How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Slab Leak Under Concrete?
A slab leak under concrete rarely announces itself loudly. It often starts with a warm spot on the floor, a stubborn water bill that inches higher, or a bit of mildew along a baseboard that never dries out. In Baton Rouge, LA, where many homes sit on concrete slabs and expansive soils shift with heavy rain and heat, slab leaks are a regular call for Cajun Maintenance. The question homeowners ask right after “Is this serious?” is “How much will slab leak repair cost?” This guide breaks down pricing variables, repair options, timelines, and how to choose the right path for the home and budget.
What a Slab Leak Really Is
A slab leak is a pressurized water line or hot water line leaking under a concrete foundation. Over time, shifting soil, corrosion, poor pipe support, or abrasion from concrete can wear a pinhole or split into copper or PEX. The leak saturates the soil and wicks moisture into the slab and flooring. Left alone, it can lead to mold growth, buckling floors, termite activity, and foundation movement. In Baton Rouge neighborhoods such as Shenandoah, Mid City, and Southdowns, older copper lines and reactive clay soils make these leaks especially common.
The Short Answer on Cost
Most slab leak repairs in the Baton Rouge area fall somewhere between $800 and $6,500. Simple spot repairs on accessible lines can land at the lower end. Reroutes, extensive demolition, or multiple leaks will push toward the higher end. Full repiping sits in its own tier, often $7,500 to $18,000 for an average single-story home, depending on size, fixture count, and material.
Those ranges are wide because slab leaks are hidden until diagnosed. What looks like one leak sometimes turns out to be two or three weak points in the same run of pipe. The technician’s first job is to locate the problem with accuracy so no one pays to bust up concrete unnecessarily.
What Drives the Price Up or Down
Several factors move the needle on slab leak repair costs. Pipe material matters. So does access. Baton Rouge conditions add local context.
- Location of the leak. A leak directly under a hallway is usually easier than one under a built-in cabinet or an island slab. If the pipe runs under a load-bearing wall or behind a tub, labor increases.
- Pipe material. Older copper lines are more prone to pinhole leaks from corrosion or abrasion. PEX resists corrosion but can still fail at fittings or if kinked during installation. Copper repairs cost more when soldering in tight, wet conditions is required.
- Access method. A spot repair means opening the slab to the leak and patching the line. A reroute avoids opening the slab by running new piping through walls and the attic from the manifold to fixtures. Reroutes reduce concrete work but add drywall and attic labor.
- Number of leaks. If testing shows multiple weak points on the same branch, a reroute becomes more cost-effective than piecemeal spot repairs.
- Home layout and finishes. Thick post-tension slabs, decorative tile, or engineered wood can slow production and raise restoration costs. Baton Rouge homes with terrazzo or older mosaic tile often need careful removal and matching.
- Water pressure and soil movement. High static pressure in the home exceeds 80 psi? Expect stress on the system. In areas off Highland Road and Perkins where soils swell and shrink seasonally, underground movement makes repeat leaks more likely on old copper.
- Restoration and permitting. Concrete patching, tile replacement, baseboard repair, and repainting add to the final bill. City permitting for larger reroutes or repipes can be required depending on scope.
Common Price Scenarios in Baton Rouge
For context, here are typical approaches and what homeowners in East Baton Rouge Parish often pay.
A single hot water slab leak with simple access: A technician locates the leak within a few feet using acoustic detection and thermal imaging. The area is clear of cabinetry. The crew cuts a small square of concrete, fixes a short section of pipe, and patches the slab. Expect $1,200 to $2,300 including location, repair, and concrete patch. Flooring repair is separate.
A cold water line under the kitchen island: Access requires either cutting the slab beneath an island or rerouting through attic and walls. Many homeowners choose a reroute to avoid the island slab. Reroute costs often range $1,700 to $3,800, depending on route length and drywall repair.
Multiple leaks along one branch: If the line shows more than one failure point during pressure testing, a reroute or partial repipe saves money long term. These projects typically run $3,000 to $6,500, including drywall repair and line insulation in the attic.
Whole-home repipe due to aging copper: In homes from the 1960s to early 1990s with repeated slab leaks, a complete repipe with PEX is common. For a single-story, two-bath home in areas like Broadmoor or Sherwood Forest, repipes usually range from $7,500 to $12,000. Larger homes or complex two-story layouts can climb to $18,000.
