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Lubbock Foundation

Serving Lubbock and nearby areas

Slab Leak in Lubbock, TX

A leak under your slab can swell or soften the clay below one part of the house, and a free foundation inspection with a written price shows whether the leak has already moved it.

Call now: (806) 855-8140 or book your free inspection online

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Why houses move in Lubbock

Lubbock soils hold clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, with a hard caliche layer a few feet down. Rain comes in heavy bursts after long dry spells, and the city drains to playa lakes. That mix moves both the older pier-and-beam homes near Texas Tech and the newer slab homes in south Lubbock.

  • Clay reacts to water

    USDA soil surveys show a clay subsoil under common Lubbock area soils. Clay swells when it gets wet. A leak that keeps one area wet can lift or soften the soil under that part of the slab.

  • Older drain lines

    A Texas plumbing firm notes that homes built before 1980 often have cast iron drains under the slab, which can corrode. About 40 percent of homes in the Lubbock ISD area were built before 1970, based on Census survey data.

  • High bills in Lubbock

    A local radio report described Lubbock residents with water bills far above their normal use. Some found hidden leaks once they looked.

What it costs

Typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. Every job starts with a free inspection and a written price, so you see the number before any work begins.

WorkTypical range
Foundation inspection and written estimate Free
Slab leak detection by a plumber $100 to $400
Slab leak repair, typical $1,000 to $4,000
Repair through the slab $500 to $3,000
Reroute pipes, whole house $4,000 to $15,000
Plumbing pressure test $250 to $500
Piers, if the slab moved $1,000 to $3,000each

See typical foundation repair prices in Lubbock

What a slab leak looks like

In a slab home, the water lines and drain lines run under or through the concrete. When one of them leaks, you cannot see the water. You see what it does.

A water bill that jumps

With no change in how you use water.

The sound of running water

When every tap is off.

A warm spot on the floor

Often from a hot water line.

Damp carpet or a musty smell

In one room.

Mold or mildew

At the base of a wall.

Lower water pressure

All through the house.

A patch of grass

By the house that stays green when the rest is dry.

New cracks in the floor

Tile or walls near one spot.

Floors that rise

Or feel humped in one area.

Why a leak is a foundation problem in Lubbock

Clay reacts to water. USDA soil surveys show that common soils around Lubbock have a sandy or loamy top layer over a subsoil with more clay. Clay swells when it gets wet. A slow leak under the slab can keep one patch of soil wet for months while the rest of the ground stays dry. That patch swells and pushes the slab up. The floor above it humps, tile cracks, and doors in that area start to bind.

Or it washes the soil out. A bigger leak, especially from a drain line, can carry soil away or turn it soft. Then that part of the slab loses support and drops.

Either way, the slab bends. It is the uneven moisture that does the damage. A dry yard with one soaked spot under the kitchen is a common setup for foundation movement.

Older pipes. A Texas plumbing firm notes that homes built before 1980 often have cast iron drains under the slab, which can corrode over time. About 40 percent of homes in the Lubbock ISD area were built before 1970, based on Census survey data.

High bills are a clue. A local radio report described Lubbock residents with water bills far above their normal use. Some found hidden leaks once they went looking. If your bill jumps, check for a leak before you assume the meter is wrong.

Check your meter

  1. Turn off everything that uses water, inside and out, including the sprinklers and the ice maker.
  2. Find your meter and lift the lid carefully.
  3. Look at the dial or the small leak indicator.
  4. Wait 30 minutes without using any water, then look again.
  5. If it moved, water is leaking somewhere. A plumber can test the lines to find out where.

Cosmetic or urgent?

Call a plumber now if you hear running water, see water coming up through the floor, or the meter spins fast with everything off. Shut off the water at the main if you need to.

Have the foundation checked soon if the leak has been going on for a while, or if you see:

  • New cracks in the floor or walls near the leak.
  • A floor that humps or dips in one area.
  • Doors near that area that started sticking.
  • Brick cracks outside on the same side.

A small leak that was caught early may not have moved anything. A slow leak that ran for months often has.

What the fix usually is

There are two jobs, and the order matters.

First, the leak. A plumber finds it and fixes it. Some leaks are fixed by cutting through the slab right at the spot. Others are fixed by running a new line around the slab, often through the attic or walls. The plumber should tell you which way and why.

Then, the foundation. Once the soil has a chance to settle down, the inspector takes floor level readings across the house. If part of the slab rose, it may come down some as the soil dries. If part of it dropped, the usual fix is piers under that section to lift and support it.

After a lift, ask about a plumbing test. Lifting a slab puts stress on the pipes under it. A pressure test checks that nothing new started leaking.

What it costs

These are typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. The leak repair and the foundation repair are priced separately. Your foundation price comes in writing after the free inspection.

Before the inspection

  1. Fix the leak first, or at least find it.
  2. Keep the plumber's report showing where the leak was.
  3. Pull a few months of water bills to show when usage jumped.
  4. Photo any cracks near the leak area with a coin and a date.
  5. Call your insurance agent to ask what your policy covers before you file.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check for a slab leak myself?

Turn off every faucet, toilet, appliance and sprinkler. Then look at your water meter. If the dial or leak indicator keeps moving with everything off, water is going somewhere. Call a plumber to find where.

Who do I call first, a plumber or a foundation company?

If water is running, call a plumber first to find and stop the leak. Then have the foundation checked, because a leak can move the soil under the slab. Fixing the foundation before the leak is fixed is a waste of money.

Can a slab leak cause foundation problems?

Yes. Water from a leak can make clay soil swell and push up part of the slab, or wash out and soften soil so a section drops. Either one can crack floors and walls.

Can foundation movement cause a slab leak?

It can work both ways. When a slab moves, the pipes inside and under it can bend or crack. Many crews suggest a plumbing test after a foundation lift for that reason.

Does homeowners insurance cover a slab leak in Texas?

It depends on your policy. Slow leaks and wear and tear are often not covered. Some Texas policies have covered foundation damage caused by a sudden plumbing leak. Read your policy and talk to your agent before you file a claim.

Find out if the leak moved your house

Call (806) 855-8140 or send the short form. A local foundation crew will measure your floors around the leak and across the house, and tell you in writing if the foundation needs work. Homes across Lubbock and nearby towns are covered.

Other services

Common foundation repair problems in Lubbock

Areas we serve around Lubbock

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