8 Slab Leak Signs Every Arlington Homeowner Should Know

A slab leak is a leak in a water pipe that runs under your home's concrete foundation. Almost every Arlington home sits on a slab, so these leaks are common here. If you notice the signs below, call Arlington Leak Pros at (817) 285-5426, 24/7. Our slab leak detection service finds the leak without tearing up your floors.

If you notice two or more of these signs, book slab leak detection in Arlington so the leak is found to find the leak before the floor is opened.

What is a slab leak?

A slab leak is a crack or pinhole in a water line buried under or inside a concrete slab foundation. Water escapes into the soil or seeps up through the floor. You usually cannot see it at first. Over weeks, it raises your water bill, soaks flooring, and can move the soil that holds up your foundation.

Both hot and cold water lines can leak. A hot water line leak often shows up as a warm spot on the floor. A cold water line leak is harder to notice because it gives off no heat.

Why do Arlington homes get slab leaks?

Arlington homes sit on expansive clay soil. The clay swells when it rains and shrinks in summers over 100°F. That movement bends and rubs the copper water lines under the slab until they wear through. Older pipes and hard freezes, like Winter Storm Uri in 2021, add even more stress.

Many homes built from the 1960s to the 1990s, in areas like Woodland West, Interlochen and East Arlington, still have their original copper or cast iron lines under the slab. Newer homes in Viridian and South Arlington can leak too, usually from a fitting or a nail from construction.

What are the 8 most common slab leak signs?

The most common slab leak signs are a water bill that jumps, the sound of running water with every tap off, warm spots on the floor, and a water meter that keeps moving. If you see two or more of the signs below, schedule leak detection soon.

1. Your water bill jumped. A bill that rises 20% or more with no change in use is often the first clue.
2. You hear running water. A hiss or trickle under the floor when nothing is on points to a pressurized line.
3. Warm spots on the floor. Tile or wood that feels warm in one area often means a hot water line leak.
4. Damp carpet or a musty smell. Water that wicks up through the slab soaks pads and grows mildew.
5. Warped wood or loose tile. Moisture from below makes flooring cup, buckle or lift.
6. New cracks. Fresh cracks in tile, drywall or the slab can mean wet soil is moving.
7. Low water pressure. A leak steals pressure, so showers and faucets feel weak.
8. Water heater runs nonstop. If hot water is leaking, the heater keeps refilling and reheating.

How can you check for a slab leak yourself?

Use your water meter. Turn off every faucet, toilet, appliance and sprinkler. Open the meter box near the street and note the reading or the small leak indicator. Wait 15 minutes without using any water. If the reading changes or the indicator spins, water is leaking somewhere on your property.

Next, close the main shut-off valve at the house and check the meter again. If it stops moving, the leak is inside the home, which often means under the slab or in a wall. If it keeps moving, the leak is likely in the underground water line between the meter and the house.

Want to rule out simple causes first? Our guide on why your Arlington water bill is high walks through toilets, sprinklers and faucets.

How do professionals find a slab leak?

A licensed technician uses non-invasive tools to pinpoint the leak, usually within a foot or two. Pressure tests confirm which line is leaking. Acoustic microphones hear water escaping through concrete. Thermal cameras show heat from hot water leaks. Line tracers map where the pipe runs under the slab.

Because the leak is marked before any concrete is cut, only one small spot is opened. That means less mess, a smaller repair and a lower bill. You can read more about the tools we use for leak detection.

How much does slab leak detection cost in Arlington?

Slab leak detection in Arlington usually costs about $250 to $600. A slab leak spot repair often runs about $1,500 to $4,000, depending on where the leak is and how hard it is to reach. These are general estimates. We give you an exact price before any work begins.

General estimates for Arlington, TX in 2026. See our full leak detection cost table.

What are your slab leak repair options?

There are four common ways to fix a slab leak: a spot repair through the slab, rerouting the line through walls or the attic, tunneling under the foundation, or repiping with PEX. The best choice depends on the age of your pipes and how many leaks you have had.

• Spot repair: Best for a single leak in otherwise healthy pipe.
• Reroute: Abandons the leaking line and runs a new one above the slab.
• Tunneling: Reaches the pipe from outside without breaking interior floors.
• PEX repipe: Makes sense when old copper keeps failing.

Learn more about our leak repair work.

What should you do right now if you suspect a slab leak?

Close the main water shut-off to stop the damage. Turn off the water heater if you suspect a hot water leak. Keep away from wet outlets, take photos for insurance, and call a licensed leak detection company to pinpoint the leak before anyone cuts into the floor.

See our full list of steps to take during a leak.