without knowing where the moisture was coming from.

Long-term leak under wall in Clearwater home.
Water seen rising from beneath a wall — ongoing for more than a year and a half.

🎯 The Big Discovery: An Open Galvanized Pipe

After thorough testing and tracing, Tyler pinpointed the source: an open 1.5″ galvanized pipe, hidden beneath the flooring. Water had been entering this unused drain line, flooding the space invisibly for months.

Even the plumbers on-site were relieved.

Hidden galvanized pipe under Clearwater home causing mystery leak.
The culprit: An open galvanized pipe flooding the floor from beneath.

📈 Why Other Pros Missed It — And We Didn’t

Other companies were focused on surface issues. Some blamed the A/C. Others cut walls and looked at pipes that weren’t even connected to the leak.

We used a combination of:

And most importantly: a relentless process of elimination.

If you’re in Clearwater and suspect a mystery leak — especially if it’s tied to a high water bill — don’t guess. Call professionals who do this every day.


🧠 What Clearwater Homeowners Should Know

If you’re seeing signs like:

  • Moisture under your vinyl or tile floors
  • Warped flooring or baseboards
  • A sudden water bill spike
  • Wet walls or unexplained humidity

Then it’s time for a real leak detection expert — not a restoration company guessing their way through demolition.

You may also want to check these county resources:

And if you’re outside Clearwater, check out our coverage for Dunedin leak detection or broader Pinellas County leak investigations.


📲 Call or Text I Find Leaks

We solve what others miss — and we’ve done it for hundreds of homeowners across Clearwater and Pinellas County.

📞 Call or Text Today: 727-409-2815
🌐 Learn more: ifindleaks.com

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