Slab and pinhole leaks
Water under the floor. You cannot see it. The meter can.
A slab leak is a water or drain pipe leaking under the concrete your house sits on. Here is how to check in two minutes, what finding and fixing it should cost, and who to call.
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Two-minute check
Let the water meter tell you
- Turn off every tap, the washer, the dishwasher and the ice maker.
- Find the meter, usually in a box near the street. Note the reading, or watch the small leak dial.
- If anything moves while nothing in the house is using water, water is going somewhere.
- For the full test, read it again after two hours of no use. If it changed at all, you probably have a leak.
Source: US EPA WaterSense, Fix a Leak Week. View source
The meter moved and you see no drip anywhere? That is the pattern that points under the slab. Walk through it step by step.
Warning signs
What a slab leak looks like from above
Unusually high water bills with no increased usage
Moist, warm spots on the floor
Hissing or running water sounds when no tap is on
Cracks in the foundation
Moldy or decaying smells from walls or floors
Unexplained green patches or pools of water outside
Source: Angi, how to fix a slab leak, updated July 2026. View source
Published cost ranges
What finding and fixing it should cost
National published ranges, not a quote for your job. We have not found a Florida-only figure we can verify yet, so these are labelled national.
National. Detection is usually part of the total. Drying out and replacing floors are extra.
| Finding the leak (detection) | $150 to $400, average $280 |
|---|---|
| Pinhole leak repair | $150 to $800 |
| Rerouting the line around the slab | $600 to $4,000 |
| Typical total, detection included | $630 to $4,400, average $2,280 |
Source: Angi, slab leak repair cost, updated July 2026. View source
In Florida
What a Florida policy usually says
Insurance. Florida's Department of Financial Services lists accidental discharge of water among the standard perils, and says mold from a covered peril is usually covered but often limited, most commonly to $10,000. Read your own declarations page for a limited water damage endorsement.
Source: Florida Department of Financial Services, Homeowners Insurance toolkit, March 2024. View source
Meter moving? Call a leak detection company today.
Ask for electronic leak detection, a written finding, and a separate price for the repair and for any drying.
BestHonestPro is a free comparison resource, not a contractor. There is nothing to sign up for and we do not sell your details. When we begin connecting callers to contractors, we will be paid a referral fee by the contractor, never by you, and this line will say so.