34.07° N · 118.10° W · WESTERN SGV
Reroute or spot repair a slab leak
Once a slab leak is found, you can open the floor at that spot or run a new line overhead.
Updated · 3 min read
Straight answer
A spot repair opens the floor right above the leak and fixes that section. A reroute abandons the line under the slab and runs a new one through the attic or walls. Pipe age, flooring and how many leaks you have had point to the better choice.
What this covers
Two ways to fix it
A spot repair needs an accurate location. The floor is opened, the leaking section replaced, and the slab patched.
A reroute leaves the old line under the slab and runs new pipe overhead to the same fixtures. No concrete is cut.
Questions that settle it
- How old is the pipe under the slab?
- Is this the first leak or the second?
- Is the leak under tile or hardwood you want to keep?
- Is the attic or crawlspace accessible for new lines?
Housing age across the SGV
Many slab homes in the valley date from the postwar decades. Census medians put Monterey Park at 1963 and Rosemead at 1959.
Copper of that age that has sprung one leak is more likely to spring another, which tips many owners toward a reroute.
How a reroute is done
New pipe runs in copper or PEX through the attic and drops down inside walls to the fixture. Small wall openings are patched afterward, and the old line under the slab is capped off.
FAQs
Does a reroute affect water pressure?
Correctly sized new lines keep normal pressure. Slightly longer runs are rarely noticeable.
What if the leak is in the main line?
A main line leak can be rerouted around the house exterior instead of under the slab.
Do I need to move out during the repair?
Usually not. Water is off only while connections are made.