Underground Leak Detection & Repair in ChampionsGate

The Problem

A property manager called us about a 5-bedroom vacation rental in ChampionsGate that was losing roughly 2 inches of water per day. The pool auto-fill was running constantly, and the owner’s water bill had jumped from $80/month to over $260/month. The previous pool company told the owner it was “just evaporation.” It was not.

Two inches per day is well above normal evaporation for a screened pool in Central Florida. The owner was losing approximately 900 gallons of water per day.

Our Diagnosis

We started with a full equipment pad inspection—no visible leaks on pumps, filter, heater, or valves. That pointed us underground.

We isolated each plumbing line and pressurized them individually. The two suction lines held pressure. The main drain held. But one of the four return lines dropped from 20 PSI to zero in under two minutes—a significant leak.

Using electronic listening equipment, we narrowed the leak to a section approximately 6 feet from the equipment pad, about 3 feet underground. Excavation confirmed a cracked PVC elbow at a 90-degree joint—classic Florida soil movement damage.

The Repair

• Excavated a 4-foot section around the cracked elbow
• Cut out the damaged PVC fitting and 18 inches of pipe on each side
• Installed new Schedule 40 PVC with proper primer and cement
• Pressure tested the repaired line to confirm zero leaks
• Backfilled and compacted the excavation
• Re-tested the entire system with all lines open

Results

Key Takeaway

If your pool is losing more than a quarter inch per day, it is not evaporation. This owner spent months paying elevated water bills because their previous company dismissed the issue. A $350 leak detection found the problem in 90 minutes. The repair paid for itself in less than two months of water savings.