The problem: a durable material with long exposure
Copper supply lines have been used in houses and condos for a very long time, and in many Florida homes built in the middle decades of the last century and after they run through or under the slab. They are well regarded, and many give years of service without trouble. They can also leak, and when they do under a slab, the leak is out of sight.
The most common pattern is a pinhole: a very small opening that lets water out under pressure, steadily and quietly. Other failures include joints that weaken and sections that wear thin. We do not say what any particular home has. The pipe a technician sees when the floor is opened is the evidence.
What owners notice
The signs are those of any slab leak. A warm spot on the tile if the line is hot. A bill that rises with no change in habits. A sound of running water. Damp baseboards or lifting tile. A water heater that seems to run more than it should. In older homes, a leak may also first show in a place that has been repaired before.
Because a pinhole is slow, the signs can build over months. If you have noticed more than one, a meter check is a sensible first step.
Tell us where the earlier leak was.
Another Slab Leak? Call UsWhy copper lines leak after long service
No single cause explains every leak, and a technician cannot always say which applied. In general terms, several things act on copper over the years. Water chemistry plays a part, since some water is harder on pipe than other water. Contact with concrete and the minerals in it can affect the outside of a line. Movement as pipes heat and cool, vibration and the way a line was originally laid all contribute.
Hot-water lines work harder than cold ones, and tend to show wear earlier. Fittings and joints are common points of failure. We do not give lifespans or figures. A line that has served for decades is not necessarily failing, and one that is newer is not necessarily safe, which is why testing matters more than age.
What Florida adds
Many Florida slab homes put supply lines in or beneath the slab, where the copper is surrounded by concrete or fill and sandy soil. The ground drains quickly, so a leak may not wet the surface. A pinhole may run quietly for a long time.
The state also has a high number of homes from decades when copper was the standard, so a technician working in Florida sees it often. They will not assume that a house has copper, and they will not assume that it does not. They look at the lines. See why Florida leaks hide.
Straight answers about what a leak means.
Speak With Someone LocalWhat to do and what not to do
Do a meter check, and note any warm spots, sounds or damp edges. If water is surfacing, close the main if you can reach it safely, keep clear and move valuables.
Please do not try to repair copper yourself. Do not break the floor to find a pipe, do not cut into lines and do not apply sealants or products meant to stop leaks. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility and emergency services from outside. Be cautious of anyone who tells you what pipe your home has without looking at it.
When the home was built. A rough decade helps. Do not guess what pipe it has.
Previous leaks and repairs. Where they were and what was done, if you know.
Where the signs are. Warm spot, damp edge or sound, and which room.
What the meter does. Movement with everything off, and the register readings.
How the leak is found
The technician isolates hot and cold lines, pressure tests each and listens across the floor. Thermal imaging often works well on hot lines. The readings are cross-checked and the position marked. If the floor is opened, the technician can then see the condition of the pipe at that point.
That sight is useful. It tells the technician, and you, what the line looks like where it failed, and whether the nearby pipe shows signs of wear. See how slab leaks are found.
Often raised when copper lines run through the slab.
Ask About Reroute OptionsRepair options for copper lines
A spot repair replaces the failed section. A reroute takes the line out of the slab and runs a new one above it. Lining may be an option where the technician judges the pipe suitable. Repiping replaces more of the supply when several lines are involved.
Which fits depends on the leak, the line and the home. Upfront pricing and no hidden fees apply before work begins.
Afterwards
After the repair, the line is pressure tested. Ask the technician to describe what they saw on the pipe and keep a record of it. If another leak appears in the same home, it helps to know what was found the first time. Nobody can promise that another leak will not happen.
Workmanship on completed work is covered by a guarantee. Restoration companies handle drying and cleanup of wet flooring. If it is a second or third leak, see repeat slab leaks.
Pinholes and how they behave
Copper that wears from the outside or inside often fails as a small pinhole. A pinhole under pressure produces a fine jet that may erode what is next to it. It can run for a long time before it is noticed.
A technician finds the position by listening and testing, and then looks at the pipe nearby. Ask what the surrounding pipe looked like.
What the rest of the line looks like
When the pipe is exposed, the technician looks at its color, its surface and the fittings. A section that looks sound is reassuring. A section that looks worn is a reason to talk about a longer repair.
Ask for photos if you can. They help you weigh the options with the facts in front of you.
What owners can usefully note
Make a note of when the home was built and whether any part of the plumbing has been replaced. Note where the water enters the house and where the heater sits. These details tell the technician what to expect.
Do not try to judge the condition of the pipe yourself. The technician looks at it when exposed.
A short note with the dates of any earlier leaks completes the picture.