A warm floor or running water you cannot find
A hot spot on tile, water seeping out at the edge of the garage slab, or the sound of water running when nothing is on can mean a line is failing under the floor. Call our 24/7 line at (855) 575-2890, and while you wait, take the steps below to limit the damage.
- Shut off the main water valve and open a faucet or two to drain pressure.
- Turn off the water heater, since a hot line under the slab is often the one that warms the floor. For an electric heater, use its breaker. For gas, use the control, not a tool.
- Keep people and pets off any wet or unusually warm area, and stay away from wet outlets.
- Photograph the floor, the edge of the slab, and the meter dial.
- If you smell gas at any point, leave, then call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020 before calling us.
Four signs that point under the floor
The warm patch is the classic one. Hot water pipes under a slab can heat the concrete above them, and barefoot is the best test. The same leak can also show as a wet baseboard, a bubbled floor, or a musty smell that returns after cleaning.
Water at the outside edge of the slab, near a garage or patio, means it has found the shortest path out of the concrete. The sound of running water with every fixture off, and a bill that jumped without a reason, round out the list. Any one of these is a reason to call. Two together are very likely a slab leak.
Why slabs leak in this part of Arizona
Pipes in concrete hold water at constant pressure for decades. Rubbing against gravel, shifting soil, and chemical wear from the water itself can thin a line until it pinholes.
Marana's water ranges from roughly 3 to 14 grains per gallon depending on the neighborhood. Minerals and corrosion can shorten the life of some pipe materials, so your address and pipe type both matter.
Summer heat plays a role too. Hot water lines expand and contract with each use, and attic temperatures run high. Monsoon season can saturate the ground and shift soil under a slab, so a leak that began as a pinhole may grow after a wet stretch.
Warm floor right now? Call us
Tell us what you see and hear and we will plan the first step. (855) 575-2890
How we confirm it before anyone cuts concrete
Confirming comes first. We close the main and watch the meter, then isolate hot and cold sides with a pressure test to see which side is losing. From there, listening equipment and thermal imaging help narrow the zone along the pipe path. The full process is in our leak detection service.
These methods narrow a location, but they do not give a perfect point every time. A leak under thick concrete may be located within a few feet, and we explain how confident we are before suggesting a repair.
Slab leak repair options, side by side
The right fix depends on how many leaks there are, how old the pipe is, and what is on top of the slab. Costs depend on those same factors, and we cover them below without quoting numbers.
| Option | Best when | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair under the slab | One leak, the pipe is otherwise in good shape, and the spot is clearly located | Concrete is cut and replaced, flooring over it is disturbed, and other weak spots in the same line can leak later |
| Reroute through attic or walls | The slab line is suspect, and the attic or wall cavity is accessible | A new path is installed above the slab and the old line is capped, but drywall access holes and paint repair are part of the job |
| Repipe | Several leaks, aging pipe, or repeated failures | Fixes the whole system at once but is the largest job, with more access openings. See repiping for the details |
| Epoxy lining | The pipe is intact enough to line and the leak is small | Avoids cutting the slab but not every pipe qualifies, it will not fix a major break, and the lined section is a repair of the inside only |
We would rather tell you honestly that a reroute or repipe makes more sense than patch a pipe that is likely to fail again next year.
Water damage, insurance, and your paperwork
Photographs of the damage, the meter dial, and any bills that spiked help with an insurance claim. Policies differ, so check yours before the work starts. Some cover sudden water damage and the cost of reaching the pipe, and others exclude slow leaks or the repair of the pipe itself.
The earlier the water is shut off, the less flooring and drywall you will replace. If damage is spreading into several rooms, say so when you call.
Permits depend on your address
Pipe work under or through a home can need a permit and inspection. Marana lists plumbing permits under its Development Services process, so confirm details at (520) 382-2600 before work begins.
In unincorporated areas such as Picture Rocks, permits come from Pima County rather than the Town, and the County's list shows new pipe work needs one. Our Picture Rocks plumbing page has the local detail. Slab leak repairs, especially rerouting or repiping, are plumbing work under the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as the Town of Marana has amended it, so ask your plumber about permits before the slab is opened.
What drives the cost of a slab leak repair
Slab leaks vary widely because the repair can be one small patch or a whole new water line. We give you the clear price before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our emergency line runs 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays. We cannot promise an arrival time, but we can tell you how to shut off the water and stay safe until someone is there.
A warm patch often means a hot water line is leaking under the slab, and the heated water is warming the concrete above it. Summer heat can make floors feel warm on their own, so check whether the warm spot is small and sharply defined. If it is, call us.
It could be, but irrigation, a hose bib, or a drain line can look the same. Shut off the main and check the meter. If it keeps moving, a pressurized line is the likely cause, and we should look.
No. Rerouting a line through the attic or walls, or lining a suitable pipe, can avoid cutting the slab. The right choice depends on pipe condition and what you can live with. We explain each option and its trade-offs before you decide.
It can contribute. Marana water runs from roughly 3 to 14 grains per gallon depending on the neighborhood, and minerals and corrosion can shorten the life of some lines. It is rarely the only cause, so the pipe type and age also matter.
Warm floor or damp slab edge?
Waiting lets a pinhole grow and a bill climb. Call (855) 575-2890 any hour.
Call (855) 575-2890