High Water Bill? Wet Yard? Find the Leak — Free.
A spike in your water bill or a mysterious wet spot in your yard is unsettling. You don’t know what’s under there — or what it’s going to cost.
A spike in your water bill or a wet spot in your yard usually means an underground leak. Our free electronic leak detection finds it in about an hour — no digging required.
Same-day leak detection available — call before noon.
Request Your Free Leak Detection
Leave your number and we’ll call within 15 minutes to schedule.
Or call us now: (434) 505-4780
The Otter Guys were recommended to me by a trusted contractor for a major water leak. They found the problem and brought necessary equipment the following day, clearing the system and restoring normal function. All of the personnel were courteous, considerate and professional. Dylan Harris was especially helpful, explaining the problem and cost options clearly and in terms I could understand. He answered all my questions with knowledge and expertise. I will use the company in the future and highly recommend their services.
Why Charlottesville homeowners choose The Otter Guys
65+ years repairing water lines across Central Virginia
Since 1960, we’ve repaired thousands of water lines across Central Virginia — every pipe type, every soil condition, every decade of construction. Whatever’s under your yard, we’ve fixed it before.
We restore your property when we’re done
After the repair, we backfill, grade, and reseed — your yard goes back to how it was. We locate the leak first, dig only where we need to, and put everything back when we’re done.
Upfront pricing — know the cost before we start
After leak detection, your technician walks you through what we found and what it costs to fix. You get a written estimate before any work begins. No surprises, no hidden fees.
10-Year Warranty
On all water line repairs and replacements
Licensed & Insured
VA License #2705181379
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited business
Charlottesville’s Finest
Gold Award 2023–2025
Signs you may have a water line problem
Water Pooling in Yard
Unexplained wet or soggy areas in your yard, especially along the path between your house and the street. Often the first visible sign of an underground water line leak.
Low Water Pressure
Pressure dropping throughout the house — not just one fixture. When multiple faucets and showers are weak at the same time, the problem is usually in the main water line.
Unexplained High Water Bill
A sudden spike in your water bill without any change in usage. Underground leaks can waste thousands of gallons before you see any surface evidence.
Water Meter Running When Nothing’s On
If your water meter is spinning when every faucet and fixture is turned off, water is leaking somewhere between the meter and your house — that’s your water service line.
Wet Spot Near Foundation
Persistent moisture, puddles, or erosion near your home’s foundation. A water line leak close to the house can undermine the foundation over time.
Running Water Sound
You hear water running when every faucet and fixture is off. A pressurized water line leak makes a constant hissing or running sound underground.
Trusted by 6,000+ Charlottesville homeowners
“I cannot thank Chris and Bones enough! They saved us over $2,000 which was originally the first estimate, but when they came and fixed our leak it ended up being slightly over $200! I hope both of you have a very restful and joyous holiday with your loved ones!”Jillian Humphreys Google Review
“Dylan was an excellent and super friendly technician who was able to systematically diagnose the problem with a leak at our house. He wasn’t pushy, and gave us time to decide what the best course of action to take would be. Would use this company again for any of my plumbing needs!”Anu Shukla Google Review
“Great experience. Great service and we finally have water again after the big snow storm over the weekend. Thank you Malec!”Brooke Shifflett Google Review
Here’s exactly what happens when you call
Leak detection
A licensed plumber arrives with electronic leak detection equipment to locate the exact problem underground — without digging. You’ll know exactly where the leak is and what’s causing it.
Your options and pricing
Your technician explains what we found and walks you through your options — repair the damaged section or replace the line. You get a written estimate before any work starts. No pressure.
The repair
Once you approve, we excavate only where needed, make the repair, pressure-test the line, and restore your property. Most water line repairs are completed in 1–2 days.
Your Water Line Won’t Fix Itself. Get Answers Free.
Every day a water line leaks, your bill climbs and the damage spreads underground. Free leak detection takes about an hour — you’ll know exactly what’s going on. No digging, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most water line repairs in Charlottesville range from $2,000 to $5,000 for a section repair. Full line replacements typically run $4,000 to $8,000+, depending on the length of the line, pipe material, and depth. The biggest factor is how much of the line needs work. Leak detection tells us exactly where the problem is — that’s why we offer it free.
We minimize digging by using electronic leak detection to pinpoint the exact location before we excavate. For section repairs, we only dig at the leak site. Full replacements require a trench, but we restore your property when we’re done — backfill, grading, and reseeding included.
Standard policies typically don’t cover water line repairs due to normal wear, but some do if the damage was caused by a sudden event. Some homeowners have a water/sewer line rider on their policy. We can provide documentation to help you file a claim if your policy covers it.
Yes. We offer financing plans from 5 to 15 years with approvals in as little as 2 minutes. Your technician can walk you through payment options during your appointment, so you can get the repair done without paying the full amount upfront.
Section repairs are usually completed in one day. Full line replacements typically take 1–2 days depending on length and depth. We’ll give you a timeline with your estimate so you can plan ahead.
Repair fixes a specific damaged section — usually where corrosion, a crack, or a joint failure caused the leak. Replacement means installing a new line from your house to the street connection. We recommend repair when the rest of the line is in good condition, and replacement when leak detection or inspection shows widespread deterioration.
A water line problem is stressful — especially when you can’t see what’s happening underground. We’ve been doing this since 1960, and the conversation always starts the same way: “I don’t know what’s wrong, but something isn’t right.” That’s exactly what free leak detection is for. You’ll know what you’re dealing with in about an hour — and you’ll have a written estimate before anyone picks up a shovel. And if we find nothing wrong? We’ll tell you that too — no charge.