Signs of a slab leak

  • A warm or hot spot on a tile or hard floor.
  • The sound of running water with every fixture off.
  • The water meter moving when no water is being used.
  • Damp carpet, swelling wood flooring or musty smells with no obvious source.
  • A water bill that rises without a change in use.
  • Cracks in flooring or water appearing along the base of a wall.

Check it yourself with the meter

  1. Turn off every fixture

    Make sure no toilets are running, no irrigation is on and the washer and dishwasher are idle.

  2. Read the meter

    Open the meter box and look at the low-flow indicator, often a small triangle or dial, and note the reading.

  3. Wait and recheck

    If the indicator moves or the reading changes over 15 to 30 minutes with nothing on, water is going somewhere.

  4. Close the house valve and retest

    If the meter stops when the house valve is closed, the leak is inside or under the house rather than in the yard line.

Why Anaheim homes get them

Large parts of Anaheim were built as slab-on-grade tract homes between the 1950s and 1970s, with copper or galvanized water lines laid in or under the concrete. Decades of pressure, hard water and contact with soil and concrete can wear a pinhole in a line, often a hot water line.

Because the pipe is buried, the leak can run for a long time before anyone notices. That is why the meter test and an early call matter more than waiting for visible water.

Repair choices

Spot repair through the slab

  • Breaks out the floor at the leak and repairs the pipe
  • Keeps the original routing
  • Requires removing and replacing flooring at that spot
  • May not help if the rest of the line is also worn

Reroute or repipe

  • Abandons the line under the slab and runs new pipe through walls, ceiling or attic
  • Avoids breaking concrete
  • Often considered when a home has had more than one slab leak
  • May need a permit, so check with the city

What to ask

  1. How will you locate the leak, and how confident is the location?
  2. Is it a hot or cold line?
  3. Would you spot-repair or reroute, and why?
  4. What flooring will need to be removed, and who replaces it?
  5. Does this work require a permit?

Common questions

Is a slab leak an emergency?

If water is surfacing or flooring is soaked, shut off the main and treat it as urgent. A slow leak found by the meter test still deserves prompt attention.

Can I keep the water on until the repair?

If the leak is on the hot side, closing the water heater's cold supply can stop it while keeping cold water available. Otherwise close the main when water is not needed.

Will insurance pay for slab leak repairs?

Policies differ on the plumbing repair versus the resulting damage. Ask your insurer before work starts.

General information for Anaheim, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.