Slab Leak in an Older Home: Spot Repair or Repipe? (South Orange County)
Many homes in Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo and the rest of South Orange County were built on concrete slabs, with copper water lines running under or through the slab.
As those pipes age, a pinhole leak under the floor can happen. A slab leak usually doesn't mean the whole house needs new plumbing.
Common signs of a slab leak
- The sound of running water when everything is off
- A warm spot on the floor (hot-water line)
- Damp or warped flooring or carpet
- A water bill higher than normal
- The water meter moving with all fixtures off
- Lower water pressure
Checking the water meter with all the water off is a simple first step a homeowner can take. If the dial is still moving, water is leaving the system somewhere.
What to do right away
If water is coming up through the floor or the leak is active, shut off the main water to limit damage, then have a plumber look at it.
Spot repair: a common, practical fix
A spot repair means opening a small area at the leak, repairing that section of pipe, and closing it back up.
For a single leak in an otherwise healthy system, this is a common and valid choice. It keeps the disruption to one area of the home.
When a reroute or repipe may make more sense
A reroute runs a new line above the slab, through walls or the attic, and bypasses the bad section. A whole-house repipe replaces the supply lines.
Either may be worth considering if leaks keep happening, if the pipe is corroded in several places, or if the leak is hard to reach. Those are options for those situations, not the usual first step.
Questions to think about
- How old are the pipes?
- Is this the first leak or one of several?
- Where is the leak, and how hard is it to reach?
- How much disruption to floors and finishes is acceptable?
The right choice depends on the condition of the home's pipes and its leak history.