How We Repair Slab Leaks — Your Three Options

Not every slab leak is repaired the same way. The right repair depends on where the leak is, which pipe is affected, the age and condition of your overall plumbing system, and the layout of your home. We assess all of these factors before recommending a repair path and give you honest pricing for each option.

Option 1 — Spot Repair (Open the Slab)

The most direct repair method. Once the leak is precisely located using electronic detection equipment, we open the concrete directly above the failure point — using a jackhammer for thicker slabs or a saw for thinner ones — expose the damaged section of pipe, repair or replace it, and patch the concrete.

Before we start, we clear the work area of anything nearby that could be affected by vibration — pictures on walls, items on shelves and tables. We protect your flooring and contain dust as much as possible during the concrete work. After the pipe repair is complete and inspected, we pour new concrete to patch the opening and finish the surface.

Best for: Isolated leak in a pipe that is otherwise in good condition, where the rest of the plumbing system has reasonable life remaining. Also the right choice when the leak location doesn’t allow for easy rerouting.

What to expect: Most spot repairs take a full day. The concrete patch needs 24 to 48 hours to cure before the area is fully usable. Flooring repair over the patch — tile, hardwood, vinyl — is arranged separately.

Option 2 — Pipe Rerouting

Instead of opening the slab, we run a new supply line through the walls or attic, bypassing the damaged section under the foundation entirely. The failed pipe is capped and left in place — there’s no jackhammering and no concrete patch needed.

Rerouting is often faster, less disruptive, and sometimes lower in overall cost than a spot repair — particularly in homes where the floor finish is high-end tile or hardwood that would be expensive to restore after concrete work. It’s also the preferred option when the damaged pipe is inside a concrete beam where spot repair would require cutting structural concrete.

Best for: Homes where the pipe can be practically rerouted through the wall or attic cavity, especially where floor finishes make opening the slab expensive or disruptive. Also strongly recommended for older homes where the copper throughout the system is aging — rerouting one line while leaving aging copper in place elsewhere is a good bridge strategy.

What to expect: Rerouting can sometimes be completed in a single day, but the scope varies significantly depending on your home’s layout. Running a new line through walls or the attic requires wall and ceiling penetrations that are patched after the line is run — the extent of that work depends on where the pipe needs to go. Some reroutes are straightforward; others involve significant wall work. We’ll give you a realistic picture of what’s involved for your specific home once we’ve seen the situation.

Option 3 — Full Repipe

For homes where the copper supply lines throughout the system are aging and showing stress — multiple previous slab leaks, widespread corrosion, or copper that is 40+ years old under Texas clay soil conditions — a full repipe replaces all supply lines with modern PEX tubing. PEX is flexible, resistant to corrosion, and designed to handle the movement stress that Texas clay soils generate.

A full repipe eliminates future slab leak risk from copper corrosion entirely. It’s a larger investment than a spot repair or reroute, but for the right home it’s the most cost-effective long-term decision — particularly when the alternative is dealing with a second or third slab leak in the same house.

Best for: Homes built before 1985 still on original copper, homes that have had two or more slab leaks, or homes where inspection reveals widespread corrosion or stress across multiple supply lines.

What to expect: A full repipe can take more than one day depending on the size of the home and the complexity of the layout. Water is shut off during the work. Running new lines throughout the house requires wall and ceiling penetrations that are patched afterward — the extent varies by home. We’ll walk you through what’s involved for your specific situation before work begins.

What to Expect During a Slab Leak Repair

If you’ve never had a slab leak repair done, here’s what the process looks like from your call to the completed repair:

Step 1 — Detection

If you haven’t already had the leak located, detection comes first. We use electronic amplification equipment to pinpoint the exact location of the leak under the slab before any concrete is touched. See our Slab Leak Detection page for details on how we locate leaks.

Step 2 — Assessment and Estimate

Once the leak is located, we assess the repair options specific to your home — the pipe type, the leak location, the slab construction, and the overall condition of the surrounding plumbing. We walk you through every option with upfront pricing for each. You choose the repair approach before any work begins.

Step 3 — Preparation

We protect the work area before starting. For concrete work this means clearing the immediate area of furniture and valuables, laying down floor protection, and preparing dust containment. We treat every home the same way we’d want our own treated.

Step 4 — The Repair

The repair is performed by licensed plumbers using professional materials. For spot repairs, the concrete is opened, the pipe is repaired or replaced, and the work is inspected before the concrete is poured. For rerouting, the new line is run, connected, pressure tested, and the penetration points are patched. All repairs are fully tested before we leave.

Step 5 — Concrete Patch and Cleanup

For spot repairs, we pour and finish the concrete patch and clean up the work area completely. The patch surface is finished to a level that accepts tile, hardwood, or vinyl flooring installation — flooring restoration is typically arranged with a separate contractor and we can recommend one if needed.

