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How To Determine If You Have A Plumbing Slab Leak In 15 Minutes

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Quick answer: You can find out whether you likely have a slab leak in about 15 minutes with two simple pressure tests. First, for the sewer side, plug the main sewer line at the double/2-way cleanout, take a hose and fill it to the top. Then, put a pressure gauge on an outside faucet or at the washing machine box, then shut the water off at the meter, and wait 15 minutes. If the pressure drops on the gauge, water is escaping somewhere in your pressurized lines. If the water level goes down in the cleanout you have a leak in the sewer system. A drop on either test means you have a leak and it’s time to locate it.

If you suspect a slab leak, you can perform a sewer line and water line leak test to confirm the leak and take necessary action. A sewer water test is one of the best ways to find leaks in your plumbing system. It’s a simple water leak detection procedure; anyone can do it with the appropriate leak detection equipment.

Signs You Might Have a Slab Leak

Before you run the test, it helps to know what points to a slab leak in the first place. The most common warning signs are:

  • A water bill that jumped with no change in usage
  • The sound of running water when every fixture is off
  • Warm or hot spots on the floor (a sign of a hot-water line leak under the slab)
  • Damp, warped, or cracked flooring
  • A water meter that keeps spinning after you’ve shut off everything in the house

Any one of these is a reason to run the 15-minute test below, catching a slab leak early is what keeps it from turning into a foundation repair.

Here are the tools you will need:
  • Test balls and an air hose to test for sewer leaks
  • A pump to inflate the test balls
  • A pressure gauge to test for water leaks
  • A wrench to shut off the meter

Performing a Sewer Leak Test

First, locate the two-way sewer clean outs in your home. Connect the air hose to a test ball and push it down the clean out closest to the house. Then, inflate the test ball using the pump to block the sewer completely. Now fill the sewer line with water to the level of the clean out pipe. Look down the other clean out pipe to ensure no water is running through. Observe the water level for about 15 minutes. The concept here is simple; if the water level in the pipe drops, there is a leak in your sewer line.

Performing a Water Leak Test

The water test is a bit simpler. All you need to do is screw the pressure gauge onto a tap making sure it doesn’t leak, and take the water pressure reading. Now, go to your meter and shut it off using the wrench. Wait for about 15 minutes, and then check the pressure reading again. If the pressure in the gauge holds, there is no leak. However, if the pressure falls, you have a leak in your system.

What’s Next

The leak test above only confirms that there’s a leak and will not tell you where the leak is. So, the next step is leak locating, and for that, you will need leak detection equipment. If you’re a homeowner or an industry professional looking for the best leak detection systems out there, contact us to learn more. LeakPro® detection equipment will help you with your leak detecting and leak locating needs. You can also learn more about how to perform leak detection tests like a pro on Roger’s YouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really determine a slab leak in 15 minutes?

Yes, the 15-minute pressure and sewer tests tell you whether a leak exists very quickly. They confirm you have a leak; pinpointing the exact spot under the slab is a separate leak-locating step.

What’s the difference between the water test and the sewer test?

The water test tests the pressure of your fresh-water supply and watches a gauge for a pressure drop. The sewer test plugs and fills the drain line and watches the water level. Running both tells you whether the leak is on the pressurized water side or the sewer side.

What are the signs of a slab leak?

Unexplained high water bills, the sound of running water with everything off, warm spots on the floor, damp or cracked flooring, and a water meter that keeps turning after all fixtures are shut off.

How much does it cost to test for a slab leak?

If you do it yourself, you only need the equipment — a pressure gauge, test balls, hoses, and a pump. If a plumber runs it, the test is usually part of a leak-detection service call, they can run from $375 up to $650, just to test it.

What do I do after the test confirms a leak?

Confirming a leak is only step one. The next step is locating exactly where it is under the slab with acoustic leak detection equipment, that’s the full leak detection process.

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