Water damage restoration add-ons: If water has damaged cabinets, baseboards, or wood flooring, a mitigation company may need to set up drying equipment and remove affected materials. That work often adds $800 to $4,000, separate from the plumbing repair.
These numbers reflect typical Baton Rouge work with Cajun Maintenance and partner trades. Every home is different, but these ranges help set expectations before the technician arrives.
How Professionals Find the Leak Without Tearing Up the Whole House
Leak detection is a specialized service and the first critical step. A pro with the right tools can usually pinpoint the leak within inches. The process often includes pressure testing the system to confirm a drop, isolating hot versus cold lines, then using thermal imaging to look for warm spots from hot water migration. Acoustic microphones listen through the slab for the hiss or gurgle of pressurized water escaping. In tricky cases, tracer gas testing can sniff out the precise spot when water sound is masked by insulation or thick concrete.
Accurate location saves money. Breaking concrete in the wrong spot multiplies time and restoration cost. Homeowners sometimes hesitate at a separate leak detection fee, usually $200 to $450, but it almost always pays for itself in reduced demolition and a faster repair.
Spot Repair vs. Reroute vs. Repipe
Most slab leak repair decisions fall into three options. Each has a use case, strengths, and drawbacks.
Spot repair under the slab is the shortest path when the leak is isolated, access is straightforward, and the rest of the line is healthy. The crew exposes the pipe, drains it, cuts out the damaged section, and installs a new piece with proper couplings. The slab gets patched and the area cleaned. Pros: lowest upfront cost, minimal wall damage. Cons: if the pipe run is old and compromised, a new leak can develop a few feet away months later.
Reroute bypasses the bad line entirely. The plumber caps the failed line on both ends and runs a new pipe through walls, attic, or crawl space to feed the fixture group. This avoids tearing into concrete and prevents future under-slab failures on that run. Pros: no new slab cuts, often lower risk of repeat leaks. Cons: drywall and paint repair, possible attic work in Louisiana heat, and coordination around insulation.
Full repipe replaces all water lines, often moving distribution into walls and attic, and abandoning under-slab piping. This is the cleanest long-term fix for homes with recurring slab leaks or widespread corrosion. Pros: stops chasing leaks, adds water pressure stability, and supports modern shutoff valves at fixtures. Cons: highest upfront cost, requires multiple days and more interior restoration.
A good contractor will test and weigh these choices openly. Cajun Maintenance often walks homeowners through photos, pressure readings, and a map of pipe paths before recommending one route.
How Long Repairs Take
A single spot repair usually takes half a day to a full day, including leak location and concrete patching. Reroutes can take one to two days, depending on access and the number of fixture groups. Full repipes often run two to four days for a single-story home. Add one to three days for drywall patching and paint once the plumbing passes inspection or pressure test.
Timing matters for hot water. Crews commonly prioritize restoring hot water lines first so the household can shower the same day, even if drywall repair follows later in the week.
Signs a Slab Leak Is Likely
In Baton Rouge, these patterns come up again and again. Warm areas on tile or vinyl suggest a hot water leak. A water heater that cycles constantly without heavy use points to hot line loss. The water meter dial spinning when no fixtures run indicates a pressurized leak. Stubbornly damp baseboards or a musty smell along interior walls show ongoing moisture. Ants in odd places can track to under-slab moisture. For homes near low-lying or high-water-table areas, these signs deserve quick attention.
Insurance and What It Usually Covers
Most homeowner policies in Louisiana cover the “access” part of a sudden and accidental leak, plus water damage from the event. That can include tearing out and replacing concrete or drywall to get to the leak and drying and restoration. The policy often excludes the actual repair of the leaking pipe, which falls under maintenance. Every policy reads differently, so a quick call to the carrier before opening walls or slab is smart. Cajun Maintenance frequently provides detailed invoices and photos to help with claim documentation.
Baton Rouge Considerations That Affect Slab Leaks
Local soil expands when saturated and shrinks when dry. This movement stresses under-slab pipes, especially where pipes pass through the slab without proper sleeves or protection. Copper rubbing against concrete at these penetration points is a known failure cause. Older homes built before newer plumbing standards often lack protective insulation at slab penetrations.
