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Leak repair
Leak work has two halves: finding the leak, and fixing it. Accessible leaks at a fitting, valve, or exposed pipe are straightforward repairs. Hidden leaks, inside walls, under floors, or under a slab, should be located with isolation testing, acoustic equipment, and thermal imaging before anything is opened, because a measured location replaces demolition by guesswork.
For slab leaks and other failures in older piping, the repair decision is between a spot repair at the located point, rerouting the affected branch through walls or attic in new pipe, and repiping the system. The right answer depends on the age and material of the remaining pipe, which the detection report should state.
What a complete leak repair job includes
- Meter and isolation testing to prove which system is leaking
- Non-invasive locating with a written, measured finding
- Repair of accessible leaks at the fitting or section
- Spot repair, reroute, or repipe quoted from the detection record
- Pressure testing of the repaired line before surfaces close
Cost frame
Non-invasive leak detection with written findings typically runs $200 to $500; repair of an accessible leak $200 to $550. Slab access, floor restoration, and whole-house repiping ($4,500 to $15,000 for a typical two-bath home) price from the finding.
Full table: plumber cost guide.
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Questions about leak repair
How can I tell if I have a hidden leak?
Turn everything off and watch the water meter: if the leak indicator moves with nothing running, water is escaping somewhere in the pressurized system. A rising bill, a warm floor patch, or running-water sounds with all fixtures off point the same way.
Does insurance cover a slab leak?
Policies commonly cover resulting water damage and sometimes the access work to reach the pipe, while excluding the pipe repair itself. The split varies by policy; the detection report is the evidence either way, so commission it before remediation.
Should I repair or reroute a slab leak?
A spot repair suits an isolated failure in a young, sound system. Rerouting the branch out of the slab suits an older system, because the new line stays accessible and the slab is often left unopened.
Go deeper
The full guide: Leak repair guide and reference. Licensing for this work in your state: licensing by state.