The report is the whole point of the visit. It turns a hidden leak into a marked spot on the floor, a set of test results, and a page you can hand to your plumber or your insurer. If a visit ends with only a verbal guess, you paid for the guess, not the finding.
The marked spot
The report starts with a mark on the floor or wall, paint or tape, at the exact spot the tests pointed to. The plumber opens that spot, not a trench. Ask whether photos of the mark are included. A photo saves an argument later about where the mark was.
The test results
A real report names the tests and their results: the meter reading with all water off, pressure readings, isolation results for inside versus outside and hot versus cold, and acoustic or thermal notes saying which method pointed where. A report that only says a leak exists, with no test behind it, is a guess on paper.
The detection process matches each method to the symptom it fits best, and the report should show that match.
The pipe and location notes
The notes should say which line is leaking and where: copper under the slab, the yard line between meter and house, or an irrigation line. The plumber needs the line and the location to plan the repair. Without both, the plumber starts searching again.
Depth is often left out, because depth is estimated until the line is opened. A report that states depth as fact is overselling. The line and the location are what the plumber needs.
The repair options, talked through
Spot repair, reroute, and repipe are options to discuss with your plumber, and the report should frame them that way. Repair options for a slab leak show how the choice depends on the pipe, the location, and the age of the system. The detection company finds the leak. The plumber owns the repair choice.
What the plumber does with the report
The plumber reads the mark first and opens that spot. The report tells the plumber which line is leaking, what the tests showed, and which repair options fit. A good plumber still checks the spot with a quick test before cutting, because the mark is a finding, not a guarantee. The report also stays in the job file, so if the same spot leaks again, the next visit starts from evidence instead of from scratch.
What the insurer does with the report
The insurer reads the report for test results and dates. A meter reading, isolation results, and a marked spot turn a claim from a story into evidence. The report alone does not approve a claim. The insurer still checks the policy, the cause, and the damage. But a claim with a report moves faster than a claim with only photos of a wet floor.
What a report does not include
A report is not a repair quote, not a guarantee, and not an insurance approval. It is evidence: the spot, the tests, and the notes. Anyone who sells a report as a promise is overselling it. Keep the report for what it is, and let the plumber and the insurer do their own jobs from it.
Before the company leaves, check these
Do this check before the van leaves. Once the company is gone, a missing mark or a missing page is much harder to fix.
- Spot marked on the floor or wall.
- Report in hand, on paper or by email.
- Tests named, with results.
- Next step for the plumber clear.
How to use the report
Hand the report to your plumber and let the mark decide where to open. Send a copy to your insurer with claim photos and bills. Documenting a claim goes faster when the insurer sees test results and dates instead of guesses.
Keep a copy for yourself even after the repair. If the bill jumps again in the same area, the old report is the first thing the next company will ask for.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get the report in writing?
You should. A verbal guess about a spot is not a report. Ask before the visit whether the report comes on paper, by email, or both.
What if the report finds no leak?
That is still a result. A clean meter test plus clean isolation checks rule out a pressurized leak and point to drains, condensation, or irrigation. Ask for the negative results in writing too.
Can I send the report to my plumber?
Yes. That is its job. The plumber opens the marked spot instead of searching the slab.
Can I send the report to my insurer?
Yes. Insurers want test results and dates, not guesses. Keep the report with your claim photos and bills.
How long should I keep the report?
Keep it at least until the repair is done and the bill is back to normal. If the same spot leaks again, the old report is the first thing the next company will want.
Related
- How to Choose a Leak Detection Company
- How Plumbers Find Hidden Water Leaks
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Leak Detection?
- Can a Slab Leak Be Fixed Without Breaking the Floor?
- How Leak Detection Works
- Contact
Think you have a leak?
Call AquaTrace Leak Detection to describe what you are seeing in Citrus Heights and get connected with a company that will plan how to find it.
Call (877) 814-1654Last updated: October 27, 2026.