How Bad is a Slab Leak?

A slab leak is a water leak under your home's slab. It can be either a water (incoming) leak or a sewer (outgoing) leak. All slab leaks start out slow and then grow in severity over time. If left untreated, a slab leak will damage your home. The longer you put off repairs the more expensive it will be to repair.

All homes are either built on a basement, crawlspace, or slab. These are types of home foundations. Homes with crawlspaces or basements have easy access to electric and water lines. The lines are typically located under your home's flooring. Getting to them is easy via your basement or crawlspace. However, if your home is built on a slab, the lines are underneath your slab. Access is not easy. Repairs require cutting into your home's slab, repairing the damaged lines, and then repairing the area of the slab that was cut up.

Another problem arises when a home is built on a slab. If there is a water leak, where is it? An area where water is puddling is a clue, but water puddles do not necessarily reveal where the leak is. Due to subsurface channels and obstructions, water may be running under your slab for quite a distance and then escaping where there is a crack or other escape route. It is also common for water to puddle around the perimeter of your home when you have a slab leak. Again, this reveals the presence of a slab leak, but not the source of it.


Slab leaks cause numerous problems; some are minor annoyances whereas others can cause extensive damage to your home and property. Inside the home common problems include:
• Damage to carpet and flooring. Water rises through cracks in the foundation and saturates carpets. Laminate flooring is easily damaged by water. Water under pressure can crack floor tiles.

Mold growing in the walls due to a slab leak

• Noxious odors. Slab leaks can develop odors. If you have a water leak, the smell is often like mildew. If it's a sewer line leak the odor will be much more foul.

• Mold and mildew. Water that is absorbed by wood and drywall in your home leads to mold and mildew growth. Mold will grow inside your walls, developing into a potential health hazard over time. Damage and problems resulting from slab leaks are not limited to inside your home. Problems can develop outside your home as well:
• Damage to your home's foundation. Water that is underneath your slab can weaken the structural integrity of your home's foundation over time. Water and water pressure can cause your foundation to shift and move. Eventually the slab may crack or collapse.

• Damage to your yard. Water will escape via the path of least resistance. Sometimes that is the perimeter of your home's foundation. Water will start puddling around your home, causing damage the landscaping, walkways, and your home's foundation. The first step in fixing a slab leak is determining where it is. This is where leak detection comes in. Using highly specialized equipment, All Trades can find the source of slab leaks, spa leaks, pool leaks, virtually any type of hidden water leak around your home or business. We identify the source of the leak and then present you with a plan of action. You'll be confident once repairs begin, knowing there will be minimal impact and disruption to your home.

All Trades has decades of experience in dealing with slab leaks. We will find your problem and fix it, with the least amount of disruption to your home as is possible. We understand this is a major concern and problem for you. We service Las Vegas, Henderson, and Clark County Nevada. We are here for you.