Slab leaks are one of the most serious types of water leaks a homeowner can face—because they happen underneath your home’s concrete foundation. Left undetected, these hidden leaks can lead to costly structural damage, dangerous mold growth, and skyrocketing utility bills. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t even realize they have a slab leak until the damage is already well underway.
So, how can you tell if there’s a slab leak under your home– and what should you do about it?
Top Warning Signs of a Slab Leak
Here are the most common indicators that something is leaking beneath your slab:
- Sudden Spike in Water Bills – If your water bill shoots up with no change in usage, a hidden leak under your foundation could be the cause. Even a small pinhole leak can waste thousands of gallons of water per month.
- Hot Spots on the Floor – If a part of your floor feels unusually warm, you might have a leaking hot water line beneath the slab. This is often one of the earliest and easiest symptoms to detect, especially in homes with tile or hardwood flooring.
- Cracks in Walls or Flooring – As water erodes the soil under your foundation, it can cause sections of your slab to shift or settle unevenly. This pressure can lead to visible cracks in flooring, baseboards, drywall, or even ceilings.
- Low Water Pressure – Leaks in the slab can reduce water flow throughout your plumbing system, making showers weaker and faucets slower to fill.
- Mold and/or Mildew Smells – A musty odor in your home could be caused by moisture trapped under flooring or behind walls, which is often a sign of a long-standing leak below the foundation.
- Pooling Water and/or Damp Carpets – If you notice unexplained wet spots on your floors or carpets—especially near the edges of rooms—there could be water rising from below the slab. In more advanced cases, you might even see water pooling near the base of your walls.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
Slab leaks can result from several factors, many of which are completely out of the homeowner’s control:
- Pipe corrosion from soil chemistry or age
- Shifting foundations due to soil movement or earthquakes
- Abrasion from pipes rubbing against concrete or rebar
- High water pressure damaging old or weak pipe joints
- Poor construction practices, including improperly installed pipes
Why Prompt Detection Is Critical
Slab leaks don’t go away—they only get worse with time. If ignored, the leaking water can compromise the structural integrity of your foundation, leading to costly repairs that may include jackhammering the slab, removing flooring, or even repiping large sections of your plumbing.
Early detection and professional intervention can save you thousands of dollars and weeks of disruption.
How First Class Leak Detection Can Help
At First Class Leak Detection, we specialize in finding hidden leaks before they become disasters. Using advanced, non-invasive equipment — such as acoustic listening devices, thermal imaging, and tracer gas detection — we pinpoint the exact location of a slab leak without causing unnecessary damage to your home.
Our technicians are trained to interpret subtle signs that others might miss. We believe in transparency, integrity, and providing you with a clear plan of action—whether that means targeted repair or coordination with a licensed plumber for pipe replacement.
Don’t Wait—Stop the Damage Before It Spreads
If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs above, don’t delay. What starts as a small leak can quickly escalate into thousands of dollars in repairs—not to mention the potential for mold-related health issues.
Call First Class Leak Detection today at 732-253-4900 for a free consultation and let our experts protect your home from the ground up.
Visit us online at FirstClassLeaks.com to learn more about our process and services.
