Jackhammering your slab isn’t the only way to stop a leak
Having a slab leak can turn your foundation or driveway into a cracked, wet nightmare. But knowing what causes slab leaks, how to find the leak, how to fix a slab leak, and how you can prevent leaks can turn what would otherwise be a costly project into a quick fix. Use this guide to help you know what steps to take when you have a slab leak in your home.
You can have a slab leak in your home for many different reasons. The main cause of slab leaks is a broken water pipe underneath the foundation of your house, but here are other possible causes for having a slab leak:
Acidic or alkaline water has damaged your pipes.
You have old pipes.
The soil has shifted from temperature changes.
There was an earthquake.
The pipes weren’t installed correctly.
The cost of repairing a slab leak ranges from $650 to $4,400, or an average of $2,300. The cost of your project will depend on the type of repair, its complexity, and the time it takes for a professional to repair the slab.
If you have water damage, you could spend an extra $450 to $15,000 on water restoration costs. Check with your homeowners insurance to see if your homeowners insurance covers water damage before you begin repairing the damage.
Identifying a slab leak can be a tricky venture, but knowing what to look for can help you find a slab leak before it damages your home or property. Some of the most common signs of a slab leak include:
Cracks in your foundation
Hissing or running water sounds when you're not using the tap
Moist, warm spots on the floor of your home
Moldy, decaying smells emanating from the walls or floors
Pools of water outside your home
Unexplainable green patches of grass in your yard
Unusually high water bills with no increased usage
Visible signs of soil movement
Fixing a slab leak starts with finding the leak and then repairing it. Slab leaks can be hard to find and repair, so follow these steps to get on the right track for tackling this issue before you experience further water damage.
The reason you have a slab leak will influence how you repair it. For instance, old pipes with multiple perforations may require a different fix than a pipe that was broken by a tree root. Localized issues can be easier to fix than shifting soil, deteriorated pipes, or poorly installed pipes.
To find a leak, follow these steps:
Visually inspect the interior and exterior of your home for signs of a leak.
Listen for any suspicious gurgling, hissing, or dripping sounds.
Use a leak detection device like thermal imaging to help you hone in on the leak.
If you can't find the leak yourself, work with a technician to use acoustic listening, leak noise correlation, or trace gas leak detection devices.
Once you or a local technician have identified a leak, the next step is to fix it. You have several options for repairing slab leaks. Depending on the cause of the leak and the extent of the problem, a professional may advise you to choose between one of the following slab leak repair methods.
If the cause of the slab leak is an isolated, faulty pipe, then pipe lining or epoxy pipe lining may be the cheapest way to fix a slab leak. When repairing pipes with this method, a plumber will need to access the pipe to repair it. This involves digging or drilling into the ground, wall, or floor to repair the pipe. The plumber will then slide an epoxy tubing into the old pipe to replace the faulty pipe.
However, repairing pipes using pipe lining will only work if the old pipe has a large enough diameter for the new pipe to fit without causing wastewater to back up. For larger problems, your pro will probably recommend replacing the pipe entirely.
If you live in a climate with poor soil that constantly shifts, and you’re finding that leaks are all too common, you might want to consider repiping or rerouting the pipes. This solution works by creating a new plumbing line away from the problematic area to stop the leaks. Here’s how:
Your plumber chooses a new location to install the pipes. The new location could be above or around the slab—in the walls, attic, or other areas of your home.
The pro keeps the water running in the old plumbing system as they install the new plumbing.
Once they’ve redirected the pipes, they’ll shut the old ones off.
Then, they open the new plumbing so water can flow through the new pipes.
If you want to avoid having to jackhammer a concrete slab to fix a leak, then tunneling may be a good alternative. With tunneling, a contractor will do the following:
Dig a pit adjacent to the pipe.
Make a tunnel to the leak.
Repair the leak.
Add fill dirt and soil into the tunnel.
