Slab leak
A slab leak is a pipe leaking under the concrete floor of the house. You do not see it. You see what it does.
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The short version
- Signs
- A water bill that climbs, a warm spot on the floor, the sound of running water.
- Check it
- The EPA's meter test: no water use for two hours, and see if the meter moved.
- Call a plumber when
- The meter moves with every tap off.
Signs to look for
- A higher water bill with no change in use.
- A warm or damp patch on the floor.
- The sound of water when nothing is running.
- Cracks in flooring or damp carpet.
Checks you can do
- Turn off every tap and appliance.
- Read the water meter.
- Wait two hours and read it again.
- If it moved, you probably have a leak.
How it is repaired
- Through the slabThe floor is opened at the leak, the pipe repaired and the slab patched. Direct, and disruptive.
- ReroutingThe leaking line is abandoned and a new one run through walls or the attic.
- RepipingIf the pipe is failing in several places, replacing the system makes more sense than chasing leaks.
- Finding itPlumbers locate the leak with pressure tests and listening equipment before any concrete is cut.
What a plumber will do
- Confirm a leak with a meter and pressure test.
- Locate it without opening the floor.
- Explain the repair options and their trade-offs.
- Repair, pressure-test and restore.
The EPA's meter check is the simplest test there is: read the meter before and after two hours with no water use. "If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak."
Related guides
Burst pipe
Low water pressure in the houseSources
- US Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense: household leaks