Slab and underground leak detection in Bedford, TX

Leaks you cannot see

Some of the most expensive leaks are in places no one can reach: inside a concrete slab or in a pipe buried in the ground. In many commercial buildings the water lines that serve restrooms, kitchens and sinks run in or under the floor. The main line from the street to the building is usually buried too. When one of these lines leaks, water can run for months, wash out soil under the floor, lift and crack tiles and show up first as a bill that will not stop climbing.

Finding a leak like this is a specialist job. The aim is to locate the break to within a small area, so that a repair opens the smallest possible patch of floor or ground.

Signs of a slab or underground leak

A warm spot on the floor, which can point to a leak in a hot water line.
A damp or stained patch of carpet or flooring that does not dry.
Cracks in the floor or walls that are new or growing.
Tiles or flooring that lift, buckle or sound hollow.
A sound of running water when nothing is on.
A drop in water pressure across the building.
A wet or sunken patch of ground outside, or unusually green grass over a line.
A water meter that moves when everything is off.
A sudden, unexplained rise in the bill.
A musty smell in a room with no obvious source.

Why slab leaks happen

Corrosion. Metal pipes in or under concrete can corrode from the outside, from chemicals in the soil or from contact with the concrete.

Abrasion. Pipes expand and contract with temperature and rub against rock or concrete, and over years the wall wears thin.

Soil movement. Clay that swells and shrinks with moisture, or soil that settles, can stress pipes and break them.

High pressure. Constant stress on old lines can lead to a failure at a weak spot.

Poor installation. A pipe that was bent, unsupported or poorly joined can fail early.

Construction damage. A nick from a contractor's trench or a nail through a line during a remodel can cause a slow leak.

How a provider finds the leak

Confirm the leak. The meter test shows water is escaping.
Isolate the lines. The provider shuts valves to narrow it to hot, cold, a branch or the main.
Pressure test. A capped line that loses pressure is leaking.
Listen. Ground microphones and floor sensors pick up the hiss of water escaping under pressure.
Correlate. Some tools use two sensors on a line and calculate where a sound begins.
Thermal imaging. A leak in a hot water line shows as a warm area in the floor.
Tracer gas. For hard cases, a harmless gas goes into the line and a sensor finds where it surfaces.
Mark the spot. The provider marks the floor or ground so you can see where the leak is.

Ask which of these will be used and whether the provider will mark the spot and explain it.

Repair choices

Once the leak is found, there are usually several ways to fix it.

Spot repair. Open the floor or the ground at the leak, cut out the bad section and replace it. This is the most direct, and is best when the pipe elsewhere is in good shape.
Reroute. Abandon the leaking line and run a new one through a wall or ceiling. This can avoid breaking the floor and is common for repeated slab leaks.
Repipe. Replace a whole run or the whole building's lines when the pipe is failing in many places.
Lining or trenchless methods. For some underground lines, a liner or a pipe bursting method can avoid a long trench. Not every pipe suits this.

Ask for options in writing with prices, the scope of any floor repair and a warranty. In a leased space, check who owns the pipe and the floor finish, and get the landlord's agreement before work starts.

Protecting the business during repairs

A floor repair can disrupt a business. Ask the provider about dust control, noise, protecting stock and equipment, working after hours, drying the area afterward and who will repair the floor finish. A written schedule helps you plan. Take photos before work starts, so any later claim has a record. If the leak has soaked the floor, ask whether drying equipment is needed before new flooring goes down.

What changes the price

This website does not set prices. What changes them:

The depth and type of the pipe.
The size of the area to be searched.
The tools needed to find the leak.
Whether the repair opens concrete or ground.
The cost of restoring the floor or surface.
Whether work must be done after hours.
Time of day and day of the week.

Ask how the price is figured, whether there is a visit fee and whether the fee counts toward the repair.

Permits, utilities and underground lines

Digging or cutting a slab is not only a plumbing question. Before any ground is opened, someone needs to locate buried utilities, such as gas, electric, communications and sewer lines, so the repair does not hit them. In the United States, calling 811 before digging starts a free marking service, and a good provider will do it. Some cities also require a permit for plumbing repairs that open a floor or a street, and for work on the line between the meter and the building. Ask the provider who pulls the permit, who schedules inspections and who pays the fees. If the building is leased, the landlord may need to approve work and may have rules about contractors and insurance. Getting this sorted before work begins avoids delays and surprise charges.

Slab and underground leaks in Bedford

Wikipedia says Bedford is fully urban, with Hurst and Euless as neighbors, State Highways 121 and 183 running through it and DFW Airport nearby. Lines under slabs and in the ground are out of sight, so the bill and the meter are the first clues. Warm spots on a floor, the sound of water under concrete and wet ground outside the building all point that way.

Before anyone opens a floor or digs, a provider should locate the leak with listening equipment, imaging or a pressure test and mark underground utilities. Ask who handles locates and permits in Bedford.

About this referral service

Bedford Leak Detect is a referral service and does not do plumbing or leak detection work. When you call, you are connected to an independent provider who sets their own prices and carries their own license and insurance. Ask about both.

Before the repair starts

Ask for the location of the leak in writing, with a photo or a sketch, and ask what the repair options are. Typical choices are opening the floor and fixing the pipe, re-routing the line through a wall or ceiling or lining a buried pipe, and each has a different cost, a different amount of disruption and a different warranty. Ask how long the work will take, whether the business can stay open and what will be done about dust, noise and flooring after the repair.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I have a slab leak?

A warm spot on the floor, damp flooring, the sound of running water, falling pressure or a meter that moves with everything off are the main signs.

Do they have to break the floor to find the leak?

No. Listening equipment, thermal imaging and pressure tests locate the leak first. The floor is opened only at the spot.

Is rerouting better than digging up the slab?

Sometimes. A new line through a wall or ceiling can avoid breaking the floor. A plumber can explain the choices.

Who is responsible for a leak in the line from the street?

Usually the water provider is responsible up to the meter and the owner after it. Ask your provider.

How long does the repair take?

A spot repair may take a day. Rerouting or repiping takes longer.

Who comes if I call this number?

An independent local plumbing provider. This website only connects the call.

Leak under the floor or underground? Get slab and underground leak detection in Bedford.