This type of slab leak repair method can come in at a higher cost because of the excavation and grading work needed to dig the pit and patch it up, but it’s also less demolishing of your hardscape than breaking the slab and needing to replace it. For this reason, you may want to choose this option if your slab leak is under the foundation of your home rather than a driveway or walkway.
If none of the options above work, sometimes the only way to fix a slab leak is to break the slab. Though breaking a slab tends to be an expensive and destructive option, it comes with the benefit of a quick repair. Below is a step-by-step guide on how a pro might break the slab to fix the leak.
A professional uses a jackhammer to break a section of the concrete slab where the leak is located.
After breaking the concrete slab, the pro digs with a shovel or spade until they access the pipe.
From there, the pipe is repaired or replaced.
Once fixed, any dirt that was removed from the ground goes back in.
Any slab replacement or repair work will then follow.
Slab leak repairs are an expensive and often time-consuming project. If you can prevent a slab leak from happening in the first place, it could save you the stress of having to get it taken care of. While some slab leaks are out of your control—like shifting soil or poorly installed pipes on your recently purchased home—some leaks can be prevented.
The best way to prevent a slab leak is by maintaining your plumbing and appliances. Scheduling annual inspections by a licensed technician and checking your plumbing and appliances every month for signs of a leak can mean the difference between costly water remediation services.
On top of that, taking action as soon as you notice a leak can also save you from having an even bigger problem. Know how to make a water leak insurance claim with your insurance company ahead of time so that you can act quickly.
While you can certainly get out your magnifying glass and put your leak detection skills to use, repairing a slab leak requires the expertise of a trained professional. Most slab leaks are hard to pinpoint. Even if you have some idea of where the leak is in your pipe system, being off by even a foot could mean the difference between jackhammering a small section of your concrete slab and having to play whack-a-mole with your slab to find a sneaky leak.
A local plumber or technician can use a leak detection device to find the leak before your water bills skyrocket further—all while keeping mold problems to a minimum. If you do have water damage, some slab leak repairs also require a water damage restoration company near you to remove mold, deteriorated ceilings and walls, and more.
Dealing with a slab leak can leave you with a multitude of questions and concerns, even after someone has resolved the problem. Fortunately, water damage restoration professionals are there to help guide you every step of the way. To make the best possible decision during your time of need, here are five questions to prioritize when speaking with a professional.
Do you specialize in a particular kind of leak or water damage? When you’re dealing with damage from a slab leak, you shouldn’t call someone whose experience is in damaged hardwood or carpet. Seek professionals who have certifications and experience in your specific issue to ensure an effective fix.
What is your availability? Unfortunately, water emergencies don’t always align with business hours. If you discover water damage to your foundation at nine in the evening, you’ll need a professional who can be available at that time to solve the issue. Waiting another twelve hours for someone to open their doors only gives the damage more time to spread and worsen.
What is your assessment and inspection process? You’ll want to make certain that the professional you hire is thorough about inspecting the damage. Ask how they conduct initial assessments, how they document any damage, what equipment they use, and whether they offer consultations or walkthroughs to show you the extent of the leak.
Do you perform slab repairs? If breaking through the slab becomes necessary to fix the leak, you’ll want to know whether the company or contractor will take measures to repair your foundation as part of water damage restoration. Some professionals will repair the slab, while others will offer recommendations for specialists.
What does your timeline for restoration look like? Some restoration jobs require extensive work that may leave a section of your home unavailable for use. You’ll need to know how long that work will take to plan measures for avoiding the work area, or even to plan for alternate accommodations.
You can seal a concrete slab by cleaning the surface, filling in any cracks, etching the surface, applying a sealer, and letting it dry. Concrete slabs don't typically need sealing, but you can use a topical concrete sealer if you notice signs of water damage. If you haven't already fixed the cause of the leak, then you'll want to repair the plumbing before you seal a concrete slab.
Your homeowners insurance can cover slab leak repairs, but it really depends on your policy. Some homeowners insurance policies only cover slab leaks caused by natural disasters, while other plans are more comprehensive. You might also want to check your home warranty plan to see if they'll cover the cost of the repairs if one of your appliances caused the leak.
