Emergency slab leak: what to know in Arizona
Most slab leaks are slow. An emergency is a leak that has become fast: water on the floor, a flooded room, or a meter running quickly even though nothing is in use.
The steps in the first few minutes decide how much needs to be dried and replaced later. They are simple, and they are listed below.
Slab leak signs people notice
Calls are answered around the clock, and same-day visits are the aim.
Water Bill Jumped? Call UsWhy Arizona homes get slab leaks
Hot Arizona ground and hard water wear on copper in a way that can turn a pinhole into a split. Pressure in the system keeps the water moving once it starts.
Because the line is under the floor, the first visible sign can be a flooded room.
What to do right now
If it is safe to reach, close the main shutoff valve for the house. Move valuables and rugs away from wet floor. Keep clear of water near outlets, appliances and any pool equipment, and do not use them.
If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility and emergency services from outside. Do not try to break flooring or dig.
What a leak detection technician does
A technician is sent as soon as one is available, day or night. On arrival the line is isolated to stop the loss, then the leak is located and the repair options and price are explained.
Temporary measures keep the house usable where possible while the permanent repair is planned.
Nothing is opened until the leak is marked and you have heard the options.
Speak With Someone LocalWhat to do while you wait for the crew
If water is surfacing, soaking a floor or running with the house empty, the first priority is to stop the flow if it is safe to do so. Shut off the main if it is easy to reach and you can do it without wading through water or touching anything electrical.
Move valuables and anything that can be damaged off the floor. Keep clear of water near outlets, appliances and equipment. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility and emergency services from outside.
Then call. Say where the water is, whether you have shut the main, and what the meter does. That helps the crew prepare.
Do not break the floor, dig or cut pipe to look for the leak. The crew finds the leak without opening the slab, and extra openings can add to the repair.
Is it an emergency?
Water surfacing through the floor, a fast-moving meter, a floor that is hot to the touch or water reaching electrical outlets are all reasons to act now. Close the main if you can reach it safely, keep people and pets away and call.
A slow leak with no water on the surface is still worth calling about the same day, but it is less urgent. The meter check tells you how fast water is leaving.
If you cannot find or reach the main shutoff, tell the dispatcher. They can talk you through what to look for.
Do not try to work on gas or electrical items.
While you wait
Move valuables, rugs and furniture away from wet areas. Take photos of the damage as it is.
Keep the area clear so the crew can get to it quickly.
If the main is off, the household has no water. Fill a few containers before you close it if there is time.
Write down when you first noticed the problem and what you have done since.
When the crew arrives
The technician confirms the leak, isolates lines and locates the spot. If the main is off, they may need it back on for testing.
Once the leak is marked, they explain the options. In an emergency, a temporary measure to restore water to the rest of the house is sometimes possible while you decide on the repair.
The contractor quotes the price before work starts.
After the repair the line is tested and the meter reading shown.
Finding the main shutoff before you need it
Most Arizona homes have a main shutoff valve where the service line enters the house, often near the front wall, in the garage or close to the water heater. Some have a second valve at the meter box. Knowing where yours is before an emergency saves time when water is coming up through the floor.
Look for a valve on a pipe that comes up out of the ground or out of a wall at the front of the house. It may be a lever or a round handle. If you are not sure it is the main, the dispatcher can talk you through what to look for when you call.
If the valve is stiff, corroded or hard to reach, do not force it. A broken valve during an emergency makes things worse. Tell the dispatcher, and the crew can deal with it on arrival.
Once the main is closed, no water reaches the house. That stops a slab leak from adding more water under the floor, but it also means no taps, toilets or appliances will work. Fill a few containers first if there is time.
When the crew arrives, they may need the main open again to test the lines. They tell you before they do it.
Protecting the house while water is surfacing
Water that comes up through the floor spreads along the slab and into anything sitting on it. Moving rugs, boxes, furniture and electronics away from the wet area is the most useful thing you can do after closing the main.
Keep people and pets out of the wet area. Wet tile is slippery, and water near outlets or extension leads is a hazard. Do not try to work on anything electrical.
Towels can stop water spreading toward other rooms. Do not try to dry the floor completely; the crew needs to see where the water is coming from.
Take photos and short videos before you move things. They show the extent of the water and help other trades later.
When the crew arrives, show them where the water first appeared and how it has spread.
After the emergency
Once the leak is repaired, the line is tested and the meter reading shown.
Take stock of any damage and photograph it.
Restoration is handled by other trades.
Keep the written findings.
Do the meter check after a week.
Have the meter result ready: what the dial did with everything off, and again with the irrigation off.
Need a Leak Located? Call UsQuestions about emergency slab leaks
Do you really answer at night?
Yes. The line is open 24/7 and same-day response is the aim.
Where is my main shutoff?
Usually on the outside wall near the hose bib, or at the meter. If you cannot reach it safely, call anyway.
Will I be charged extra for after-hours?
Ask on the call. Each contractor sets its own pricing and gives a quote before work.
Do you handle the water damage?
No. Drying and restoration are separate trades. The technician can say what to look for in a contractor.
Where is the main shutoff?
Often at the front of the house, in a box near the meter, or in the garage or utility area. If you do not know where it is, say so on the call.
Is a leak an emergency every time?
Not always. Surfacing water, a flooded room or a bill spike with a moving meter is. A slow warm spot can usually wait for the next available time.
Can the crew come the same day?
Same-day service is a goal where crews are free. The call confirms what is possible.
What if water is near electrical items?
Stay away and do not touch them. Shut off the main if you can do so without entering the water, and call.
Will the main stay off during repairs?
For part of the work, yes. The crew plans around that and tells you in advance.