Water leak repair: what to document and what to ask

First steps

Find your main water shutoff before you need it, and close it if water is escaping and you can’t stop it. (A leak at one fixture often has its own small shutoff valve.)
Document it. Take dated photos or video of the leak and any damage. If there is damage, read your homeowner’s policy and contact your insurer before throwing items away.
Write down what you see (where, how often, any water bill spike). It helps a business estimate accurately.

Questions to ask a plumbing contractor

Is finding the leak priced separately from repairing it? Ask how the leak will be located and whether that is part of the estimate.
What is the repair scope? A written description of what will be repaired or replaced, and what is not included (for example wall, flooring or paint repair).
Permit? The City of Lancaster’s permits page says no plumbing permit is needed for stopping leaks or repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures as long as the work does not involve replacing or rearranging the system; replacing concealed pipe is treated as new work needing a permit. Confirm with your city or county.
Who does the follow-up work? Opening walls or floors may need other trades with their own licenses — ask who handles it.
Payment. CSLB says avoid paying more than 10% down or $1,000 (whichever is less) and don’t let payments get ahead of the work.

License check

An urgent leak is when people skip verification. It takes a couple of minutes: see how to check a license on CSLB.

General information only. This directory is not a contractor and does not give plumbing advice or quotes. It does not know which listed businesses take which jobs — contact the business directly, verify its license at CSLB, and make your own decision. You contract with and pay the business directly.

Next steps

Browse Lancaster or Palmdale licensed-plumber listings, and read how to check a license on CSLB.