How to use it
Answer each question from what you know and what the plumber found during detection. Tally which repair each answer leans toward. A strong lean in one direction is a good starting point; a mixed result means the decision depends on details worth discussing in person.
Your answers are only as good as the information behind them. If you do not know the condition of the pipe, that itself is a question to put to the plumber.
Score your situation
| Question | Leans spot repair | Leans reroute | Leans repipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| How many under-slab leaks has the house had? | This is the first | Second on the same line | Several, on different lines |
| How confident is the leak location? | Pinpointed | General area only | Not the deciding factor |
| What is above the leak? | Open floor, simple flooring | Cabinet, shower, tub or stone | Not the deciding factor |
| What did testing or exposed pipe show? | Pipe sound beyond the leak | Concerns about that run | Concerns throughout |
| Which systems are leaking? | One side, one spot | One side, repeat | Both hot and cold |
| Is a remodel planned soon? | No | Possibly | Yes, walls opening anyway |
Reading your tally
- IfMost answers lean spot repairThenAsk the plumber to confirm the pipe condition and price a spot repair, with a reroute price for comparison.
- IfMost answers lean rerouteThenAsk for the proposed route and which rooms will have wall openings.
- IfMost answers lean repipeThenPlan it rather than rush it: get two written bids and a clear schedule.
- IfAnswers are splitThenAsk the plumber which single factor matters most in your house, and why.
Bring these to the plumber
- Given my answers, which repair would you choose for your own house, and why?
- What would change your recommendation?
- What happens to the rest of the old line with each option?
- Where exactly will each option open my home?
Terms used above
- Spot repair
- Fixing the leaking section of pipe through an opening in the slab.
- Reroute
- Abandoning the leaking run and installing new pipe along another path, usually overhead.
- Repipe
- Replacing most or all of the home's water supply lines.
- Run
- A length of pipe serving a fixture or group of fixtures.
Common questions
Can this worksheet replace a plumber's advice?
No. It helps you organize facts and ask better questions. The recommendation should come from a licensed plumber who has tested your system.
What if I do not know my leak history?
Check any paperwork from the previous owner and look for patched areas in floors or walls. Otherwise answer 'first known leak'.
Is a repipe ever the starting point?
It can be, if testing shows widespread pipe problems. It should follow testing, not replace it.
General information for Anaheim Hills, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.