Slab Leak Repair and Homeowner’s Insurance

Whether your insurance covers a slab leak repair is ultimately a decision your insurance company makes based on your specific policy. What we can tell you is that in our experience, many homeowner’s policies in Texas include “sudden and accidental discharge” coverage that has covered slab leak repairs for our customers in the past. Coverage varies by policy and insurer — the best first step is to call your agent and ask specifically about that clause.

What most insurers require before processing a claim is a written leak location report from a licensed plumber documenting where the leak was, which pipe was affected, and how it was located. We provide that report. A few things to do before filing:

• Get the leak located and documented before calling your adjuster — a professional written report significantly strengthens your claim position.
• Photograph all visible damage to flooring, walls, and cabinetry before any repair work begins.
• Ask your adjuster specifically about “sudden and accidental discharge” coverage — this is the clause that typically applies to slab leaks in Texas homeowner policies.
• You are entitled to an independent repair estimate. If your insurer sends their own plumber to assess, you can get a second opinion from us.
• For older homes with aging copper, some insurers distinguish between sudden failures and gradual deterioration — having professional documentation of the specific failure point helps make the case for coverage.

Call (817) 447-2654 — we’ll help you get the documentation you need before you file.

Why Dependable Plumbing for Slab Leak Repair

• In business since 1985 — Over 40 years of slab leak detection and repair experience in the Burleson and south DFW area. Other plumbing companies hire us to locate their slab leaks when they can’t find them.
• Electronic detection before any concrete is touched — We never guess at the location or open the wrong section of floor. The leak is pinpointed within inches before any work begins.
• Plumbing repair and concrete patch — one company — We handle detection, the plumbing repair, and patching the concrete. Flooring, sheetrock, and paint restoration are separate — we can recommend contractors for those if needed.
• All three repair options available — Spot repair, pipe rerouting, and full repipe. We recommend the right approach for your specific situation, not the most expensive one.
• Upfront pricing — You know the full cost before we start. No surprise charges after the work is done.
• Insurance documentation provided — Written leak location reports for insurance claims are standard with our service.
• Licensed plumbers — All work performed by licensed professionals. Master License M12423.
• Same-day service available — We’re based in Burleson and serve the surrounding south DFW area. For most locations we can be there same day.

Frequently Asked Questions — Slab Leak Repair

How much does slab leak repair cost in Burleson TX?

Repair cost depends on the repair method, the pipe location, and the size and layout of your home. Pipe rerouting is sometimes less expensive than concrete spot repair depending on the scope of wall work involved. A full repipe is the largest investment but eliminates future risk. The repair estimate is provided after the leak is located — see our Slab Leak Detection page for information on the detection visit and fee. Call (817) 447-2654 to discuss your situation.

How long does a slab leak repair take?

Pipe rerouting can sometimes be completed in a single day, but the scope varies depending on your home’s layout — some reroutes are straightforward and some involve significant wall work. Spot repairs requiring concrete work typically take a full day, with the concrete patch needing 24 to 48 hours to cure. A full repipe can take more than one day depending on home size. We’ll give you a specific timeline estimate when we’re on site and can see the full scope of the job.

Will my floors be back to normal after a spot repair?

The concrete patch is finished to a level surface that accepts new flooring. Matching existing tile, hardwood, or other floor finishes is a separate step typically handled by a flooring contractor. If your flooring was damaged by the slab leak itself, that damage may be covered under your homeowner’s insurance — document it thoroughly with photos before repair begins.

Is pipe rerouting as reliable as a spot repair?

Yes — a properly rerouted supply line is fully reliable and can have a longer effective lifespan than a spot-repaired copper line left in reactive Texas clay soil, since it avoids leaving aging copper in the ground where it may fail again. One thing worth knowing: lines rerouted through an attic can be exposed to freezing during hard North Texas cold snaps if the attic isn’t adequately insulated or the line isn’t protected. We factor this in when planning a reroute and will discuss it with you if it’s a consideration for your home.

Can I stay in my home during the repair?

For most repairs yes, though water will be shut off to the house during the active repair work. Concrete work generates dust and some noise — we contain it as much as possible but it’s something to be aware of. For larger repairs or full repiping, some homeowners prefer to be elsewhere during the work day, but it’s not required.

What areas do you serve for slab leak repair?

We serve Burleson, Crowley, Mansfield, Arlington, Fort Worth, Everman, Joshua, Alvarado, Keene, and surrounding south DFW communities. If you’re within about 20 miles of Burleson, give us a call. See our city pages for more information:

• Burleson Slab Leak Repair
• Crowley Slab Leak Repair
• Mansfield Slab Leak Repair
• Arlington Slab Leak Repair
• Fort Worth Slab Leak Repair
• Everman Slab Leak Repair
• Joshua Slab Leak Repair
• Alvarado Slab Leak Repair
• Keene Slab Leak Repair

Schedule Your Slab Leak Repair

If you know you have a slab leak — or suspect you do — don’t let it run. Every day a slab leak goes unrepaired it causes more damage to your floors, walls, and the soil supporting your foundation.

📞 Call Dependable Plumbing at (817) 447-2654
Same-day service available · Repair estimate provided after detection · Serving Burleson and south DFW since 1985