Stop a Slab Leak Before It Wrecks Your Foundation

A slab leak is a leak in the water supply lines running through or under the concrete foundation of your home. Left alone, even a small slab leak can saturate the soil under the slab, undermine the foundation, ruin flooring, and run a water bill into the stratosphere. Conner Plumbing of the Midlands provides electronic slab leak detection and repair for homeowners in Irmo, Chapin, Lexington, Columbia, West Columbia, and Cayce.

We’ve been the trusted plumbers across the Columbia metro since 2016, and we use modern leak-locating equipment so we can pinpoint the leak without jackhammering up half your living room. If you suspect water is actively running under your slab right now, call our 24/7 emergency plumbing line immediately.

[Photo placeholder — tech using electronic leak detector on slab floor]

How to Tell if You Have a Slab Leak

Slab leaks often start small and stay hidden for weeks or months because the leak is buried under concrete. Watch for these warning signs that we see on calls across the Midlands:

• Sudden spike in your water bill with no change in usage
• Sound of running water when no fixtures are on
• Warm or hot spots on the floor (hot-side leaks heat the concrete above them)
• Cracks appearing in walls, tile, or the slab itself as the soil shifts
• Damp or warped flooring — carpet, laminate, or hardwood feeling spongy
• Mold or musty smells with no visible source
• Loss of water pressure at multiple fixtures
• Continuously running water meter with everything in the house turned off

If you’re seeing any of these, especially in an older slab home in Columbia, West Columbia, or Cayce, get the leak located before the damage gets worse. We can also use a pipe camera inspection on the visible portions of your supply or sewer lines to rule in/out other causes.

Why Slab Leaks Happen in the SC Midlands

A few common causes we see across our service area:

Older copper supply lines

Many Midlands homes built in the 1970s–90s have copper supply lines run directly through the slab. Pinhole leaks develop over decades, especially where copper passes through concrete or contacts rebar.

Hard water and mineral content

The water in our part of South Carolina is on the harder side, which over time accelerates pipe wear and corrosion from the inside out.

Soil movement

The expansive clay soils common around Columbia and Lexington shift seasonally, putting stress on rigid copper or galvanized lines under the slab.

Construction damage

Lines nicked during the original pour or during later work can develop slow leaks years later.

High water pressure

Anything over 80 psi puts unnecessary stress on supply lines. We commonly find Midlands homes running 90–110 psi with no pressure reducer.

[Photo placeholder — copper pipe pinhole leak close-up]

Our Slab Leak Detection Process

We use a combination of acoustic, thermal, and pressure-based methods to locate the leak as precisely as possible — usually within a few inches.

1. Free in-home estimate. A licensed Conner technician arrives, listens to your symptoms, and confirms whether you’re seeing a slab leak vs. another type of leak.
2. Pressure test. We isolate the cold and hot lines and pressure-test each side to confirm where the leak is.
3. Electronic leak detection. Acoustic listening equipment lets us hear the leak through the slab. We mark the location on the floor.
4. Thermal imaging for hot-side leaks — the warm spot above the leak shows up clearly on a thermal camera.
5. Flat written quote. Once located, you see the full repair price in writing before we start. We do not work on a hidden-fee model.
6. Repair, reroute, or repipe. We walk you through the options and pick the right one for your home.

Slab Leak Repair Options

There’s rarely just one way to fix a slab leak — we explain the options and let you pick.

Spot repair (open the slab)

When the leak location is accessible and the rest of the system is in good shape, we cut a small section of slab, repair the line, and patch the concrete. Best when only one leak exists.

Pipe rerouting (overhead or wall reroute)

Instead of cutting concrete, we abandon the bad section under the slab and run new PEX or copper through walls and the attic. Often faster, cleaner, and less expensive than slab cutting when one section needs replacement — and it pairs well with related faucet and pipe repair work.

Whole-house repipe

When a home has multiple slab leaks within a year or two, the rest of the system is usually on borrowed time. We can repipe the entire home with PEX, eliminating future slab leaks. Repipes often coincide with sewer or main line replacement — see our water and sewer lines page.

Epoxy lining

For some larger lines, an epoxy coating can be applied internally without opening the slab. Best suited for specific scenarios; we’ll tell you if it’s a fit.

How to Reduce the Risk of a Future Slab Leak

• Install a whole-home pressure reducer if your static pressure is above 80 psi
• Get an annual plumbing inspection so we can spot small issues before they become slab leaks
• Watch your water bill for unexpected jumps
• Consider a leak-detection shutoff like a Phyn or Flo by Moen — these monitor flow and shut the home off automatically when a leak is detected

Frequently Asked Questions

How much damage will repair cause to my floors?

Spot repair through the slab requires cutting concrete and finished flooring at the leak location. Rerouting through walls/ceilings often avoids floor damage entirely. We discuss both options before any concrete is cut.

Will my homeowner’s insurance cover a slab leak?

Coverage varies by carrier. Most policies cover sudden water damage to the home but not the pipe repair itself. We provide detailed documentation for your claim.

How long does the repair take?

A spot repair is usually a half-day to a full day. A reroute can run 1–2 days. A full repipe runs 3–5 days depending on home size.

Can I just leave the leak alone?

No. Even a slow slab leak will eventually cause foundation movement, mold, and major flooring damage. Your water bill will also keep climbing.

Do you do whole-home repipes?

Yes — copper or PEX. We’ve completed full repipes across Irmo, Lexington, Chapin, Columbia, West Columbia, and Cayce.