A Leak Inspection Is Not a Leak Detection
There’s a big difference between a true leak detection and a so-called leak inspection. Companies advertising cut-rate inspections often aren’t looking to find your leak—they’re trying to get their foot in the door. Once inside, their goal isn’t to solve the problem, but to upsell dry-out and mold remediation services, often billing your insurance company for thousands, and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.
How the $150 Leak Inspection Trick Works
A former dispatcher from one such company revealed their strategy: get in cheap, make big money on the back end, and if customers complain, offer discounts in exchange for glowing 5-star reviews. These tactics mislead homeowners and distort the online reputation of companies engaging in this behavior.
Real Leak Detection Is About Accuracy, Not Upselling
At I Find Leaks, we don’t play games. We’re a local Clearwater-based company that performs real leak detection—not bait-and-switch inspections. Our job is to find the exact source of your leak so you can get it repaired quickly and accurately. We do not perform remediation work. We don’t upsell. And we will never ask you to sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB)—a legally binding document that gives a contractor the right to bill your insurance directly.
⚠️ Never sign an AOB on a dry-out or restoration contract.
This is how some companies end up billing your insurance company for work you didn’t approve, sometimes leaving you responsible for the unpaid balance. An AOB is a legal agreement that transfers your insurance claims rights to a third party, granting them authority to file claims, make repair decisions, and collect insurance payments without your involvement. Misusing AOBs can lead to significant issues for homeowners. For a comprehensive understanding of AOBs and their potential impact, visit the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Assignment of Benefits resource page.
Case Study: Clearwater Leak Detection Done Right
Recently, a homeowner in Clearwater was told by their insurance company to call a leak detection specialist—not a remediation company. Why? Because most insurance carriers have their own preferred restoration contractors, and they want to avoid inflated billing.
That’s where we came in.
Tyler using a FLIR infrared camera to inspect the sealed area without disturbing the protective plastic installed by the insurance company’s contractor.
Condensation and water droplets forming inside the plastic—clear evidence of trapped moisture.
Behind the plastic: a soaked base plate and visible moisture build-up, confirming water intrusion.
Someone attempted to find the leak by digging—without success.
Broken sewer cleanout found nearby, but ruled out by Tyler as the source of the moisture.
A crack in the stucco caught Tyler’s attention—could rainwater be getting in?
Bingo! The sprinkler system was shooting water directly onto the house through a hidden break in the pipe.
This hidden issue was the real source of moisture—and it took an expert leak detection technician to find it.
Why This Matters
Had this homeowner gone with a $150 “leak inspection” company, they could’ve ended up signing an AOB, getting stuck with unauthorized remediation work, and facing a five-figure insurance claim. Instead, their insurance company directed them to a real leak detection specialist—and we found the true source of the issue in one visit.
We’ve seen these tactics time and again, especially in Clearwater, where companies use the “cheap inspection” hook to push restoration contracts. If you’re in neighborhoods like Coachman Ridge, Del Oro Groves, or Feather Sound, beware: that $150 deal could cost you much, much more.
Don’t Fall for the $150 Trap—Call I Find Leaks Instead
- ✅ Over 400 5-star reviews
- ✅ Real leak detection, no upselling
- ✅ No AOB tricks
- ✅ Clearwater-based and locally trusted
If You Think You Have a Leak:
📞 Call I Find Leaks
🔍 Let us pinpoint the problem
💵 Save money and avoid unnecessary repairs
📍 Serving Clearwater and surrounding areas: Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Largo, and more.
© 2025 I Find Leaks LLC. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction of these images is strictly prohibited.
