What is a slab leak?
A slab leak is a leak in a water line that runs beneath or inside your home's concrete foundation slab. Because the pipe is encased in concrete, the leak rarely announces itself with an obvious puddle — instead it shows up indirectly through your floors, your water bill, and the sound of water moving when nothing is on.
Left alone, a slab leak wastes water, can undermine the foundation, and feeds mold. The good news: modern detection finds it precisely, so repairs are targeted rather than guesswork.
Why are slab leaks common in Florida homes?
It comes down to how homes are built here. Most Brevard County homes sit slab-on-grade — poured directly on a concrete slab with no basement — so supply lines often run through or under that concrete.
- Slab construction puts pipe in contact with concrete and soil, where it can't be inspected easily.
- Hard water corrodes and pits metal pipe from the inside over the years.
- Aging copper in older homes eventually develops pinhole leaks.
- Shifting sandy soil and ground movement can stress and abrade pipe against the slab.
What are the signs of a slab leak?
Because the leak is hidden, you watch for its effects. Any one of these is worth a check; several together strongly suggest a slab leak:
- A warm or hot spot on the floor (a hot-water line leak)
- The sound of running water with every fixture off
- An unexplained jump in your water bill
- A drop in water pressure throughout the home
- Cracks in flooring or walls, or shifting tile
- Damp carpet, warped flooring, or a musty smell
- Mold or mildew appearing at floor level
- The water meter moving with everything shut off
A quick at-home check
Turn off every water fixture and appliance, then look at your water meter. If it's still moving, water is escaping somewhere — often a sign of a hidden leak that warrants a professional look right away.
How are slab leaks detected?
You don't have to jackhammer the floor to find one. Licensed plumbers use non-destructive electronic leak detection to locate the leak before opening anything.
- Acoustic listening equipment detects the sound of water escaping the pipe under the slab.
- Pressure testing & line isolation confirm there's a leak and narrow down which line it's on.
- Together they pinpoint the spot, so any concrete that does get opened is a small, targeted area — not exploratory demolition.
What are the repair options?
Once the leak is located, the right repair depends on the pipe's age and overall condition.
- Spot repair — open a small section of slab and fix the single leak. Good when the rest of the piping is sound.
- Reroute — abandon the leaking under-slab run and route a new line through walls or ceilings, avoiding the concrete entirely.
- Repipe — when the piping is old and has leaked before, replacing it ends the cycle. See our repipe guide.
Don't ignore a suspected slab leak
A small slab leak only gets worse — wasting water, threatening the foundation, and feeding mold. If you suspect one, shut off the main water supply and call a licensed plumber. Anna's offers same-day and 24-hour emergency service across Brevard County.
How Anna's helps
Our licensed plumbers use electronic detection to find the leak precisely, then walk you through honest repair options — spot fix, reroute, or repipe — based on what your piping actually needs. Same-day and 24-hour emergency service, a 365-Day Money-Back Guarantee, and 0% financing on qualifying work make a stressful situation easier.
About pricing
Slab-leak pricing depends on the detection, the repair method, and accessibility, so it varies case by case. As estimates for the Space Coast, electronic leak detection often runs about $150–$500, a spot repair about $500–$1,500, and a reroute about $1,500–$4,000+ depending on access — confirm exact pricing with Anna's. [GATHER: confirm/adjust local pricing with Anna's]. Holding a repair quote? A free second opinion confirms the recommended approach is fair.