Slab Leak Detection & Repair in Riverside, CA

Plumbing MATTers Rooter & Plumbing Services

Most Riverside-area homes sit on a concrete slab with the water lines running underneath it. When one of those pipes starts leaking, you usually can’t see it. You notice the side effects instead: a water bill that keeps climbing, a warm spot on the floor, or the sound of water running when every tap is off.

We find the leak first, without guessing and without tearing up your floors to look. Then we walk you through the repair options and help you choose the one that makes sense for your home.

Call (909) 714-2207 to schedule slab leak detection.

Signs you might have a slab leak

Your water bill jumped and your habits didn’t change. This is the most common first clue.
A warm or hot spot on the floor. A leaking hot water line under the slab heats the concrete above it. You’ll feel it barefoot, or notice the dog lying in the same spot.
Water running when nothing is on. A faint hiss or trickle from the floor or walls when the house is quiet.
Damp carpet, warped wood or lifting tile with no plumbing fixture nearby.
Mildew smell or mold along baseboards or under flooring.
Cracks in the floor or walls, or doors that suddenly stick. Water under a slab can wash out the soil the foundation sits on.
Low water pressure at fixtures that used to be fine.
The water meter keeps moving when every fixture in the house is off.

If you’re seeing one or more of these, turn off whatever water you can and give us a call. A slab leak doesn’t fix itself, and every day it runs it puts more water under the foundation.

How we find a leak under the slab

The goal is to locate the leak to within a small area so we only open the floor where we have to. We use:

Electronic leak detection equipment to narrow down where the leak is.
Acoustic listening devices. Pressurized water escaping a pipe makes a sound, and these pick it up through the concrete so we can follow it to the loudest point.
Thermal imaging cameras to spot the temperature difference a leaking hot water line creates in the floor.
Pressure testing to confirm there’s a leak and tell us whether it’s on the hot side, the cold side, or both.
Line-tracing equipment to map where the pipes actually run under your slab, which is rarely where the original plans say.

Once we’ve pinpointed it, we show you where the leak is and explain what we found before any repair work starts.

Your repair options

There’s no one right fix for every slab leak. Which option makes sense depends on where the leak is, how old the pipes are, and whether this is the first leak or the third. We do all three:

Spot repair through the slab

We open the concrete directly over the leak, repair the damaged section of pipe, and patch the slab. This makes sense when the rest of the plumbing is in good shape and the leak is in an accessible spot.

Reroute the line

Instead of breaking into the slab, we abandon the leaking section and run a new line through the walls or attic. There’s less disruption to floors, and the new line is easy to reach if it ever needs work. This is often the better choice when the leak sits under cabinets, tile, or hardwood you don’t want torn up.

Repipe

If the pipes under your home are old and this isn’t the first leak, patching one spot often just moves the problem down the line. A repipe replaces the supply lines so you’re not calling us again in six months. See our home repipe service.

We’ll tell you honestly which option we’d choose if it were our house, and why.

What to expect

Call us. We ask about the signs you’ve noticed and get a time on the schedule.
Leak detection. We test the system, locate the leak, and map the line.
Options and a quote. We explain what we found and what each repair option involves before any work starts.
Repair. Spot repair, reroute or repipe, whichever you choose.
Testing and cleanup. We pressure-test the system again to confirm the leak is fixed, then clean up.

What our customers say

We have a 5.0 rating from more than 450 reviews on Google. A few from customers who called us about leaks and reroutes:

“We discovered a leak in our home and I called Plumbing Matters—Matt picked up on the first ring, even though I have an out-of-state number. He arrived quickly, identified the issue right away, and kept us informed with text updates.”
Samantha B., Google review

“We found a leak in our kitchen and they came right away. They tested the plumbing, explained the issue…”
Lila S., Google review

“Matt & Owner of Matthew did the excellent tasks for rerouting my kitchen sewer line… Every single work in details of procedure and try to guide me which way to fix it is best solution.”
Kylin T., Google review

Slab leak FAQs

How do I know if it's a slab leak and not a leak somewhere else?

