Slab Leak Warning Signs in North Texas Homes

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Most homes around Argyle, TX and across North Texas sit on a concrete slab, with water lines running underneath or through it. Add our expansive clay soil, which swells when wet and shrinks in drought, and you've got a foundation that moves more than people realize. Over time, that movement and plain old age can lead to a leak under the slab.

Slab leaks are sneaky because you can't see them. By the time water shows up inside, it's often been leaking a while. Here's what to look for.

What Is a Slab Leak?

A slab leak is a leak in a water or drain line beneath or inside the concrete foundation. It can be a hot water line, a cold supply line or a drain. Hot water leaks tend to show themselves sooner because they create warm spots. Drain leaks can be the quietest of all. Not every leak is under the slab, so learn the signs of a hidden water leak in your walls and ceilings too.

What Are the Most Common Warning Signs?

• A warm spot on the floor, especially on tile, when nobody's been in the sun. Pets often find it first.
• The water meter moving when every faucet and appliance is off.
• The water heater running constantly or the sound of running water when nothing is on.
• Damp or warped flooring, cupping hardwood or loose tile, especially in one area.
• Musty smells or mildew along baseboards.
• New cracks in tile or walls, or doors that suddenly stick.
• Low water pressure that wasn't there before.
• Soggy or unusually green patches of yard near the foundation.
• A water bill that jumps without an explanation.

None of those alone proves a slab leak. Two or three together are worth a phone call.

How Can I Check My Water Meter for a Leak?

1. Turn off every faucet, shower, ice maker, irrigation system and water-using appliance.
2. Find your meter, usually in a box near the street.
3. Look at the leak indicator, often a small triangle or dial, or write down the reading.
4. Wait an hour or two without using water, then check again.

If the reading changed or the indicator is spinning, water is going somewhere. It might be a toilet flapper or an irrigation valve. It might be under the slab. A plumber with leak detection equipment can pinpoint it.

Who Do I Call First?

Call a licensed plumber to find and fix the leak. Slab leak repairs can mean tunneling, breaking out a section of slab or rerouting the line through the walls or attic. That's plumbing work.

Then, if water has gotten into the flooring, walls or cabinets, call us. CMDR Restoration, our mitigation partner (licensed by TDLR, RCO #1801), dries the structure and removes what can't be saved. G3 rebuilds floors, cabinets and walls once everything is dry. Our guide to wet drywall explains how that decision gets made.

What Happens to the Floors After a Slab Leak?

It depends on the flooring:

• Tile may survive if the leak is caught early, but grout and thinset can hold moisture.
• Hardwood often cups or buckles. Some can be dried; some has to be replaced.
• Carpet and pad usually need to be pulled so the slab can dry.
• Laminate and vinyl plank often trap water underneath and may need removal.

Concrete dries slowly. Moisture readings tell us when the slab is ready for new flooring. Putting flooring down on a wet slab is a great way to do the job twice.

Can Slab Leaks Be Prevented?

You can't control the soil or the age of the pipes, but you can help:

• Keep soil moisture around the foundation consistent with proper watering during drought
• Make sure gutters and grading move water away from the house
• Know where your main shutoff is
• Watch your water bill month to month
• Address small signs early instead of waiting

When Should I Call?

If you see the signs, start with a plumber. If water has reached your floors or walls, call CMDR and G3 at (945) 300-9018. You can also learn more on our water damage page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep learning: see our CMDR Restoration & Mitigation page, read Water Mitigation vs. Restoration: What's the Difference?, or read what homeowners say in our customer reviews.