A Leak You Can’t See Is Still Doing Damage
A slab leak is a leak in a water or drain line running underneath your home’s concrete foundation. Because the pipe is buried in or under the slab, there’s no visible drip to warn you, often the first signs are a higher water bill, a warm spot on the floor, or cracking in the foundation itself. Left alone, a slab leak can undermine the foundation and lead to serious structural repair costs, not just a plumbing bill. Papalia Home Services has diagnosed and repaired slab leaks throughout Boxborough, Acton, Westford, Concord, Sudbury, and Lexington since our founding in July 1990.
Signs You May Have a Slab Leak
- A water bill that’s noticeably higher with no obvious cause
- The sound of running water when everything is turned off
- A warm or damp spot on the floor, especially with hot water lines
- Low water pressure throughout the home
- Cracks in flooring or walls that weren’t there before
- Mold or mildew smell near the floor with no visible source
How We Find a Slab Leak Without Tearing Up Your Floor
Finding a slab leak accurately matters as much as fixing it, since guessing wrong means breaking concrete in the wrong place. We use acoustic sensors to listen for the sound of water escaping under pressure, along with thermal imaging to spot temperature differences in the floor caused by a hot water line leak. Together, these narrow down the leak’s location before any concrete gets opened up.
Your Repair Options
Once we’ve located the leak, there are generally two paths. The first is a direct spot repair, accessing the specific section of pipe through the slab and fixing it there. The second is rerouting the line entirely, running new pipe through walls or the ceiling instead of back through the slab, which avoids cutting concrete again if that section of pipe is likely to fail again in the future. We’ll walk you through which option fits your situation and what each one costs before you decide.