How to Fix Slab Leaks Permanently

How Can I Detect a Slab Leak?

Detecting a slab leak early can help prevent serious structural damage to your home. Here are three of the most common signs that may indicate a slab leak:

1. Damp or Discolored Flooring: Water seeping through the foundation can cause damp spots on floors or carpeting, which may appear discolored. Additionally, hot spots on the floor may suggest a leak in hot water lines within or underneath the slab.



2. Higher Water Bills: A sudden increase in water usage could indicate a slab leak. Check your water meter when all taps are off—if it's still running, there may be a hidden leak.
3. Sound of Running Water: If you hear water when taps are off, this can signal a slab leak. The sound will persist even with all water sources shut off.

If you suspect a slab leak, the safest immediate step is to turn off your home's main water supply to prevent any further damage. (Note: this is the only way to temporarily stop a slab water leak.)

For more information, you can read our detailed article on the warning signs of a leak under slab. After turning off your home's water supply, the next important step is to consider how best to fix the pipes located in or under the slab.

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Pipe Relining vs. Repiping: Which Is Better?

Both pipe relining and repiping are options for addressing slab leaks, but they offer different advantages and limitations:

• Pipe Relining: This method is suitable for damaged sewer and drain pipes located beneath a home's slab foundation. Relining adds a protective layer inside existing pipes, but it's often not a long-term solution, especially for fresh water lines under slab foundation. We generally recommend replacing any faulty pipe located in or beneath a slab foundation. You can read more about the difference between pipe relining and repiping in our article.
• Repiping: For fresh water pipes located in or under slab foundations, repiping is the only permanent solution. It involves rerouting all pipes through walls and ceilings, bypassing the slab entirely. This process eliminates the need for future in-slab repairs, making it a reliable and lasting fix. We cover our permanent full home slab leak repipe process later in this article.

Given its effectiveness, repiping is generally the best option, especially for older properties with recurring slab leak issues.

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How Expensive Is It to Fix a Slab Leak?

The cost to fix a slab leak can vary widely, depending on the size and complexity of your home. Here's a rough breakdown:

In-Slab Repair

In-slab repair involves jackhammering through the concrete to reach damaged pipes, making it both invasive and costly.

This approach often only serves as a temporary fix, as the underlying issue that caused the slab leak may occur again in a different part of the slab, leading to multiple additional in-slab repairs and escalating costs.

We have seen some quotes for in-slab repairs that often exceed the cost of a complete repipe. For this reason, we consider an in-slab repair to be a temporary solution compared to a full home repipe.

A Full Home Repipe

A complete home repipe is typically the most cost-effective method for preventing future leaks and is often less costly in the long run than repeated in-slab repairs.

On average, our repipes range from $4,500 for a two-bedroom, one-bath home to up to $15,000 for larger properties and more complex projects. You can read more about in-slab repairs and repiping in our article, Should I Repair or Repipe After a Slab Leak?

Here at Repipe Specialists, we only perform full home repipes. For a breakdown of cost factors, you can read our article on whole house repipe costs.

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How to Permanently Fix Slab Leaks

The most effective way to prevent slab leaks from recurring is to avoid having pipes situated within the slab itself.

At Repipe Specialists, our full home repipe does just this by rerouting all of your home's fresh water plumbing through walls, ceilings, and attics. Our One-Stop Repipe™ Process can be completed in just 1-2 days, with minimal disruption to your daily life.

We handle everything—from inspection to wall patching—and back our work with a lifetime warranty. We also offer financing options to help you manage any unplanned repiping costs.

Enjoy the peace of mind that comes from never having to worry about slab leaks again. Contact us to receive a free fixed price repipe quote from one of our local repipe consultants.

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Get a Quote for Repiping Your Home

Here at Repipe Specialists, we've permanently fixed slab leaks in thousands of homes across using both copper piping and PEX tubing. We continually get positive customer feedback from customers about their overall home repipe experiences. We often exceed their expectations on:

• Speed: Our repipe crews typically complete a repipe in a day, returning on another day for wall patching.
• Convenience: Through our One-Stop Repipe™ Process, we handle everything from permits to wall patching to inspections.
• Cleanliness: Our crews are trained to protect your home while working (we cover all surfaces with protective sheeting) and to clean up fully at the end of each day.
• Peace of Mind: Repipe Specialists is a fully licensed plumber in every state we operate in, and we back all of our repipes with a lifetime warranty.
• Financing programs: To help take the sting out of unplanned repipe expenses, we offer several financing programs.
• Price: As a specialist that performs hundreds of repipes a week, we can deliver high-quality repipes at a lower cost compared to generalist plumbers. We have an article that covers repipe cost factors in detail.

Schedule a free in-home consult, and one of our local repipe consultants will explain all your repipe options and provide you with a written, fixed-price quote. Permanently fix slab leaks, repipe now.

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