Leak Detection & Slab Leak Repair in Bessemer, AL

Some leaks are obvious – a puddle under the sink. Many are not. A pinhole in a pipe inside a wall, a joint leaking under the house or a line cracked under the concrete slab can waste thousands of gallons and rot subfloors, drywall and framing before you see a sign. Our plumbers locate hidden leaks in homes and businesses across Bessemer and the surrounding area and repair them with as little disruption as possible.

• A water bill that jumps without a reason.
• The water meter turning when every faucet is off.
• The sound of running water or hissing in walls or floors.
• Warm spots on a tile or concrete floor (often a hot water line under the slab).
• Damp or stained drywall, peeling paint or a musty smell.
• Low water pressure all of a sudden.
• Cracks in the slab, or a soggy spot in the yard that never dries.

We start with the simple tests – reading the meter, isolating the hot and cold sides and pressure-testing sections of the system – to tell you whether the leak is in the house, under it or in the yard. Then we pinpoint it with acoustic listening equipment, moisture meters, thermal imaging and, for drain lines, a camera. The goal is one small, accurate opening instead of several exploratory holes.

Many homes in our area are built on a concrete slab with the water lines running underneath. When one of those lines leaks, there are three ways to fix it:

• Spot repair – open the slab at the leak and repair the pipe. Best for a single leak on an otherwise healthy line.
• Reroute – abandon the leaking line and run a new one through the walls or attic. Often less disruptive than breaking concrete, especially for long runs.
• Repipe – when the pipes are old and leaking in several places, replacing them is the lasting fix. See whole-house repiping.

We explain the pros and cost of each option before we start.

Once the leak is fixed we test the system under pressure, restore water and make sure everything is dry and sound. If drywall, flooring or a bathroom was damaged, we can help with the repair – see bathroom remodeling and water damage repair. Larger leak repairs can be paid over time with our in-house financing.