Water Bill Leak Calculator
Compare a normal bill with your current one to size up a hidden leak.
Estimates use typical industry ranges and published methods. They are not a quote. An on-site moisture inspection sets the actual scope.
Warning signs of a slab leak
- A water bill that jumped without a change in habits (use the calculator above to size the leak)
- The sound of running water when every fixture is off
- Warm or hot spots on tile or wood floors, a sign of a hot water line leak
- A water heater that seems to run constantly
- Damp or darkening carpet, cupping hardwood, or lifting vinyl plank with no obvious source
- Musty smell near baseboards, or mildew along the bottom of walls
- New cracks in walls or flooring, or doors that start sticking
Why slab leaks are common in North Texas
DFW sits on expansive clay soils that swell when wet and shrink in drought. As the soil moves, the slab flexes slightly, and the copper lines embedded in or under it can rub, kink or crack. Older homes with copper lines that are decades old are also prone to pinhole corrosion. Hot water lines fail more often because heat speeds corrosion and causes expansion cycles.
What happens after the leak is found
- Leak detection and repair by a plumber, using acoustic and pressure tests to pinpoint the line. Repairs may be a spot repair through the slab, a reroute through walls or attic, or a full repipe.
- Moisture mapping of floors and walls around the leak. Water under a slab can travel far before it surfaces.
- Flooring decisions: carpet and pad are lifted to dry, laminate and wood usually come up, and tile often stays while the slab dries through grout lines and openings.
- Slab and wall drying with dehumidifiers, air movers and sometimes specialty mats. Concrete gives up water slowly, so slab drying can take a week or more.
Is a slab leak covered by insurance?
Many Texas homeowners policies cover the water damage caused by a sudden slab leak, plus the cost to tear out and replace the part of the slab or floor needed to reach the pipe. The pipe repair itself is often not covered. Some policies limit or exclude slab leaks, so read the water damage section of your policy. The insurance claim estimator helps you see your likely share.