Turn off every fixture in the house and watch your water meter. If it’s still moving, water is leaving the system somewhere. A warm spot on the floor or the sound of running water under the slab points strongly to a slab leak, but pressure testing is the only way to be sure.

Will you have to tear up my floor?

Not to find the leak. Our detection equipment lets us locate it without opening anything. Whether the repair opens the floor depends on the option you pick: a spot repair opens a small section over the leak, while a reroute usually avoids the slab entirely.

Is a slab leak an emergency?

It’s not always a call-at-midnight emergency, but don’t wait on it. Water running under a foundation can erode the soil beneath the slab, cause mold, and keep running up your bill every day. If you can hear water or see it coming up through the floor, shut off the main and call us. We take emergency calls 24/7.

Should I repair the leak or reroute the line?

If the leak is easy to reach and your pipes are otherwise in good shape, a spot repair is usually fine. If the leak is under finished flooring or cabinets, or you’ve had leaks before, a reroute or repipe usually saves money and disruption in the long run. We’ll go through the trade-offs with you.

What causes slab leaks?

The most common causes are older copper pipe wearing thin from the inside, pipes rubbing against concrete or gravel as they expand and contract, high water pressure, shifting soil, and poor installation when the house was built.

Related services

Water leak detection for leaks in walls, yards and water mains
Home repipe
Water line repair & replacement

Suspect a slab leak in Riverside or the Inland Empire? Call Plumbing MATTers at (909) 714-2207.

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Licensed & Insured Riverside, CA Plumbers

When we perform plumbing services, you can rest assured that they are done right! Plumbing MATTers Rooter & Plumbing Services is a fully licensed and insured plumbing contractor in the great state of California. Our plumbers are highly skilled, knowledgeable, and will communicate throughout the entire project with patience and understanding. We are also well-equipped to handle any plumbing needs—from drain cleaning to faucet repair to re-routes, leak detection and more.

We know what it is like to have the misfortune of an unexpected plumbing situation. Our friendly plumbers will arrive at your door on time, in clean uniform, ready to work. Rest assured we will always respect you and your property – we won’t leave a mess behind, and always clean up once the job is finished.

Plumbing MATTers Rooter & Plumbing Services

Client Testimonials

Matt installed a new water heater for me. He was very helpful and polite. He responded quickly and he was extremely knowledgeable. He offered a great value for the services he performed, his quotes are much cheaper than his competitors. He was extremely professional. He arrived on time, got the job done quickly and explained everything thoroughly, and cleaned up afterwards. I would definitely hire him again for any future plumbing needs.

Matt was awesome! He was at my house within 30 minutes, instead of enjoying his day off. He repaired my leak at the water meter. He was cordial, professional, timely and reasonably priced. I have a list of other items I want him to fix! I would recommend him to anyone looking for a great plumber! Lyn, Corona resident

I came home from work to a massive leak coming from my water heater and tried calling about a million other plumbers with no luck! I called Plumbing MATTers Rooter and Plumbing Services and was greeted by a pleasant gentleman who was available within the hour! Matt was able to replace my water heater that same day too and at a great price! He was very knowledgeable and professional, I will 100% be recommending to friends and family!

I found Plumbing Matters Rooter and Plumbing services online via Yelp. I filled out the quick quote survey and Matthew responded almost immediately. He was very straightforward, provided a quote right then and there and said if he’s not able to unclog my toilet then there’s no charge to me. He also happened to be in the area so he swung over the same day like 30 minutes later. Matthew was awesome - very professional, courteous and friendly. Got my toilet back up and running after he got out a toothbrush (of all things!) that my son must have flushed down the toilet. He also showed me how I can fix issues like this in the future on my own by buying a tool at Home Depot. I would definitely definitely recommend these guys!!

Matthew Hodkinson of Plumbing MATTers came over and replaced my toilet! He also explained everything to me as he went along. He was professional and gave me a really good price! I will definitely use him in the future for any of my plumbing needs!! Thanks, Kathy!

What a great plumbing company! Matt came out to my home right away and took care of a big sewer problem. All my toilets were backed up! Matt was knowledgeable and cleared the sewer line from the roof vent. I am so glad I called Plumbing MATTers. The pricing is fair and the costumer service is outstanding! I highly recommend.