Pool and spa leak detection is one of those niche services that every pool owner hopes they never need — and every pool pro should consider offering. Modern leakfinding combines careful observation, pressure testing, dye work, and electronic listening devices to locate water where it shouldn’t be, from cracked plaster and torn liners to underground plumbing breaks.

For a service company, specializing in leak detection can differentiate your business: it positions you as a problem-solver for high-value, urgent issues that often lead to repair or renovation projects.

Market conditions may influence whether you should lean into leak work. After a lull in new builds reported in 2024 — when some industry updates noted declines in new pool starts and remodel activity — forecasts point to modest growth in coming years, making renovation and repair a resilient focus for many businesses. Leak detection fits naturally into this landscape because finding and fixing leaks is often the first step in broader renovation jobs.

For the average pool and spa service company, leak detection isn’t difficult to get into. Certification for leak detection is largely market-driven rather than regulated by a single governing body. Industry vendors and trainers such as LeakTronics and Anderson Manufacturing offer formal courses, hands-on workshops, and certificates that teach methods, equipment use, and business practices. These credentials improve credibility and reduce costly errors, but in most U.S. jurisdictions you do not need a government license specifically to locate leaks (repairs may still require contractor or plumbing licensing). Investing in recognized training pays off both for technical skill and for customer confidence.

Meanwhile, profitability for a leakdetection specialist can be attractive. Leak work often commands higher call-out fees, diagnostic charges, and subsequent repair contracts; a successful pinpoint frequently turns into patching, crack injection, liner work, or plumbing excavation. Profits depend on local competition, labor costs, and how you package services, but many operators find that equipment and training costs add up quickly once they generate repeat business and renovation leads.

Equipment ranges from inexpensive dye kits and pressuretest plugs to sophisticated electronic hydrophones, acoustic amplifiers, vinyl scanners, and water-loss analyzers. Anderson Manufacturing (sold through LeakTools) offers a comprehensive state-of-the-art product line— everything from dye syringes and test plugs to electronic leak-finding tools and packaged leak-detection kits—plus training and support geared to pool pros. And other respected suppliers (including LeakTronics and specialist hydrophone makers) provide alternative or complementary gear; high-end electronics that promise to increase diagnostic speed and accuracy.

Clients for leak work include homeowners, builders handling warranty issues, property managers, and commercial pool operators who need fast fixes to avoid liability and downtime. Diagnostic fees vary widely by region — commonly from the low hundreds to several hundred dollars — while repairs can range from modest liner patches to multi-thousand-dollar structural or plumbing fixes. Because a single successful detection often leads to repair contracts and follow-on renovations, the lifetime value of leak-detection skills and equipment justifies the initial outlay for many pool professionals.

Leak detection is a logical specialization for pool service businesses that want higher-margin work, steady renovation-related demand, and strong referral potential. With the right mix of gear, training, and marketing, it can become a profitable, reputation-building pillar of a modern pool service company.

In this special issue of Service Industry News, we’re taking a closer look at some of the tools and technologies, skills, and best practices that are involved in adding leak detection to your pool and spa maintenance offerings.

Anderson Man u f a c t u r ing provides a one-day “Leak Detection Fundamentals” course at their facility in St. Paul, MN — combining classroom theory with hands-on, lab-style demonstrations of pool leakdetection techniques.

They also offer free online resources, including slide-shows, videos, articles, and technical guides — useful if you want to learn at your own pace or refresh your knowledge later.

For businesses or larger groups, Anderson can provide on-site training at your location, including hands-on experience at real leak jobs.

Lance Anderson has been helping swimming pool service professionals profit from leak detection for more than 35 years. He is the owner of Anderson Manufacturing Company (www.leaktools.com) a supplier of specialized equipment, tools and supplies used for finding and fixing swimming pool leaks.

Anderson Manufacturing will continue to support the growth of the pool leak detection industry through the contributions of the next generation.

Lance's son, Ethan Anderson (since 2017), and daughter, Britta Flynn (since 2019), are both committed to continuing the Anderson family legacy.

Brad Madison, Anderson’s Technical Sales Manager now handles most training and education.

Our sincere thanks to Lance Anderson and Anderson Manufacturing Co. for permission to use copyrighted information contained on the company’s website www.leaktools.com in the preparation of this issue.

http://www.leaktools.com