Living at Home Through a Slab Leak and Its Repair

"Can I stay in the house?" is a reasonable thing to wonder when water is coming up through the floor. For most slab leaks the answer is yes, with some planning around when the water is off.

While you wait for the plumber

If the leak is slow and nothing is surfacing, normal life continues. Watch the floor, run the meter test and use water as usual. If water is coming up, shut the main and use the time until the plumber arrives to fill jugs, move furniture off damp floors and take photos. What to do first has the full list.

If the leak is on the hot side, closing the water heater's cold inlet stops the leak while keeping cold water running. You'll be without hot water, but the toilets and taps work.

During leak detection

Detection is mostly non-invasive. The plumber will shut the water off for parts of the test, move through each room with listening equipment and may need furniture moved. Plan to be home to give access.

During a spot repair

A spot repair opens a small section of floor and concrete. Expect noise and dust from the concrete cutting, and a section of the house off-limits until it's patched. The water is off while the pipe is replaced. Most families stay.

During a reroute

A reroute runs a new line through the attic and down inside walls. The water to that branch, or the whole house, is off while connections are made. Expect people in the attic and small openings in walls near fixtures. Most reroutes don't require leaving.

During a whole-house repipe

A repipe is the biggest disruption. Water is off for stretches of each working day, and every room with plumbing gets opened. Many companies restore water at the end of each day. Cover furniture, plan meals around water outages, and keep pets away from the work.

When leaving makes sense

• Water has reached electrical outlets or wiring
• Large areas of soaked flooring or drywall need drying, especially with mold present
• Someone in the house has a health condition that makes dust or damp air a problem
• The water will be off overnight with no workaround

In those cases a short stay elsewhere is easier. If insurance is involved, ask whether your policy covers additional living expenses. See slab leaks and homeowners insurance.

For renters

Tenants should tell the landlord immediately and in writing. The owner arranges the repair, and if the home becomes unlivable, what happens next depends on the lease and California tenant rules. Slab leaks for renters and landlords covers the basics.