Slab Leak Detection & Repair in Hollywood, FL
Slab leak detection and repair in Hollywood, FL finds a failing pipe beneath concrete, then lays out spot repair, reroute and repipe choices before any breakout. Call (954) 697-4920 for a leak plan, and expect the price before any concrete is cut.
- Pressure and acoustic tests
- Repair options explained
- Price before work
Symptoms
How a Slab Leak Shows Up Before You See Water
Water under a slab has nowhere obvious to go, so the evidence is indirect.
Warm spot on the floor
A hot water line leaking and heating the concrete above it.
Meter moves with taps off
Water is leaving the pipes somewhere between the meter and the fixtures.
Sound of running water
A pressurized line is open when no fixture is on.
Damp carpet or lifted tile
Water is pushing up through the slab or along a crack.
Musty smell near baseboards
Moisture is moving through the slab into the house.
Low water pressure
A large leak can drop pressure before it ever surfaces.
Local Context
Why Slabs Hide So Many Leaks in South Florida
Many South Florida houses are built on concrete slabs, with supply lines laid in the sand below and drain lines cast in or under the concrete. Hollywood grew after its 1925 founding, and houses from the 1950s through the 1970s often still have original copper supply pipe beneath their floors.
Copper can develop pinhole leaks with age, and a line that rubs against rock or a rough slab edge wears through over decades. Soil moisture, a high water table and shifting ground add to the strain.
The result is a leak that can run for months without a puddle. That is why the first clue is usually the bill or the meter.
Method
How We Locate a Slab Leak
- 1
Meter test
Confirm water is leaving the system.
- 2
Isolate
Close valves to separate hot, cold and the service line.
- 3
Pressure test
Find which line loses pressure.
- 4
Pinpoint
Use ground microphones and thermal imaging, then mark the spot.
No tool sees through every slab. A thick slab, a tile floor over radiant heat or noisy surroundings can limit accuracy, and we tell you if conditions are against us before you pay for a long search. For broader diagnostics before the slab is suspected, residential leak detection covers the whole system.
Repair Options
Spot Repair, Reroute or Repipe: How to Choose
| Situation | Likely option | Why | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| One leak, rest of the pipe sound | Spot repair through a small opening | Fixes only the failure | Other weak spots may appear later |
| Repeated leaks in the same line | Reroute the line through walls or attic | Avoids the slab entirely | More access work above the floor |
| Old pipe with many weak points | Repipe the affected zone | Replaces the unreliable pipe | Highest cost, longest job |
| Leak in a drain line under the slab | Camera, then section replacement | Drain lines need different tools | Needs breakout and re-pouring |
Warm spot on the floor right now?
Close the main valve and call. The test plan starts with the meter.
What You Will Notice
Floors, Dust and Matching Finishes
Opening a slab means cutting through whatever lies above it. Tile, wood and carpet all need removal in the work area. Matching an older tile or a discontinued flooring can be the hardest part of the job.
Ask about dust control, how the opening will be sealed and how the finish will be restored. If you keep spare tile from the original installation, give it to the crew. A plan that includes the finish up front avoids a second argument after the plumbing is done.
Paperwork
Insurance and Documentation for a Slab Leak
Repairs to supply piping are pressure tested as the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, built on the International Plumbing Code (IPC), requires for plumbing work. Under Florida Statute 627.70132, a property insurance claim is generally barred unless you notify the insurer within one year of the date of loss. Photograph the damage, keep the leak detection report and save every receipt.
If water has already soaked floors or walls, 24/7 water damage restoration starts drying quickly, and the moisture readings it records support the claim. For leaks on the buried line before the house, water line repair and replacement covers the outside run.
Honest Limits
What Limits a Slab Leak Test
Electronic listening works best on a pressurized line in a quiet house, so the test usually starts with every fixture off and the main valve open. Concrete thickness, tile and pipe depth change what the gear hears, and a very small leak can be quieter than the background noise.
That is why listening is paired with a pressure test of each zone and a look at the meter. When two methods point at the same spot, the breakout is small. When they disagree, we say so before anything is cut and explain whether rerouting the line is the better value.
Before Anyone Cuts
Questions to Ask Before Anyone Breaks Concrete
- Which method located the leak, and what did the second method show?
- How large will the opening be, and where exactly will it be?
- What do spot repair, reroute and repipe cost, side by side?
- Who handles tile, flooring or baseboards afterward?
- What permit and inspection steps apply, and who schedules them?
Closing Up
After the Repair: Pressure Test, Photos and Warranty
Before the floor is closed, the repaired section should hold pressure for a stated period. Ask for photos of the exposed pipe, the repair and the finished patch, plus the pressure reading, and keep them with your home records.
Ask what the written warranty covers and for how long, and whether it covers only the repaired section or the new line. Those answers decide who pays if the same pipe fails again.
Until The Test
What to Do Until the Slab Leak Is Located
- Turn the main valve off overnight and when you leave the house, then turn it on when you are home.
- Read the meter morning and evening for two days and write the numbers down.
- Move furniture and rugs off any floor spot that feels warm or damp.
- Avoid running the hot water if a warm floor spot suggests the hot line is leaking.
- Photograph any cracks, damp baseboards or stains with the date.
Around Hollywood
Slab Leaks Across Hollywood's Slab-on-Grade Neighborhoods
Houses in Hollywood Lakes, Hillcrest and the neighborhoods west of I-95 are usually built on concrete slabs, as most South Florida houses are, with supply lines laid below. Those are the homes where a warm floor spot or a moving meter points under the floor.
Beachside condo towers rely on risers instead, so a slab test there is less likely. Tell the dispatcher what kind of building it is and where the symptoms appear.
Pricing
What Shapes the Cost of Slab Leak Work
Want a real number for your house? Call (954) 697-4920. Older houses in Pembroke Pines and elsewhere share many of the same causes.
Questions
Slab Leak Questions
A water meter that moves with every tap off, a warm spot on the floor, the sound of running water at night, a sudden bill increase and damp carpet or lifted tile are the usual signs. Two together are strong evidence.
Usually, yes. Pressure tests narrow the leak to a line, and ground microphones and thermal imaging pinpoint the spot. Concrete is opened only after the location is marked, and the opening is sized to the repair.
Not always. A single failure in otherwise sound pipe can be spot repaired. If the pipe is old and has several weak spots, a rerouted or replaced line may cost less over time than repeated slab openings. You see the options and prices first.
Policies differ. Many pay for resulting water damage, and some pay for the access needed to reach the pipe, but few pay for the pipe itself. Florida law generally bars a claim unless the insurer is notified within one year of the loss, so report early.
An active leak under a floor is urgent because it can damage flooring and the slab base. Close the main valve, and call. We answer 24/7.
Detection takes a few hours in most homes. Repair time depends on the method and the finish above the pipe, and the plan gives you a realistic estimate before work starts.