Slab Leak Detection & Repair in Boca Raton, FL
A warm patch on the floor, a hissing sound from under the concrete, or water pooling near the foundation with no obvious source are the usual first signs of a slab leak, a leak in the water line running underneath your home's concrete foundation.
Slab-on-grade homes and aging copper lines
Most South Florida homes, Boca Raton included, are built slab-on-grade with the water supply lines run directly through or under the concrete rather than in a basement or crawlspace. In older homes with original copper supply lines, decades of soil contact and water chemistry can corrode the pipe from the outside. Once a pinhole opens, water pressure pushes it out under the slab, sometimes for weeks before it surfaces as a warm spot or a wet patch on the floor.
Hot water lines fail more often than cold ones, since the heat cycling accelerates corrosion in copper pipe over time. That's part of why a warm spot, rather than a cold or damp one, is usually the first sign homeowners notice, often before the water bill shows any real increase.
What to check first
- • Note exactly where the warm spot or sound is, and whether it's near a hot or cold fixture line.
- • Check your last two water bills for a jump in usage with no change in habits.
- • Avoid drilling into or cutting the slab yourself before the leak is professionally located.
What to look for
A warm spot on the floor
If the leak is on the hot water line, the concrete above it will feel noticeably warmer than the surrounding floor.
A rising water bill
A slab leak can run continuously, which shows up as an unexplained jump in usage before any visible water appears.
The sound of running water
Some slab leaks are audible as a faint hissing or trickling sound, especially at night when the house is quiet.
Spot repair vs. rerouting the line
Once leak detection confirms the exact location, there are generally two honest paths. A spot repair opens a small section of slab to fix that specific point; rerouting sends the line entirely above the slab, through the attic or an exterior wall, so it never runs under concrete again. A spot repair costs less upfront but doesn't address other sections of aging pipe; rerouting costs more but avoids repeat slab leaks from the same line later on.
What changes the cost
Want your real number? Call (561) 448-8545 after leak detection confirms the location.
Why permits matter for slab work
Opening a section of slab to repair or reroute a water line generally requires a permit under Florida's plumbing code, based on the International Plumbing Code (IPC), since it affects the structural concrete and the potable water system. Skipping the permit on a slab repair can create a real problem later at resale, when an unpermitted repair shows up during a home inspection and has to be corrected or disclosed. We pull the permit as part of the job rather than treating it as optional.
Spot repair vs. reroute, side by side
| Factor | Spot repair | Reroute above slab |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Addresses other aging pipe | No | Yes, for that line |
| Best fit | One confirmed leak, newer pipe elsewhere | Multiple leaks over time, original 1970s-80s copper |
Not confirmed yet?
If you haven't had the leak pinpointed yet, leak detection comes first so the repair is scoped to the actual location rather than an assumption. For a line with multiple aging sections, repiping may be worth discussing instead of repeated spot repairs. This is a common call from Delray Beach's older homes with original copper plumbing.
Common questions
A warm spot on the floor over a hot water line, a rising water bill with no visible cause, or a hissing sound from the floor are the classic signs. Leak detection confirms it before any repair is scheduled.
A spot repair is less expensive and fixes the confirmed leak. Rerouting the line above the slab costs more but avoids future slab leaks from the same aging pipe.
Coverage varies by policy, and many policies cover resulting water damage but not the pipe repair itself. Check your specific policy or ask your adjuster.
Generally yes, since opening the slab affects structural concrete and the potable water system. An unpermitted repair can also cause problems later at resale.
Noticed a warm spot but not sure it's a slab leak? Call (561) 448-8545 to talk it through.
Ready to get this fixed? Call (561) 448-8545 and we'll get a technician on the way.