Slab Leak Repair Methods

There are a multitude of different slab leak repair methods. Depending on how many leaks you have, what kind of leak you are experiencing, and where the leak(s) are located has a lot to do with determining the best method of repairs. For example, if you are experiencing a water slab leak three feet from the exterior of the home, it may make the most sense to tunnel to repair the leak.

Tunneling is the process of creating an exterior access hole outside of the home in the soil and tunneling below the foundation to access leaking pipes. The cost of tunneling to repair leaks is determined by the length of the tunnel. For that reason, smaller tunnels are more affordable.

If you incurred a water leak further from the exterior walls of the home it may be more cost effective to create a direct slab access, also known as slab penetration. To make a direct slab access the plumbers would jackhammer through the slab to reach the leak and make necessary repairs. We suggest this method in lieu of making lengthy, expensive tunnels. Slab penetration is also a great option if the leak has caused damage to the flooring causing the need for its replacement.

If for example, the leak is far from an exterior wall but the flooring in the room where the leak is located has not incurred any damage, we may suggest a water line reroute. To perform a water reroute in lieu of tunneling or creating a slab penetration, drywall penetrations are made so new water lines can be connected to the existing manifolds in the walls and the new line is run through the walls and attic to another manifold or water heater. This method abandons the leaking line underground and replaces it with the new water line that runs through the walls and attic.