The first clue is often a higher water bill with no change in habits. You might hear water running when everything is off, or notice a drop in pressure at multiple fixtures. Warm spots on the floor can point to a hot water leak. Damp carpet, a musty odor, or grout that will not stay clean can also be moisture working its way up. In more advanced cases, you may see new cracks in the slab or along baseboards.
Most slab leaks come from a mix of age, water chemistry, and stress on the pipe. Copper can develop pinholes over time, especially with aggressive or acidic water. Poor bedding, sharp rock, or bad supports can damage PEX or fittings. Soil movement, temperature swings, and vibration can slowly work joints loose. Sometimes the line was installed fine, it just reached the end of its service life in the worst possible location.
We start by ruling out obvious fixture leaks and confirming the leak is on the supply side. From there, we use pressure testing and isolation where possible. We also use acoustic listening to narrow the area, and thermal imaging when hot water is involved. If we need more certainty, we can use additional tracing methods to confirm the path before we open anything up. The goal is accuracy first, demolition last.
If the leak is isolated and accessible, a targeted repair can make sense. If the pipe is failing in more than one spot, rerouting the line through walls or the attic often avoids breaking concrete and lowers the risk of repeat leaks. In older systems, partial or full repiping can be the most cost effective long term move. We will lay out the pros and cons clearly, give you a plan you can trust, and keep disruption reasonable.
