Sunny Hills is one of Fullerton's best-known residential areas, with curving streets, mature landscaping and many homes built in the decades after the war. Lots range from flat to noticeably sloped, and house styles vary from single-story ranch homes to larger custom houses.
That variety matters for leaks. Some homes sit on a concrete slab, some have raised floors with a crawlspace, and hillside homes can combine both. Before assuming a slab leak, it helps to know which kind of foundation your house actually has.
Sunny Hills at a glance
- Housing age
- Largely mid-century, with later remodels and rebuilds
- Foundations
- Mix of slab-on-grade and raised floors, especially on slopes
- Typical supply pipe
- Copper in many homes; galvanized in some; PEX where repiped
- Sewer laterals
- Often original cast iron or clay in older homes
- Trees
- Mature trees common, a factor for laterals
- Water utility
- City of Fullerton
Slab vs raised floor: what changes
Slab-on-grade home
- Supply lines may run under the concrete
- Leaks show as warm spots, damp flooring or meter movement
- Repairs involve opening the slab or rerouting
Raised-floor home
- Supply lines run in a crawlspace under the floor
- Leaks can often be seen by looking in the crawlspace
- Repairs usually do not involve concrete
Local factors worth noting
| Factor | Why it matters here |
|---|---|
| Hillside lots | Water from a leak can travel downhill and surface away from the source, including at retaining walls or the low side of a slab. |
| Mature trees | Roots can find their way into older clay or cast-iron sewer laterals; that is a drain problem, not a supply leak, but owners sometimes confuse the two. |
| Remodels | Partial repipes are common, so a house may have a mix of copper, galvanized and PEX. |
| Water pressure | Pressure can vary with elevation; ask a plumber to measure yours if you have repeat leaks. |
If you suspect a leak in a Sunny Hills home
- Know your foundation.Look for crawlspace vents or an access hatch. If you have one, check under the house with a flashlight before assuming a slab leak.
- Run the meter test.With everything off, including irrigation, watch the leak indicator.
- Isolate.Close the house shutoff, then the water heater cold inlet, to narrow it down.
- Check the yard.On sloped lots, walk the low side of the property for damp soil or seepage.
- Hire carefully.Check any contractor's CSLB license at cslb.ca.gov.
Who to contact
- Meter, billing, water service
- City of Fullerton water utility
- Permits
- City of Fullerton; check with the city
- Gas smell
- Leave, then call 911 or SoCalGas from outside
- Contractor license
- cslb.ca.gov
- Before digging
- Call 811
Common questions
Are Sunny Hills homes more prone to slab leaks?
Not necessarily. Leak risk depends on each home's age, foundation and pipe history. Many homes are old enough that original lines deserve attention.
My home has a crawlspace. Can I have a slab leak?
If the whole house is on a raised floor, supply lines run in the crawlspace rather than under concrete. Some homes have slab sections, such as a garage or addition.
Do tree roots cause slab leaks?
Roots are mainly a problem for sewer laterals. Supply line leaks under a slab usually have other causes.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.