How Do I Know If There is a Slab Leak in My Home?

busted pipe needing slab leak repair

Dealing With Broken Pipes and More

Leaking pipes are something most homeowners will have to deal with. If you are lucky, the problem will be easy to find and deal with. Unfortunately, many homeowners will have to deal with foundation leaks. When there is a leak under your foundation or slab, it can be hard to identify and even harder to repair. For reliable detection and slab leak repair in Fort Worth, TX, look no further than True Plumbing. Call us at 817-542-1980 to get started. 

slab leak repair

Signs of a Slab Leak

There is no worse feeling than finding a leak in your home. That is even truer when the leak is occurring under your foundation. Slab or foundation leaks are serious problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible. But how do you know the difference between a pipe leak and a slab leak? There are a few things to look for.

  • Spikes in Bills: One of the first signs of a leak can be found in your water bills. If you start to notice significant spikes, despite a lack of water use, there is likely a leak somewhere, potentially under the slab.
  • Water Pooling: A more obvious sign of a leak would be water pooling. You may notice spots of standing water around the foundation in your home or outside the home. 
  • Damp Carpets: If you have covered the foundation with carpet, you may notice a leak if areas of the carpet suddenly become damp or soaking wet. 
  • Hot Floors: Depending on where the leak is, you can test the foundation for heat. If the leak is on the hot water side, a certain section of the foundation will feel incredibly hot to the touch.
  • Foundation Cracks: Because the foundation isn’t meant to soak in water, it will crack after extended exposure to moisture. If you are noticing significant or troublesome cracks in the slab, contact a plumber immediately.

Slab leak detection and repair need to be handled as soon as you start to notice signs of trouble. These are not like gutter repairs which you could potentially do yourself. Repairing a slab or foundation leak will require expert knowledge and experience. For that, rely on True Plumbing.

Slab Leak Repair or Repipe

If you are starting to notice problems with the water flow or foundation in your home, slab leaks are a likely problem. So, how are slab leaks repaired? It starts by finding the source of the problem. If there is a pipe under your foundation that has broken, the contractor will need to dig down to find it and fix it. Today, there is improved technology that allows for plumbers to find leaking pipes without digging up the foundation at the same time. Yes, this will increase the slab leak repair costs, but generally speaking, repairs will be cheaper than whole house repiping in Fort Worth, TX

Depending on the extent of the damage and the age of the pipes, though, repiping may be the better route to take. Doing so will prevent future problems that could cost you even more money. To determine whether repairs or repiping is the best choice for you, talk with True Plumbing. We’ll go over everything to help you make a decision. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to repair a slab leak? 
    • Overall, it will cost about $2,000 to repair a slab leak. On top of that, it will likely cost between $150 and $400 for leak detection services. We suggest homeowners average for about $3,000 in total for repairs, labor, fees, and more.
  • Are slab leaks covered by homeowners insurance?
    • It will depend on the cause of the leak and the extent of the damage. Generally speaking, though, insurance will pay to pull up your foundation and put it back but it will not pay to fix a leaking pipe.
  • How long does it take to fix a slab leak?
    • On average, it should take about 2 days to complete a slab leak repair. This includes time to pull up the foundation, find the problem, fix it, and replace the foundation. It may take a little longer depending on the finishes of your flooring.
  • How do I find water under a concrete slab?
    • There are a few obvious signs of a slab leak such as spikes in your water bill, water pooling, and cracks in the foundation. You can test if there is a leaking pipe under the slab by turning off the water to see if anything changes. 
  • How do you stop a slab leak?
    • Unfortunately, once a slab leak has happened it is hard to stop it. Once you have noticed a leak, the best thing you can do is find the water valve and shut it off. Doing so will prevent further damage so you can contact a plumber to begin repairs.
fixing pipe during slab leak repair

Connect With Us Today for More Information and Services

For trusted slab leak repair in Fort Worth, TX, True Plumbing is the only name to rely on. Call us at 817-542-1980 to schedule an appointment today.