Water quality also adds context. Slightly acidic water or high oxygen levels can contribute to copper pitting. If a house shows repeated pinhole leaks, the plumber might test water and discuss pressure regulation. Installing or adjusting a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) to hold pressure near 60 psi can slow future damage. Baton Rouge’s summer heat makes attic reroutes hot work, so crews plan early starts and use proper insulation on hot water lines to keep delivery times reasonable.
What to Ask Before Approving the Work
Choosing the right scope sets up a sound repair. Homeowners in Baton Rouge often get clearer answers by asking a few direct questions.
- Where is the most likely leak point, and how was it confirmed?
- What is the least invasive fix that will hold up for at least five years?
- If we do a spot repair, what is the risk of a new leak on the same run?
- Would a reroute avoid breaking the slab and reduce future risk?
- How will you handle concrete patching, flooring, and drywall?
A licensed technician should be comfortable sharing methods, not just prices. Good communication prevents surprises and helps align repair path with budget and timeline.
Real Examples from Local Homes
In a Sherwood Forest ranch, a hot water line under the hallway tile leaked. Thermal imaging showed a clear heat signature. The crew opened a single 18-by-18-inch square, replaced a 16-inch copper section, pressure-tested, and patched. Total cost landed near $1,650, and the homeowner chose to handle tile replacement with their preferred installer.
In a Mid City cottage, two leaks showed on the same cold water branch feeding the kitchen and laundry. A reroute through the attic to each location avoided two slab cuts. Drywall took five patches. The project finished in two days at $3,400 including wall repair and paint matching for patched areas.
In a Broadmoor split-level with multiple historic copper leaks, the owner opted for a whole-home PEX repipe. Cajun Maintenance completed the plumbing in three days, set new quarter-turn shutoffs throughout, and coordinated with a drywall finisher for repairs. The price was just under $10,800, and the household reported steadier pressure and faster hot water delivery afterward.
What Homeowners Can Do Right Now
Before a crew arrives, a few simple steps can reduce damage. Turn off the water at the main if the leak is severe, or at least shut off the water heater to prevent constant reheating and higher bills. Move furniture or rugs from damp areas. Take photos of moisture, meter readings, and any visible damage for insurance. If the floor feels spongy or blistered, avoid walking there to prevent cracking.
Avoiding Repeat Leaks
No one wants to fix the same problem twice. After a slab leak repair, a few preventive measures can lower the chance of a return visit. A PRV keeps pressure within safe limits; Cajun Maintenance generally recommends 55 to 65 psi for Baton Rouge homes. Insulation and protective sleeves at slab penetrations reduce abrasion. If the house has copper under the slab and has suffered more than one leak, moving distribution into walls with PEX or insulated copper pays off over time. Annual checks of water pressure and a quick walkthrough with thermal imaging can spot issues before they escalate.
Why Many Baton Rouge Homeowners Choose Reroutes
At first, opening the slab seems like the straight line to a fix. In practice, reroutes avoid two pain points: concrete dust and restoration timelines. Running new lines through walls keeps moisture out of the slab and allows easier future maintenance. The attic in a single-story Baton Rouge home often provides clean routing for grouped fixtures like bathrooms and kitchens. Yes, it means drywall patches, but drywall repairs are predictable and fast compared to tile matching or floating new engineered wood. For homes with decorative flooring or post-tension slabs, reroutes often make the most sense.
What Slab Leak Repair Looks Like Step by Step
To set expectations, here is how a standard spot repair typically unfolds.
- Detection and marking. The technician verifies the leak and marks the suspected area after pressure testing and imaging.
- Dust control and access. The crew sets plastic, uses HEPA vacuums, and wets the cut to reduce dust. A small section of slab is cut and removed.
- Repair. The pipe is exposed. The water is shut off and lines drained. The damaged section is replaced and secured.
- Test and backfill. The line is pressure-tested. The hole is backfilled with compacted material and the slab patched flush.
- Cleanup and restoration plan. The crew sweeps, vacuums, and reviews next steps for flooring or drywall.
Reroutes follow a different path. The crew maps new pipe runs, drills minimal holes at stud bays, pulls new PEX or copper, connects at the manifold and fixtures, pressure-tests, then patches small wall openings.
How Cajun Maintenance Prices Slab Leak Repair
Cajun Maintenance builds quotes in clear parts: detection, repair method, restoration scope, and any upgrades such as PRV installation or new shutoff valves. The aim is to avoid hidden charges. If the diagnosis changes once the slab is open, the team stops, documents findings, and gets approval for any scope change. That approach keeps a homeowner in control as new information comes to light.
