Warm spot on the floor or running water sounds with nothing on?
People rarely say slab leak. They say a patch of tile feels warm, the house hums with water noise at night, or the carpet is damp near an outside wall. Each of those can mean a pressurized line is leaking under the floor, and finding it is what slab leak repair begins with.
What a slab leak is and why it matters
Many houses in South Florida sit on a concrete slab, and the supply lines were often laid in or under it when the house was built. Over time a line can rub against gravel, corrode from outside, or wear through at a bend. Once water escapes, it soaks the base below the slab and then finds a way up through cracks and joints.
About 82 percent of the roughly 14,700 housing units in the Village are owner-occupied, so most slab leaks here are a homeowner's bill. A small leak that goes unfixed can undermine the soil under the slab and ruin flooring, which is why it is worth a same-day call when we can fit you in.
When a slab leak is an emergency
What to do before the plumber arrives
Warm floors and loud water noise are warning signs. These steps limit the damage.
- Find the main shutoff, usually where the line enters the house near a hose bib or at the meter side, and turn it clockwise until it stops.
- Open one faucet at the lowest point to drain pressure from the lines.
- Move rugs, furniture and electronics off wet or warm flooring.
- Switch off the water heater at its breaker so it does not run dry and overheat.
- Take a photo of the meter dial and the wet or warm area. The reading helps us judge how fast water is moving.
- If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility or 911 first.
A slab leak that keeps running can undercut the base under your floor and push moisture into walls. Hot water slab leaks add scald risk on the surface above. If the dispatcher hears either, we treat it as the urgent call it is, day or night.
Signs you may have a slab leak
Warm or hot floor spots
A hot-water line leaking under the floor warms the concrete above it. Bare feet notice it before any gauge does.
Water sounds when everything is off
A faint hiss or rush in a quiet house means water is moving. Listen near walls and bathrooms.
Damp carpet or lifting tile
Moisture pushes up through cracks. Look along baseboards, in closets and at grout lines.
High water bill
A jump with no change in use is the quiet sign. Watch the meter with every fixture closed.
Low water pressure
A large leak steals flow before it reaches the taps, especially at the far end of the house.
Cracks in walls or floors
Repeated soaking can shift soil and open hairline cracks in the slab or blockwork.
How we find a slab leak without breaking the floor
- 1
Prove it is under the slab
We shut off the main and read the meter, then test hot and cold lines separately. A pressure gauge shows which line is losing.
- 2
Listen and scan
An electronic listening device follows the sound along the floor. A thermal camera and moisture meter show warm or wet areas.
- 3
Mark the break
We mark the spot on the floor. That cuts the opening to a small square instead of a trench across the house.
- 4
Present the options
You get the repair choices and a clear price before work starts. Nothing is cut until you agree.
Slab leak repair options and their honest limits
| Option | Best when | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair under the slab | One clear break on an otherwise sound line | Concrete is opened and patched, floor covering must be restored |
| Reroute overhead | Line is old or breaks repeatedly | Pipes run through walls or attic, more openings to patch |
| Epoxy or pipe lining | Line is intact but pinholing, access is limited | Not suited to every material or heavy damage, results vary |
| Repipe the house | Several lines are failing or corroded | Larger job, see repiping for scope |
Spot repair is fastest and cheapest when only one section failed. If a second leak appears within a few years, rerouting is usually the better value. Lining sounds easy, but it only works on pipe that is sound enough to hold the liner, and we will say so if yours is not. For wider pipe replacement read about repiping.
What this looks like in Royal Palm Beach
Know your utility
Most Village homes get water from Palm Beach County Water Utilities at (561) 740-4600, but addresses south of Southern Blvd use Wellington Utilities at (561) 791-4010. If your meter keeps moving after our repair, that utility is the one to call about readings.
Permits for bigger work
Most work in the Village requires a building permit, so ask the Village building department at (561) 790-5128 before a reroute or repipe. We tell you what the plan involves so the call is quick.
Chloramine in the water
The county's eastern system uses chloramine, and it can age certain rubber parts. If your slab leak came from a fitting, mention it so we choose a durable replacement.
You get a clear price before work starts. These are the factors that change it.
Where the break is
A leak in a hallway under tile costs more to reach than one in a utility room with bare concrete.
Floor covering
Tile, wood and carpet each need different removal and replacement work.
Repair method
Spot repair, rerouting and lining each carry different labor, parts and permit needs.
Pipe type and condition
Copper, PEX and galvanized respond differently, and bad pipe may call for more than a patch.
Timing
A night or weekend dispatch can change the visit cost, which the dispatcher explains first.
Insurance policies often treat slab leaks and the resulting water damage differently, so ask your carrier. We can explain what we found in plain terms for the adjuster. Call the 24/7 line to hear the price first.
Call the 24/7 line and a dispatcher will help you decide what to shut off and when a plumber should come.
Pairing slab repair with leak detection
If the signs are vague, start with leak detection to prove which line is losing water. We serve every part of the Village and also nearby Wellington, so the same 24/7 line covers a slab leak across the border.
Sources and standards
Slab repairs and reroutes are governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th Edition (2023) and usually need a permit, and the Village of Royal Palm Beach states that most work in the Village does. Call (561) 790-5128 to confirm what your repair needs.
Royal Palm Beach slab leak questions
Do you handle slab leak emergencies at night or on weekends in Royal Palm Beach?
Yes. The 24/7 line is answered around the clock, so a hot floor at midnight or a running meter on a Sunday is dispatched like any weekday call.
The dispatcher tells you what to shut off and sends licensed, insured plumbers.
Why does one spot on my floor feel warm?
A hot-water line leaking under the slab heats the concrete above it. The warm patch is often right over the break or a short distance along the pipe.
Turn off the water heater and call us. Do not drill or chip the floor yourself.
Do you have to break up the whole floor?
No. We locate the leak with listening and scanning tools and open only a small square above it.
If you choose to reroute overhead, the floor stays closed but walls or the attic will be opened.
Is epoxy lining a good option?
Sometimes. It can seal pinholes in sound pipe without opening the floor, but it is not right for badly corroded or cracked pipe.
We will tell you honestly if lining does not suit your pipes.
Can a slab leak damage my foundation?
A long-running leak can wash out the soil under the slab and cause settling or cracks. That is why speed matters.
If you see wall or floor cracks, mention them to the dispatcher.
Will insurance pay for slab leak repair?
Policies differ a lot, and some cover the damage but not the pipe itself. Ask your carrier before you start.
We explain what we found so you can pass the details along.
Question not answered here? Call the 24/7 line at (561) 448-8545 and talk to a plumber.