Signs of a slab leak under your foundation
- A warm or hot spot on a tile or wood floor, which points to a hot water line.
- Wet or damp carpet with no plumbing fixture nearby, often along an interior wall or in a hallway.
- Wood or laminate flooring that's cupping or lifting in one area.
- The sound of running water when everything is off.
- A water meter that moves when no water is being used, or a water bill that jumps without explanation.
- The water heater running constantly.
- Musty odor or mold at the base of interior walls.
- New cracks in tile or drywall, or doors that start to stick, which can come with foundation movement.
How to check for a slab leak with your water meter
Turn off every faucet, appliance, the ice maker, and the irrigation system. Look at the water meter in the box near the curb. If the low-flow indicator (usually a small triangle or dial) is still moving, water is leaking somewhere. Then close the house shutoff valve. If the meter stops, the leak is inside the house; if it keeps moving, the leak is likely in the line between the meter and the house or in irrigation. A plumber with leak detection equipment can pinpoint it from there.
How slab leak water damage is repaired and dried
- Leak detection and repair by a plumber. Electronic listening, pressure testing, and thermal imaging locate the line. The plumber then repairs it through the slab, tunnels under it, or reroutes the line overhead through walls and attic. Rerouting is often chosen for older or repeated leaks.
- Moisture mapping. We read the concrete, the bottom of walls, cabinets, and flooring across the area to find how far the water spread under the floor.
- Remove what blocks drying. Carpet pad, baseboards, wet drywall at the bottom of walls, and flooring that can't dry in place. Glue-down wood and tile over a wet slab may need to come up in the affected area.
- Dry the slab and structure. Dehumidifiers and air movers work on the concrete surface and walls. Concrete dries slowly, so slab leak drying often takes longer than a typical leak.
- Verify and rebuild. Once readings confirm the slab and walls are dry, flooring and drywall can be replaced.
Why slab leaks happen in Frisco: expansive clay and post-tension slabs
Two local factors shape slab leaks in Frisco. First, the city is built on expansive Blackland Prairie clay that swells in wet seasons and shrinks in drought. That cycle moves the foundation slightly every year, and the water and drain lines running through or under the slab move with it. Over time, that stress can open joints and rub lines against concrete, which is part of why slab leaks happen in homes that are only 15 or 20 years old.
Second, most Frisco homes have post-tension slabs. Steel cables run through the concrete under very high tension. Cutting into a post-tension slab without locating those cables can cut a tendon, which is dangerous and expensive to repair. Any opening through the slab, whether for a plumbing repair or to remove flooring adhesive, should start with locating those cables. Look for a stamp in the garage or near an exterior door that says the slab is post-tensioned.
A slab leak is also a reason to watch your foundation. Water saturating clay under one part of a slab can cause that area to heave. If you notice new cracks, sticking doors, or gaps at trim after a leak, have the foundation evaluated.
How much does slab leak water damage repair cost?
- How long the leak ran before it was found; slab leaks often run for weeks.
- Square footage of affected flooring and walls.
- Flooring type: carpet is far simpler than glue-down wood or tile over the leak area.
- Cabinets, vanities, or an island sitting over the wet area.
- Drying time for the concrete.
- Mold, if the leak ran long enough for growth at the base of walls.
- The plumbing repair or reroute, and any foundation evaluation, which are separate from restoration.
When a slab leak is an emergency
Most slab leaks are slow, but they become urgent when water is visibly coming up through the floor, a hot water line is leaking (the warm floor sign, which also wastes energy and can scald), flooring is buckling, or the leak is under the electrical panel or near outlets. If you suspect a slab leak, shut off the house valve when you aren't using water, and call a leak detection plumber and us the same day.
What to do before leak detection and restoration
- Take a photo of the water meter and note the time; take another an hour later with everything off.
- Photograph wet flooring, warm spots, and any wall or tile damage.
- Clear access to the affected area and to the water heater.
- Check your policy. Many Texas policies cover the cost to access the leak (tear-out) and the resulting water damage, but not the pipe repair itself.
After a slab leak repair: what to watch
Watch the water meter for a few weeks to confirm the leak is gone, and keep an eye on the floors near the repair. Wood floors over a slab that was wet need special care; see hardwood floor water damage repair. If one line leaked, ask your plumber about the condition of the rest. Slab leak drying is one of the more specialized jobs a Frisco water damage company handles, because of the time concrete takes to dry.
Slab leak water damage FAQs
Do you find and fix slab leaks?
Leak detection and the pipe repair are done by a licensed plumber. We handle the water damage: removing wet materials, drying the slab and walls, and getting the area ready for repairs.
Is it better to repair the slab leak or reroute the line?
That's the plumber's call, based on where the leak is, the pipe material, and the history of leaks. A spot repair fixes one location. A reroute replaces the line through the walls or attic and avoids future breaks in that section under the slab.
Does homeowners insurance cover a slab leak?
Many policies cover the water damage and the cost to tear out and access the leak, but not the pipe repair. Coverage varies, and gradual leaks can be excluded, so check your policy.
How long does it take to dry a slab after a leak?
Usually longer than a typical surface leak, often a week or more, depending on how long the leak ran and how wet the concrete is. Readings determine when it's dry enough for new flooring.