How to tell you have a slab leak
Unexpected metered use, sound of flow with fixtures off, broad pressure changes, or a warm or damp area can indicate a concealed supply leak. Appliances, fixtures, irrigation, utility-side issues, surface water, drainage, and other sources must also be considered. An active leak should be isolated at an accessible customer shutoff only when safe.
Why the pipe route and condition matter
Supply piping may run beneath, within, above, or around a slab depending on the building. Failures can involve material, joints, installation, corrosion, abrasion, pressure, movement, or prior work. We establish the actual route and evidence before attributing a leak to local soil, age, or one pipe material.
Finding the leak without tearing up the house
Isolation, meter behavior, pressure testing, tracing, thermal or acoustic methods, and visible evidence may help narrow an affected run. Results and access vary, and no noninvasive test guarantees an exact point or eliminates the possibility of broader piping problems. We explain the evidence and proposed access before opening a surface.
Repair or reroute
A localized accessible failure may support a spot repair. A reroute can avoid reopening the same buried run, while broader replacement may be considered when evidence shows more extensive issues. Pipe condition, route, code, access, finishes, and future serviceability determine the options. Surface access and restoration responsibility are approved before work starts.
Active leak? Don't wait on it
An active concealed supply leak can continue using water and cause property damage. If safe, close the accessible customer-side main and call for urgent triage; keep clear of wet electrical areas. A high bill or sound alone is not proof of a slab leak, so the response begins by confirming active property-side flow and the affected system.
Signs it’s time to call
- Water bill spiked with no change in usage
- Sound of running water when everything is off
- Warm or damp spot on the floor
- Cracks in tile or flooring with no obvious cause
- Drop in water pressure across the house
- Water meter still ticking with all fixtures off
