How Much Does Slab Leak Repair Cost?

Slab Leak Detection Cost 

Detecting a slab leak costs $280, with an average range of $150 to $600. A slab leak is water leakage from pipes below your home’s foundation or concrete slab.

There are several reasons why you might have a slab leak, including:

• Poor installation: Badly installed pipes won’t function correctly, leading to damage.

• Ground shifts: Slab leaks are common in earthquake zones.

• Worn down pipes: Minerals in the soil (and water) corrode pipes over time.

Here are some common signs that you have a slab leak:

• Warm or damp floors

• Standing water

• A sudden change in water pressure

• An unusually high water bill

• Hearing running water even when not in use

If these experiences feel familiar, it’s time to call a plumber. They’ll use special equipment to send a current through your pipes, determine their location, and find discrepancies. Once they locate the problem area, they’ll scan it with a heat sensor to pinpoint the leak.

Cost by Repair Type 

Depending on the severity of the damage, the leak’s location, and the soil conditions, your plumber will recommend different methods of repair. 

Total Slab Replacement 

Typical concrete slab costs range from $3,600 to $8,000 or $6 per square foot. While not all homeowners will need total replacement, slabs requiring hefty repair costs or concrete that’s beyond repair will usually require a new pour. 

Under-Slab

Under-slab plumbing repair costs $500 to $4,000 on average, with the severity of the damage and its location impacting costs. These are among the most common types of leaks, usually sprung by broken lines or poor pipe installation. To find and fix these leaks, plumbers have to break up part of the slab to reach it. 

Waterline/Main Repair

Your main water line is how your home gets its water supply. To fix a leak from your main water line, homeowners pay $840 on average. However, repairing a water main costs $330 to $1,360, with prices reaching as low as $150 or as much as $3,000.

Broken Pipe 

The cost to fix a broken pipe underneath a slab is $200 to $2,000. It’s hard to pinpoint a more exact price because the actual costs depend on leak detection fees, your pipe type, the method used to reach the pipe, and the severity of the damage. 

Foundation Work

The cost to reroute your plumbing lines under your slab foundation is $1,500 to $15,000. When homeowners prefer to keep their slab foundation intact, they might choose to reroute their lines elsewhere. Depending on what your plumber finds underneath, they might recommend ​​abandoning the leaking line and starting a new line—either above the ground, through the walls, or in the attic.

Additional Costs 

Slab leak repair costs have multiple factors that influence how much it’ll cost you to fix this issue. Let’s look at some of them here: 

• Labor costs: Plumber labor fees average $45 to $200 per hour to hire a plumber.

• Leak severity: A complex slab leak with extensive damage can increase your labor and material fees. 

• Additional repairs: Budget for extraneous repairs your plumber might uncover, such as water damage or foundational repair. 

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

It’s tempting to try repairing a slab yourself, but we don’t recommend it unless you have access to heavy machinery and significant plumbing experience. A licensed and insured plumber near you is better equipped to pinpoint the cause of your leaks and suggest a long-term solution

FAQs

How long does a slab leak take to fix?

Fixing a slab leak can take a few hours to three days, depending on the severity and how your pro plans to fix it. How common are slab leaks?

Slab leaks are most common in areas that experience earthquakes. For example, homeowners in Orange County, California, are more likely to deal with slab leaks than residents who aren’t on or near a fault line.

How common are slab leaks?

Slab leaks are most common in areas that experience earthquakes. For example, homeowners in Orange County, California, are more likely to deal with slab leaks than residents who aren’t on or near a fault line.