How much will slab leak repair cost you? To answer this critical question, we need to lay out a few variables that contribute to costs. Here’s what to know.
Deteriorating pipes underneath your home’s slab foundation can cause serious destruction if you don’t repair them quickly. Leaky pipes in your home can be expensive—not only do they raise your monthly water bill, but they can also cause permanent damage. When the leak is located below a concrete slab, your foundation could be at risk of failing.
The question that most homeowners ask when they hear they have this problem is, “how much will slab leak repair cost me?” According to HomeAdvisor, it can be quite expensive:
- Detecting a leak beneath a slab can cost $150 to $600.
- The average cost to repair a slab leak is $2,280.
- Repairing your slab foundation after fixing the leak often costs over $2,000.
As these figures demonstrate, a few factors can contribute to overall costs. This article provides a general outline of what to expect.
What Factors into Concrete Slab Repair Cost?
Concrete slab leak repair cost can be expensive, in part because of the specialist work and labor involved. But there are a variety of factors that you can use to determine what price you’ll get quoted, which will make it easier for you to plan accordingly! In this section, we break down the different factors that contribute to the price of a slab leak repair so that you’re better prepared.
Slab Leak Reroute
Rerouting your plumbing is an option when you want to avoid extensive demolition costs. A plumber will find a new route through your home to save your floors from destruction and repair. Concrete slab leak repair cost for a reroute job will depend on the size of the affected area but can range from $300 to $1500 to complete.
Under-Slab Repair
An under-slab leak is one of the most common plumbing leaks. It may be caused by a variety of reasons, including heavy rain, excessive runoff, and a broken pipe. In many cases, the leak can be found at the joint connecting two pieces of piping. Under-slab repair requires the plumber to demolish a portion of the concrete slab to access the leak. Depending on the size of the job, this can cost anywhere from $500 to $4000.
Water Main Repair
Your home’s water main line is what allows you to have water in your home. If the water main is damaged, this can add to the cost of repairs as well. Water main repairs can cost between $500 and $3000, depending on the extent of the damage and the amount of piping that needs to be replaced.
Burst Pipe
Burst pipes are often the cause of slab leaks. These pipes have cracks or seams that allow water to leak out inside a building, causing structural damage and health hazards. Burst pipes usually break because of wear and tear or because they were installed too close to a heat source, like an oven or furnace. Depending on how accessible the broken potion of the pipe is, this can cost between $400 and $850.
New Concrete Slab
One of the main factors into the cost of a slab leak repair is the type of slab. If there is an older concrete slab, it will likely cost more to repair than if it was a newer concrete slab. The material used for the new concrete will also affect how much it costs to fix.
If damage is too extensive, the entire slab may need to be replaced. Because this is a big job, it costs a lot to complete. The total cost depends on the size of the slab and the thickness of the slab. These jobs range between $3600 and $7200 to finish.
5 Slab Leak Signs to Know
Finding a slab leak on your home is difficult, but there are warning signs that will point you in the right direction. Learning what these warning signs are and what to do if you notice them are important steps in securing your home against water damage and other costly repairs.
Do you know these slab leak signs?
Higher Water Bills
Is your water bill higher than normal? If there are no other indications of increased water use, such as additional guests in your home, then you might have a slab leak. Slab leaks allow your water to run constantly, which will drive up water usage in your home.
Poor Water Pressure
When the water pressure in your home starts to decrease without any obvious explanation, you could be looking at one of the top slab leak signs. If your plumbing typically has great water pressure, you should consider whether you need to have a professional diagnose the problem. At the very least, you will get peace of mind.
Damaged Flooring
In most cases, slab leaks happen in the hot water pipes. You might notice unusual warm spots on your floor when there is a leaking pipe due to uneven heating occurring from the top down. Additionally, the water can wreak havoc on carpeting and other household surfaces if fit seeps up through a crack in the slab.
The Sound of Running Water
You may hear a persistent sound in your plumbing despite having all your faucets turned off. To test whether you water is leaking under the slab, turn off all the water in your house and listen for the sound of running water.
Unpleasant Smells
Your home might start to collect a funny smell if you have a slab leak – even though you clean it daily. If water is streaming at a steady rate out of your home pipes, your floors or walls might have mildew and mold growing behind their surface that is giving off a funky scent. To fix the problem, you will need to contact a professional plumber.
Detecting the Slab Leak
Finding a leak beneath a slab foundation is more difficult than locating a leak in your home. Because the pipes are buried under the foundation, a leak detection specialist will need to use special equipment to find the exact location of the leak to minimize the damage to your foundation.
If you don’t know where the leak is located, hiring an expert who has the experience and equipment to do the job efficiently can save you hundreds, maybe even thousands, in slab leak repair costs.
Repairing the Leaky Pipe
A broken pipe can cost anywhere from $150 to nearly $400 to repair. The price tag goes up quite a bit on average if the pipe in question is your main water line. It may cost as little as $150, though the average cost is about $840, and some repairs cost as high as $3,000 to complete.
Keep in mind that costs are relative to the extent of the damage to your pipes.
Foundation Repairs
The majority of your slab leak repair cost will most likely come from foundation repair. Fixing a slab leak requires cutting through your foundation to access the pipes, and depending on how much of the foundation needs to be removed, it can get expensive.
On average, pouring a new foundation costs between $3,600 and $7,200, though you should be aware that this is for an average-sized home. If your home is large, the average cost can be much more of a burden. You may also want to consider rerouting your plumbing to save on costs.
How much will slab leak repair cost you? Get a free estimate today.
Have your water bills been higher than usual? Have you noticed the sound of running water when your taps are turned off? You might have a slab leak. If you suspect your home has this surprisingly common problem, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Custom Plumbing of Arizona. We are slab leak experts you can trust.