Mon–Fri 8:00AM – 5:30PM

Plumbing Repair & Installation | Marin & Sonoma

Pinpoint leak detection for Marin and Sonoma County homes, from hillside slab leaks to copper pinholes and radiant-floor failures.

Licensed & InsuredProfessionals
Quality WorkGuaranteed
Local ExpertsSince 1986
Fast & ReliableService

From the 1920s bungalows of San Rafael and Petaluma's Victorian core to the slab-on-grade hillside homes above Mill Valley and Tiburon, a lot of Marin and Sonoma plumbing is either old enough to corrode or buried where you'll never see the drip. Our hard local water and the big wet-to-dry soil swings between the rainy season and a Sonoma summer are hard on copper and on the lines run under foundations. John Owens Services has been tracing those hidden leaks since 1986, finding the source with acoustic and infrared tools before anyone opens a wall, a slab, or a finished floor.

Why Homeowners Choose John Owens

  • A 40-year local track record (since 1986) and a 4.9-star Google rating and happy customers from neighbors across Marin and Sonoma, with same-day appointments when a leak can't wait
  • We know the regional building stock: post-and-pier cottages, slab-on-grade hillside builds, and the radiant-heated floors common in remodeled Marin homes each hide leaks differently
  • Non-invasive first: acoustic listening gear, thermal imaging, and in-pipe video locate the source so we open the smallest possible section of wall, slab, or hardscape
  • Licensed C-36 plumbers (CA #501853), so the moment we confirm the leak we can move straight into a code-compliant repair on the same visit
  • We trace the whole system, not just the obvious spot, slab and supply lines, drains, irrigation, hose bibs, and gas, so a second leak doesn't surface a month later
  • Honest scoping: we tell you our confidence level and the next step before any demolition, instead of guessing and cutting

Signs You Need Leak Detection in

  • A water bill that jumped with no change in usage, or a meter that keeps creeping when every fixture is off
  • A warm spot on a tile or concrete floor, often the first clue to a slab leak in a hot-water line
  • Damp drywall, a musty smell, peeling paint, or mildew with no clear source nearby
  • The sound of running or trickling water inside a wall when nothing is turned on
  • A patch of lawn or hillside that stays soggy or unusually green in the dry season, pointing to a buried supply or irrigation leak
  • Low water pressure or a rotten-egg/sulfur smell near gas appliances, which calls for an immediate gas-line check

Frequently Asked Questions

How does water leak detection work without tearing my home apart?

We start non-invasively with acoustic sensors, thermal imaging, and in-pipe cameras to pinpoint the leak behind walls, under slabs, or in buried lines. That lets us open only the small area we need, and as licensed plumbers (CA #501853) we can repair it the same day.

What is a slab leak, and are they common in Marin and Sonoma homes?

A slab leak is a break in a water line running beneath your concrete foundation, and yes, they're common in the area's slab-on-grade and hillside homes, especially as soil shifts between wet winters and dry summers. We locate the exact spot before any concrete is touched so the repair stays contained.

How fast can you get out for emergency leak detection?

We offer same-day service across Marin and Sonoma County, and most same-day calls are resolved within a few hours. If you smell gas or see active flooding, shut off the supply and call us right away.

Can you detect a leak in a radiant-heated floor?

Yes. Radiant floors are popular in remodeled Marin homes, and we use thermal imaging and pressure testing to find a leak in the embedded tubing without ripping up the whole floor, then plan the most targeted repair.

Proudly Serving Marin & Sonoma

From the Marin coast to Sonoma wine country, we bring honest plumbing, heating & cooling to homeowners across both counties — based locally since 1986.

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule service with our trusted local team today.

Serving Marin & Sonoma Counties

Good plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems are vital in every North California home. John Owens Services, Inc. is proud to be the expert plumbing company you can count on