Slab Leak Detection ProsHome › Locations › New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Comal CountyNon-Invasive Slab Leak Detection New Braunfels Homes Rely On
Fast, accurate slab leak detection New Braunfels families can afford: New Braunfels slab leak detection pinpoints the leak first, so nobody digs blind. Slab leak detection in New Braunfels finds a leaking water or drain line under your concrete foundation without tearing up your floors. A licensed local plumber confirms the leak, isolates the line, then pinpoints it with acoustic, thermal and pressure tools so only a small, precise opening is needed.
- Pinpointed before any concrete is opened
- Hot, cold and drain lines tested
- You choose who does any repair
Your New Braunfels slab leak detection visit, start to finish
A slab leak detection visit in New Braunfels is diagnostic work, not demolition. The plumber who serves your part of Comal County brings pressure gauges, listening equipment, a thermal camera and line-tracing tools.
Before any listening starts, the plumber rules out toilets, faucets, irrigation and the water heater, then pressure-tests the system. Closing the cold inlet at the water heater shows whether the leak is on the hot or cold side.
Next, the line is traced and the slab is scanned. Acoustic listening finds the point where escaping water is loudest, thermal imaging confirms hot-water leaks, and tracer gas handles the quietest leaks. Two readings must agree before the spot is marked.
Before the plumber leaves, you get a written report with the leaking line, the exact location, the readings and photos. Keep it for your insurer, your water utility’s leak credit and whichever licensed plumber you choose for the repair.
We arrange slab leak detection for homes all over New Braunfels, from neighborhoods near Gruene Hall to those around Comal River. Most visits take two to four hours.
Warning signs of a slab leak in your New Braunfels home
- Water bill jumped with no change in use
- Meter keeps moving with everything off
- Warm spot on tile, wood or carpet
- Running-water sound when nothing is on
- Water heater runs constantly
- Damp carpet, cupped wood, musty smell
- Sewer smell or slow drains
- New cracks or sticking doors
Is a warm spot on my floor in New Braunfels a slab leak?
Often, yes. A spot on tile, wood or carpet that stays warm, especially overnight, usually means a hot-water line is leaking under the slab. Your water heater may also run more than usual. Thermal imaging can confirm it.
Why slab leaks happen in New Braunfels
Clay and caliche soils around San Antonio shift with moisture, and the area's Edwards Aquifer water is known for being very hard.
New Braunfels is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, with historic homes near Gruene and many newer subdivisions.
Serving homes across New Braunfels, including neighborhoods near Gruene Hall, Schlitterbahn, Comal River.
Does living near a military base in New Braunfels change who handles a slab leak?
If you rent, the property owner is usually responsible for plumbing under the slab, so report signs to your landlord or property manager quickly. If you own and rent out your home, ask for a written report you can keep on file.
New Braunfels slab leak detection specialist vs. a general plumber
Many general plumbers do excellent work. The difference is focus and equipment when the leak is hidden under concrete.
| What matters | Slab leak detection specialist (our network) | Typical general plumbing contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Only finding hidden leaks under slabs | Installs, repairs and remodels across all plumbing |
| Detection tools | Acoustic ground mics, thermal imaging, tracer gas, line tracing | Varies; often a pressure test and visual inspection |
| Locating the leak | Pinpointed before any concrete is opened | May open the floor in more than one place to search |
| Drain leaks under slab | Hydrostatic, isolation test and camera find the broken section | May recommend replacing the whole drain system |
| After the leak is found | Exact spot marked and documented; you choose who fixes it | Often moves straight into its own repair or repipe |
| Paperwork | Written report with photos for insurance and water credits | Usually an invoice only |
| Typical cost to locate | $150–$600 in most New Braunfels homes | Varies; exploratory openings add cost |
Tip: whoever you call, ask which detection methods they use and whether they’ll pinpoint the leak before opening the slab.
