Frisco Slab Leak Repair & Detection

In north Texas, the first thing to be aware of is that slab leaks typically only occur in homes that were constructed with copper water lines. Generally speaking, that is homes built before the 2015 – 2017 years. And of those homes with confirmed slab leaks, about 80% or more are located on the hot water side lines of the system.

Based on our findings when a repair is accessed and completed, the most common causes of a copper water line slab leak are:

• Water lines that are installed inside a concrete form or beam where sharp aggregate has created a pressure point over the years.
• Water lines that were damaged or dented during installation creating a cavitation that erodes the interior (think Grand Canyon).
• Imperfections and lack quality controls in the manufacturing process that created pits & unevenness inside the interior of the pipe.
• Improper installation at the time of construction where the lines were not properly protected.

It should be noted that with the recent implementation and widespread use of PEX (plastic) water lines, slab leaks have become almost nonexistent in newer homes except in the rarest of cases. The reason is that PEX water lines are more durable and the weak points – the various line junctions (fittings) – are by code almost exclusively about the slab level. In other words, the weakest points are above the slab and inside the walls & ceilings. PEX is not without its own opportunities but at this time it is the superior plumbing product when it comes to moving domestic water throughout your home or business.

After initial testing has confirmed a slab leak, the next step is locating the exact location of the leak. This is a specialized & learned skill that comes with many hours of experience and requires some very specialized equipment & techniques.

For brevity sake, we use a specialized listening device with a specialized microphone to identify the loudest “points” on a particular line. Once that is identified, we use another specialized device that emits a radio frequency and allows us to locate the exact location(s) of the water line(s) below the slab. The line locations are marked on the floor with tape and then another specialized microphone is used to listen through the slab for the various sounds made by the leak – usually just a pin hole. On the more difficult locations, compressed non-flammable gases are integrated into the water lines to create a different and more distinctive sound.

There are many variables in the “leak location process,” and it is not an exact process. Success depends on experience. Ultimately, we want to be within 2-3 feet of the exact leak location. Once that leak location is identified, then we can determine the best plan to build an estimate for the repair. Sometimes there may be more than one repair option provided, with slightly different costs and varying levels of normal life disruption, clean up and/or reconstruction.

Once the leak location is identified, an estimate will be created to make the repair. Usually there is only one realistic & viable repair option. However, on occasion there are multiple options to consider. If so, there will be different prices and likely different overall experience levels. The experience level may vary from relative seamlessness (tunneling) to loud but controlled chaos and a lot of dust (slab penetration). The most common repair options for the North Texas areas include the following:

• Tunnel Excavation: In North Texas, this is by far the most common repair option with the least amount of life disruptions. It is especially prevalent in the outlying DFW suburbs where larger two-story homes are more common. The compacted clay soil that is prominent in the DFW area make this repair option feasible and common. Tunneling accounts for well over 90% of all slab leak and sewer line repairs in the North Texas area.
• Slab Penetration with Tunneling: This is done on the interior of the home when tunneling from outside is not a viable option due to distance or expense. It also becomes more practical if there is significant interior home damage that require repairs (flooring, cabinets, etc). This options creates the most life disruption and a considerable amount of clean up after the repair. With most slab penetrations there is usually some sort of excavation (tunneling) required because of the location (cabinets, staircase, inside a beam, etc). This option accounts for less than 10% of the repairs in North Texas.
• Slab Penetration with Spot Repair: Similar and in conjunction with above. Same process with significantly less digging. This accounts for less than 1% of all repairs because it is rare that a leak is this easily accessible. Factor in the fact that many slab leaks are where the water line is passing through a concrete support beam and to bypass this concrete beam to prevent a similar future occurrence requires significant excavation.
• Water Line Reroute: Also done from inside the home, this is the least likely option of all the repairs. This is really only a realistic or feasible option when the home is a single story. With most North Texas homes being two stories and other various construction standards, this repair option accounts for less than 1% of all repairs completed in North Texas.