Can I Find a Slab Leak Myself or Do I Need a Pro?
So can I find a slab leak myself? You can check the warning signs at home. But to find the leak under concrete takes pro gear. The good news: a water meter test can tell you if water is leaking out somewhere. It takes about 30 minutes. No tools needed. After that, finding the exact spot is our technicians’ job.
We will be straight with you. No one gains from a visit you do not need. If the checks below come back clean, you may not have a slab leak. If they point to a leak, call us. We take it from there.
What Can I Check on My Own?
Use your eyes, ears, and feet. Listen for water running when all taps are off. Feel for warm spots on the floor. A hot water leak heats the slab above it. Look for damp patches, new cracks, or buckling floors. Watch for a sudden jump in your water bill.
The EPA’s WaterSense program says home leaks can waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water a year. A surprise spike on your bill is worth a look. Our high water bill page explains what a spike can mean and what to rule out first.
None of these prove a slab leak alone. A warm floor could be a heat vent. A high bill could be a running toilet. So the meter test comes next. It answers the real question.
How Do I Run the Water Meter Test?
The water meter test is the best check you can do at home. It takes about 30 minutes. You need no tools and no skills.
- Turn off every tap, appliance, and outdoor spigot. Make sure nothing in the house uses water.
- Find your water meter. It is usually near the curb in a covered box or in a utility area.
- Write down the meter reading, or take a photo of the dial with your phone.
- Wait 30 minutes. Use no water at all during the wait — no flushing, no ice maker.
- Read the meter again. If the number moved, water is escaping somewhere in your plumbing.
If the meter moved, you likely have a leak. It could be a slab leak. Or a toilet. Or a faucet. Our water meter test page has more on how to read your meter and what the results mean.
When Should I Stop DIY and Call Our Technicians?
Stop DIY once the meter test finds a leak. Finding the exact spot takes pro gear: acoustic listening, thermal imaging, and pressure tests. Guess wrong and you break concrete in the wrong place. That gets pricey fast.
Call us right away if you see standing water. Or smell mildew. Or see the floor buckle. Those signs mean damage is spreading. The EPA says to dry wet areas fast — within a day or two. That stops mold growth. Fast action matters here.
Read our slab leak FAQs for more answers while you wait for us.
Can I rent the detection gear myself? Rental gear exists, but reading the results takes training. A wrong read leads to digging in the wrong spot.
Is the meter test enough to start a repair? No. The test proves a leak exists. Our technicians still need to pinpoint it before any repair begins.
Should I turn off my water while I wait for our visit? If water is pooling or damage is spreading, yes — shut the main valve off. Otherwise, normal use is fine until we arrive.
How much does the detection visit cost? Detection is quoted separately from repair, so you know the price before we start. National estimates as of 2026 put detection at $150–$500, up to about $600 for complex homes.
What Happens When We Take Over?
We run the full check on our visit. We do a meter check. We run pressure tests. We use acoustic and thermal scans. We pinpoint the leak within about 1 to 3 feet. You get a clear repair quote on the same visit. Then we fix it. One call takes the job from first sign to final fix.
Bring your meter test results to the visit. They give us a head start. They back up what our gear finds.
We are open 24/7. Call Nova Slab Leak Detection at (833) 542-3027 whenever you are ready. Day or night, a real person answers.
FAQs
Can I find a slab leak myself with just my ears?
You can hear running water. To find where it comes from still needs pro gear.
How accurate is the DIY meter test?
It is very good at one thing: is water leaking? It can’t say where.
Can I find a slab leak myself under a brand-new slab?
The meter test works the same on new slabs. To find the spot still needs our gear.
What if my meter test shows no movement?
Then the bill or damp spot may have another cause. We can still help track it down.
Should I dig to look for the leak myself?
No. Digging with no known spot means extra holes and extra cost.
Can our technicians work if I already ran the meter test?
Yes. Tell us the result. It gives us a head start on the visit.