What New Braunfels slab leak detection includes
We do one thing: find leaks under concrete slabs. Every visit is done by an independent, licensed Texas plumber who specializes in leak detection, so you pay to find the leak, not to break concrete searching for it.
Water Line Leaks
Find leaks in the pressurized supply lines buried in or under your slab.
Hot-Water Line Leaks
Thermal imaging traces warm spots and leaking hot-water runs.
Drain Line Leaks
Hydrostatic and isolation tests find drain leaks that never show on your meter.
Pressure Testing
Confirm a leak exists and measure how fast the line loses pressure.
Line Isolation & Tracing
Separate hot, cold and branch lines and map where they really run.
Acoustic Pinpointing
Ground microphones hear escaping water through the concrete.
Tracer Gas Detection
For very quiet leaks and plastic pipe, gas rises at the leak point.
Written Leak Report
Exact location, readings and photos for your insurer or water utility.
A 2-hour leak test for New Braunfels homes
This simple test tells you whether water is escaping somewhere in your New Braunfels home before you pay for a visit.
- Turn everything off. Faucets, dishwasher, washer, ice maker, sprinklers and pool fill.
- Find your meter. It is usually in a box near the street. Read the number or take a photo.
- Wait one to two hours. Use no water at all during that time.
- Read it again. If the number moved, or the small leak indicator is spinning, water is escaping.
- Narrow it down. Close the house shut-off. If the meter keeps moving, the leak is in the yard line; if it stops, it is inside, possibly under the slab.
How we find a slab leak in New Braunfels without tearing up your floor
The same nine steps on every job, so you know what’s happening and why. Read the full process →
Listen and look first
The plumber hears what you've noticed and walks the home to look for clues.
Rule out the easy causes
Toilets, faucets, irrigation, the water heater and the AC drain are checked so you don't pay to search for the wrong leak.
Confirm the leak with the meter and a pressure test
A meter test and a pressure test prove water is escaping from the plumbing.
Isolate the leaking line
Hot, cold and branch lines are separated so the search focuses on the one that's leaking.
Test the drains, if needed
Drain leaks don't show on the meter, so they get their own hydrostatic test and camera check.
Trace the pipe's route
An electronic locator maps where the leaking line actually runs under the floor.
Pinpoint the exact spot
Acoustic listening, thermal imaging and tracer gas find where the water is escaping, and two methods must agree.
Scan the slab and mark the leak
The slab is checked for steel tendons and rebar, and the leak is marked on the floor.
Get your written report
You receive the leak's location, the line, the readings and photos in writing.
Slab leak detection prices for New Braunfels homes
Published national and Texas ranges. You get the price before the visit.
Slab Leak Detection
- Meter & pressure testing
- Hot/cold line isolation
- Acoustic & thermal pinpointing
- Leak marked on the floor
- Written report with photos
What raises the price
- Larger homes with more lines
- More than one leak
- Very quiet leaks needing tracer gas
- Drain testing (a hydrostatic test is typically about $250)
- After-hours visits
What it doesn’t include
- Breaking or patching concrete
- Pipe repair or rerouting
- Foundation work
- Mold cleanup
We only do detection. You get the exact location and choose who does any repair.
Sources: This Old House, Angi/HomeAdvisor via Bob Vila.
Will I still pay for detection if no leak is found?
Usually yes, because detection is a diagnostic service. If no slab leak is found, you still learn where the water isn't going, which rules out costly guesses. Ask about the fee before the visit.
Water coming up through the floor in New Braunfels?
Shut off the main water valve and call now. We’ll connect you with a licensed slab leak specialist.
New Braunfels homes and the pipes beneath them
Across New Braunfels: Military-area suburbs, rentals and fast-growing new subdivisions. Knowing what pipe is under your floor tells the plumber which slab leak detection method will work best.
Copper supply lines
Common in homes built from the 1960s through the early 2000s. Copper wears where it rubs against concrete or gravel, and pinhole leaks show up as homes pass 25–40 years old. Acoustic listening finds them well.