The company’s local experience matters. Baton Rouge homes show patterns by neighborhood and build era. Knowing where builders typically ran lines, which floor types are likely, and how local slabs behave speeds up detection and reduces unnecessary cutting.
Budget Planning and Value Decisions
Some homeowners consider a temporary fix to buy time. That can work for a single, low-risk leak that presents clearly. If the home shows signs of systemic issues like multiple past leaks, green corrosion at accessible fittings, or high pressure with no PRV, short-term fixes cost more over a few years than a reroute or repipe. A good rule: if two leaks occur in 18 months on the same material, expect a third. At that point, spending on a permanent solution protects flooring, cabinets, and the foundation.
Financing can help align the right fix with the budget. Many clients prefer to finance a repipe rather than pay repeatedly for spot repairs plus restoration. Cajun Maintenance can outline options and structure work phases so water is available during the project.
The Quiet Costs Most People Miss
Water waste adds up. A pinhole can lose dozens of gallons per day. Over a month, even a slow leak can add $30 to $80 to a Baton Rouge water bill. Hot water leaks burn gas or electricity, too. Check out here Mold remediation and termite treatments linked to moisture intrusions dwarf a quick repair cost. Insurance deductibles apply per claim, so multiple small fixes can be more expensive than one comprehensive repair. Thinking in six- to ten-year horizons helps select the path that makes financial sense.
When to Call and What to Expect
If a homeowner notices warm flooring, a moving water meter with fixtures off, or new cracks that track with damp baseboards, it is time to schedule an inspection. Cajun Maintenance serves Baton Rouge and nearby areas, including Prairieville, Central, and Denham Springs. Most slab leak diagnostics can be scheduled the same or next business day. The technician will arrive with detection tools, review symptoms, and offer a clear repair plan with pricing before work begins.
For many homes, fast action reduces damage and keeps the project simple. A leak caught early can be a single-day fix with modest restoration. Waiting tends to involve more tear-out and a bigger bill.
Final Thought for Baton Rouge Homeowners
Slab leaks feel disruptive because they hide under a home’s foundation. Clear diagnosis and an honest discussion of options restore control. Whether the right answer is a small spot repair, a smart reroute, or a full repipe, there is a practical path that fits the house, the budget, and the long-term plan.
Cajun Maintenance handles slab leak repair across Baton Rouge with straightforward pricing, precise leak detection, and local insight born of daily work in similar homes. If a floor feels warm, a meter keeps spinning, or a cabinet base will not dry, a quick call can turn a hidden problem into a contained, scheduled fix. Book an inspection today to protect the slab, the finishes, and the wallet.
Cajun Maintenance provides professional plumbing services in Baton Rouge, LA, and surrounding areas. Our licensed plumbers handle leak repairs, drain cleaning, water heater installation, and full bathroom upgrades. With clear pricing, fast service, and no mess left behind, we deliver dependable plumbing solutions for every home and business. Whether you need routine maintenance or emergency repair, our certified technicians keep your water systems running smoothly.
11800 Industriplex Blvd, Suite 7B Phone: (225) 372-2444 Website:
cajunmaintenance.com
Social:
Yelp
Find Us on Google:
Baton Rouge Location
Licenses: LMP #6851 | LMNGF #9417 | LA COMMERCIAL LIC #68719 Cajun Maintenance serves Denham Springs, LA, with full-service plumbing solutions for homes and businesses. Our team manages leak detection, pipe repairs, drain cleaning, and water heater replacements. We are known for fast response times, fair pricing, and quality workmanship. From bathroom remodels to emergency plumbing repair, Cajun Maintenance provides dependable service and lasting results across Denham Springs and nearby communities.
25025 Spillers Ranch Rd Phone: (225) 372-2444 Website:
cajunmaintenance.com
Social:
Yelp
Find Us on Google:
Denham Springs Location
Licenses: LMP #6851 | LMNGF #9417 | LA COMMERCIAL LIC #68719Cajun Maintenance – Trusted Plumbers in Baton Rouge, LA
Cajun Maintenance
Baton Rouge,
LA
70809
USA
Cajun Maintenance – Reliable Plumbing Services in Denham Springs, LA
Cajun Maintenance
Denham Springs,
LA
70726
USA