Slab Leak Detection & Repair in Chicago, IL
Whether you saw water on the floor or just heard a drip, what happens in the next 30 minutes matters. Stop reading and call if it's the first one. Plain-spoken estimates, written quotes, no surprise add-ons mid-job. That's the whole pitch.
Notes on Chicago housing stock
Chicago's housing market has us seeing a lot of move-in inspections and "the previous owner did what?" calls. We sort them out.
The actual work
Slab leaks are pinhole leaks in copper plumbing lines that run inside or under a concrete slab foundation. Common in 1960s through 1980s slab-on-grade builds across the Sun Belt and parts of the Midwest.
Signs: warm or wet spots on the floor, unexplained jumps in the water bill, the sound of running water when nothing is on, mildew smell along baseboards. Hot-side leaks show up faster than cold-side because of the warm spot.
Detection runs $280–$480 standalone. We use acoustic listening equipment plus an infrared thermal camera. Once we've located it, you have two repair options.
Fair pricing for this work
For slab leak detection & repair jobs in the Chicago area:
- Slab leak detection (acoustic + infrared): $350 – $600
- Re-route a single line overhead: $1,750 – $3,500
- Pinhole repair in slab (jackhammer): $2,250 – $4,250
- Full re-pipe of slab home (PEX overhead): $10,625 – $22,500
Sample job
Property manager call, Chicago-area duplex. Both units had mildew smell along the baseboard. We pulled the system apart and found slow cold-water slab leak under the kitchen. Re-routed the cold line and dried the slab on the same trip — both tenants happy. $856.