Slab Leak Plumber or Leak Detection Company: Who Should Arlington Homeowners Call First?

Call a leak detection company first when you cannot see where the water is coming from. A slab leak is under concrete, so the first job is finding the exact spot, not digging. A specialist pinpoints it with acoustic, thermal and pressure tests, then a plumber repairs it with one small opening instead of several. Call (817) 285-5426 to book a slab leak test.

Our slab leak detection in Arlington visits usually find the leak within a few feet, so the repair crew knows exactly where to open the floor.

What is the difference between a slab leak plumber and a leak detection company?

A leak detection company finds leaks. It uses listening gear, thermal cameras, pressure tests and line tracers to locate a break without opening walls or floors. A plumber repairs pipes. Many plumbers fix slab leaks well, but not all carry detection tools or have a tech trained to use them, so some find the leak by trial and error.

Who does what on a slab leak

Task	Leak detection company	General plumber
Confirm there is a leak (meter and pressure test)	Yes	Usually
Find the exact spot under the slab	Yes, with acoustic and thermal tools	Some, depends on equipment
Tell hot line from cold line	Yes	Sometimes
Written report with photos for insurance	Yes	Rarely
Break the slab and repair the pipe	Some do	Yes
Reroute or repipe	Some do	Yes

We do both. Our technicians locate the leak and our crew can handle slab leak repair in Arlington TX the same week, so you are not passing your problem between two companies.

Why does it matter who you call first?

Because guessing is expensive. If a plumber opens the floor where the warm spot is, the leak may be several feet away, since water travels along the pipe and under the slab before it shows. Each extra opening means more concrete, more flooring and more time. Pinpointing first usually means one hole, about two feet square, right over the break.

It also matters for insurance. Many Texas policies pay for the tear-out and the floor repair after a sudden slab leak, but they want proof of what failed and where. A detection report gives your adjuster that proof. Our guide on leak detection reports for insurance explains what to ask for.

What are the signs that you need a slab leak test?

The common signs are a water bill that jumped with no change in use, a warm or damp spot on the floor, the sound of running water with every tap off, a meter that keeps moving, low water pressure, and cracks or mildew smell near baseboards. Two or more of these together make a slab leak likely.

• Your bill went up by $30 or more in a month with no new use.
• A tile or wood floor feels warm in one spot (often a hot water line).
• You hear water running behind walls or under the floor at night.
• The leak indicator on the water meter spins with all fixtures off.
• Carpet is damp along a wall with no visible pipe nearby.
• Hot water runs out faster and the water heater runs more often.

Our full list of slab leak signs in Arlington homes shows photos of each one.

How do you test for a slab leak yourself before you call?

Use the water meter. Turn off every faucet, the ice maker, irrigation and the washer. Note the meter reading or watch the small leak indicator. Wait 30 to 60 minutes without using water. If the reading moved, water is leaving the system somewhere. Then shut the valve on the water heater's cold inlet and test again to see if the leak is on the hot side.

1. Find the meter box near the street, usually in the front yard or by the curb.
2. Write down the reading, or take a photo of the dial.
3. Do not use any water for 30 to 60 minutes.
4. Check the reading again. Any movement means a leak.
5. Close the cold supply valve above the water heater and repeat. If the meter stops, the leak is likely on a hot water line.

If the meter still moves and you cannot find a running toilet or dripping hose bib, the leak may be in the yard line instead of under the slab. Our guide to waterline leak detection arlington homeowners use explains how to tell the two apart.

What happens during a slab leak detection visit?

The technician confirms the leak with a pressure test, isolates the hot and cold sides, then traces the lines under the slab. They listen with ground microphones, scan with a thermal camera for warm water lines, and mark the spot on the floor. Most visits take about one to three hours, and you get a written report with photos.

Want a step-by-step look before you book? Read our walkthrough of a leak detection arlington slab visit, from the first meter check to the final mark on the floor.

How much does slab leak detection and repair cost in Arlington?

Slab leak detection in Arlington usually costs about $250 to $600. Basic leak detection runs about $150 to $400. A spot repair through the slab usually costs about $1,500 to $4,000, including breaking and patching the concrete. Rerouting or repiping is priced separately, depending on how many lines and rooms are involved.

Approximate costs (from our Arlington price list)

Service	Approx. cost
Basic leak detection	$150 – $400
Slab leak detection	$250 – $600
Water line leak detection	$200 – $500
Slab leak spot repair	$1,500 – $4,000

If your home has had more than one slab leak, a reroute or a whole-home repipe may be the smarter fix. To get a rough number for that, try this house repiping cost calculator, then compare it with a spot repair. Our guide to reroute vs spot repair walks through the trade-offs.

What should you ask before anyone breaks the slab?

Ask how the leak was located, how close the mark is, whether it is a hot or cold line, and how big the opening will be. Ask who repairs the floor covering afterward and whether a reroute would avoid breaking the slab. A good company answers all of these in plain words before the jackhammer comes out.

• "What tools did you use to find it, and how sure are you of the spot?"
• "Is this the hot or cold side, and is the rest of the pipe in good shape?"
• "Would rerouting this line through the attic cost less overall?"
• "Will you give me a written report I can send to my insurer?"
• "Who patches the concrete, and who replaces the tile or floor?"

Why are slab leaks so common in Arlington?

Arlington sits on expansive clay soil. It swells after heavy spring rain and shrinks in long summer droughts, and that movement shifts slab foundations and bends the pipes inside them. Many homes built from the 1970s through the 1990s also have copper or older lines under the slab that are now 30 to 50 years old.

We see slab leaks all over town, from older neighborhoods near UT Arlington and Randol Mill Road to newer subdivisions in South Arlington, Viridian and the Southwest Arlington ZIP codes 76001, 76016 and 76017. If you live anywhere in Arlington, our leak detection Arlington TX team can usually be there the same day.