What to Know About Rerouting Plumbing Lines in a Slab Foundation

If you hear running water under your floor, feel warm spots underfoot, or notice leaking or cracking in your concrete slab, these could be signs of a plumbing slab leak. The fix could be rerouting plumbing lines in your slab foundation.

A slab leak can cause significant damage in a short amount of time, but don’t panic—pinpointing the issue and taking care of the pipes below can solve the problem while keeping your foundation intact.

Pipe Leaks in a Slab Can Cause Permanent Home Damage

While slab leaks can cause cosmetic, repairable foundation damage, such as cracked walls and water pooling on your property. They can also cause permanent damage that’s even costlier to repair, such as:

• Water leaks can cause mold and mildew. Not only does mold ruin the look of your home, but it can also cause breathing issues and other health problems.

• Slab leaks can seep into floors and damage tiles, carpeting, and hardwood floors.

• When flooring is damaged, it can also cause damage to the subfloor, which introduces even more renovation expenses.

• Slab leaks can cause structural damage to the home’s foundation. Depending on the type of soil beneath your home, leaks can cause soil to wash away, leaving your concrete slab foundation with no solid ground beneath it. This is why it’s essential to repair slab leaks ASAP.

Why Rerouting Plumbing Lines Works

Once a pipe fails, the rest of your plumbing system can follow. Save your floor by hiring a plumber to reroute the plumbing and avoid any further damage. 

But repiping a house built on a slab comes with challenges not seen with homes with a basement or crawl space. Many plumbing professionals may choose to reroute existing pipes that are located in a slab.

While rerouting might be your only option, working with a professional who understands the logistics of it is highly recommended. It helps to understand the process before hiring a plumbing repair company near you. Repiping a house on a concrete slab takes several steps, but keeping those points in mind is essential:

• Determining how the slab is supporting the building before cutting or breaking into it.

• Be sure to obtain all permits necessary to do the work—your plumbing company should help with this step.

• Your local plumber will reroute new pipes, which often require cutting into walls, floors, or ceilings. Your home may require extensive renovation after repiping.

How to Reroute Plumbing Lines Under Your Slab Foundation

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to slab leak rerouting—every case has a different solution, and you may find pros and cons of each method of repairing a slab leak.

A professional discovers which line is leaking under the slab and where the ends come from the slab. They abandon the leaking line and start a new line above the ground, through the walls, or in the attic, with some creative construction solutions to conceal the pipes.

Rerouting is a great option in this case, especially for one-story houses. However, a multiple-story house can be challenging, but a skilled and technical professional will be able to reroute plumbing using advanced techniques and equipment. Depending on the age of the home, the plumber may use PEX piping, which offers flexibility and lower costs, making rerouting easier. However, unlike copper piping that works inside and outside, PEX piping is for indoor use only.

How Much Does Slab Leak Repair or Rerouting Cost? 

Slab leak repair or rerouting costs come down to the location and complexity of the issue, leaving a wide range for the cost of pipe replacement. That process begins with leak detection, which runs $280 on average. The type of problem and the method used to fix it also affect the overall cost.

Some methods require replacing a small section of pipe, while others involve replacing entire lines filled with corrosion. When considering how to fix the slab leak, the plumber may decide to remove larger sections of the slab to access larger pipe sections, raising the cost. Rerouting plumbing lines in a slab foundation also requires removing more slab and pipe than fixing a small leak, which can increase costs.

A small and easy-to-access leak may cost around $630 to repair. Water main repairs average around $1,000, while drain line repairs hover around $2,800. Repairs tucked under cabinetry—where there’s limited access—can push your repair costs into the $4,000 range. Labor makes up a significant amount of the cost, ranging from $500 to $4,000, depending on the project. 

If you’re dealing with a problem that’s beyond repair or repiping an entire house, you may end up replacing plumbing and the entire slab, which can cost well over $50,000.

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Slab Leak Repair Costs?

Homeowners insurance will cover slab leak repair costs under certain circumstances that are tied to the cause of the damage. The policy may cover water damage caused by “sudden and unexpected” damage included under the “covered perils” clause. Sudden and unexpected damage is usually linked to natural disasters like flooding, tornadoes, or fires. However, the leak’s cause must be included in the types of damage covered under the policy, which don’t include wear and tear or lack of maintenance.

Policies that include dwelling coverage may also cover structural damage and the costs of replacing the slab. However, dwelling coverage typically excludes the costs of replacing damaged plumbing or the plumbing work necessary, so you may have to pay out of pocket for those items.

Finally, the policy's personal property coverage may pay for damage to possessions like furniture, clothes, and electronics. Read through your policy, as policies can vary widely based on your location and insurance company.