Cast-iron drains
Standard in homes built before about 1980. Cast iron rusts from the inside and cracks as the slab moves. Drain leaks never show on the water meter, so a hydrostatic test and camera inspection are used.
Polybutylene
Gray plastic pipe installed from about 1978 to 1995. It is known for failing at fittings. Tracer gas and pressure testing are often the best ways to locate leaks in it.
PEX and newer plastic
Used in most homes built since the 2000s, often run from a manifold. PEX leaks are usually at fittings or where the pipe was nicked during construction. Each run can be pressure-tested from the manifold.
Insurance and slab leaks in Texas
Coverage depends on your policy and the cause. The Texas Department of Insurance has long said the standard HO-B policy covers damage to the dwelling, including the foundation, from an accidental discharge of water from a plumbing system. Many policies still exclude wear and tear, the pipe itself, and mold.
What helps your claim: shut off the water, protect your belongings, and get the leak documented by a licensed plumber before the adjuster visits.
Ask for a leak credit
Many Texas cities and MUDs credit part of the water lost to a hidden leak once it’s repaired. Most want a paid plumber’s invoice and a request within a set number of days, and allow one credit a year.
Keep your invoice, and call your utility soon after the repair to ask about its rules and deadline.
Why New Braunfels homeowners choose detection first
Most of the cost of a slab leak comes from searching for it and repairing the floor afterward. Slab leak detection is all we do, so you get an exact location before anyone touches your floor.
Licensed Texas plumbers
All work is done by independent plumbers licensed in Texas who will show their license number on request.
Typical prices up front
Know the usual range before anyone arrives, and get a written quote before work starts.
Documentation you can use
Photos, readings and a written summary for your insurer or your water utility’s leak credit.
How soon does your New Braunfels home need slab leak detection?
Call the same day
- Water coming up through the floor
- Sewer smell inside the home
- Meter spinning fast with everything off
- A large warm or wet area
Shut off the main water valve first.
Book this week
- Meter moves slowly with everything off
- One warm spot on the floor
- Water heater running constantly
- Bill up for a second month
Keep watching
- A single high bill with an explanation
- Hairline cracks with a normal meter test
- Slow drains in one fixture only
Repeat the meter test monthly.
Questions about slab leaks in New Braunfels?
Still not sure if you have a slab leak? Call and describe what you’re seeing. A licensed plumber will tell you whether it’s worth a visit.
Call (000) 000-0000Does New Braunfels water cause pinhole leaks?
Very hard water can build scale in pipes, but most slab leaks come from pipe age, abrasion against the concrete and soil movement. Check your utility’s annual water quality report for its hardness level, and after repeat pinhole leaks, have every line tested, not just the latest spot.
I rent near JBSA in New Braunfels. Who pays for slab leak detection?
Usually the property owner, because the plumbing under the slab is part of the building. Report high bills, warm floors or the sound of running water to your landlord or property manager right away.
Does hard water around New Braunfels cause pinhole leaks?
Very hard water builds scale, and some pipes pit over time, but most slab leaks come from pipe age, abrasion and soil movement. If you've had more than one pinhole leak, have every line tested, not just the latest spot.
Can you find a slab leak in New Braunfels without tearing up my floors?
Yes. The plumber pinpoints the leak with pressure tests, acoustic listening and thermal imaging before any concrete is opened. The exact spot is marked on the floor, so any opening afterward can be small and precise.
Is a slab leak in my New Braunfels home an emergency?
Water coming up through the floor, a sewer smell or a fast-spinning meter needs help the same day. A slower leak should still be checked within days, because water under the slab can wash out soil and grow mold.
Why is my New Braunfels water bill so high when I can't see a leak?
A leak under the slab runs all the time, out of sight. Turn off every fixture and watch the meter for one to two hours. If it moves, water is escaping, and a plumber can find where.
Last updated 2026-10-23