When your pool is leaking, choosing the right leak detection company involves more than a Google search. Experience, diagnostic equipment used, services offered and pricing all matter. The guidelines below will help you compare companies and make the best choice on who to hire.
1. Read Google Reviews Carefully
Star ratings matter, but it is important to read beyond the overall score. Look for reviews describing the service you need, types of leaks found, testing performed, repairs completed and communication throughout the job. Reviews that mention the technician by name can also offer insight into the personal attention customers received.
Consider the number of reviews, how recent they are and whether customers consistently describe similar and positive experiences. Detailed reviews can help you understand how a company diagnoses, explains its findings, handles pricing and responds when further help is needed.
2. Ask About Experience and Testing Capabilities
Ask whether the company regularly works on your type of pool – vinyl liner, gunite/concrete or fiberglass – and whether they have the capability to check both the pool itself and the underground plumbing. Some companies only offer diving and underwater repairs. If your pool leak is in an underground pipe, hiring a company that only provides diving services may mean paying a second company to test the plumbing and locate it.
Before booking, ask the following questions:
- Can you pressure test individual pool plumbing lines?
- If a line is leaking, can you pinpoint the underground break?
- Are those services included in the quoted fee?
- Are there parts of my pool or plumbing system you cannot test?
Identifying a leaking plumbing line and pinpointing the underground break are two different steps and both very important services. Understanding the leak detection company’s capabilities beforehand can help you avoid booking a service that does not cover the work you may actually need. Our article, We Are More Than Scuba Divers, explains why both underwater testing and plumbing leak detection capabilities matter.
3. Understand What the Price Includes
Before comparing prices, compare the work included in each quote. Ask whether the company charges a flat fee or provides an initial time allowance with additional hourly charges. Find out whether plumbing testing, underground leak pinpointing and underwater repairs are included or priced separately.
How are repairs handled? Some repairs may be included in the quoted price; others may not. Some repairs can be performed during the initial visit, while others may need a separate appointment or another contractor. Ask when additional charges begin and whether those costs will be explained before the work proceeds. A lower initial quote may cover less work.
4. Ask What You Will Receive in Writing
Ask whether you will receive a completed service form, detailed invoice or some type of written report after the work is finished. The paperwork does not need to be lengthy, but it should give you a useful breakdown of the work that was done during the visit.
Depending on the work performed, that paperwork should include:
- What was checked or tested.
- Where leaks were found.
- What repairs were completed.
- Any areas that could not be tested or issues that remain unresolved.
- Recommended next steps.
An invoice that lists only “pool leak detection” and the amount paid provides little information about the actual findings. Written details are especially useful when another contractor needs to perform a repair. They also give you something to refer to if you have questions later or need to discuss continued water loss.
Ask specifically: “Will my paperwork describe the testing, findings and repairs, or will it only show the charge?”
5. Review the Terms and Follow-Up Policy
Read the service terms before your appointment. Understand the deposit, cancellation policy, payment expectations, repair guarantees (if offered), and what preparation is required on your end for the visit.
You should also know what to do if the pool continues losing water, how to measure and report that loss, and when a return visit could carry an additional charge. Knowing these things before booking helps everyone understand what to expect.
6. Verify Registration and Insurance
Before hiring any company, check its credentials and ask if they are properly insured. In New Jersey, businesses offering or performing residential home improvements, including swimming pool repairs, generally must hold an active Home Improvement Contractor Business registration unless an exemption applies. This is commonly called an NJHIC license, although it is a registration.
Ask for the registration number and verify its status through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Confirm that the business name matches the company you are hiring.
Quick Checklist Before You Hire
- Read relevant Google reviews.
- Discuss experience with your type of pool and confirm testing capabilities.
- Understand the price and possible additional charges.
- Ask what findings and repair details you will receive in writing.
- Review service terms, guarantees and the follow-up policy.
- Check applicable registration and ask whether the company is properly insured.
Atlantic Pool Leak Detection
Atlantic Pool Leak Detection is a father-and-son team serving New Jersey and Staten Island. Randy and Ryan bring more than 20 years of combined pool leak detection experience to each job.
Our work includes underwater leak detection, individual plumbing pressure testing, underground leak pinpointing and underwater repairs.
Contact Atlantic Pool Leak Detection to discuss your pool’s water loss. New Jersey: 732-333-3304. Staten Island: 718-532-4880. Or contact us online.
Finding pool leaks is what we do.
