Slab leak service
Rerouting a Slab Leak: Leave the Old Line in the Concrete, Run a New One Overhead
Callers ask for it in plain words: "replumb the house through the attic." A reroute does that for the leaking branch. The bad line is capped and left under the concrete. A new line runs through the attic and drops down inside a wall to the fixtures it used to feed. Nothing under the floor gets opened.
Your call is transferred to a plumbing office that serves Westminster. The transfer can go quiet for a moment, so don't hang up until a person answers.
Spot repair, reroute or lining?
| Spot repair | Reroute | Epoxy lining | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor opened | Yes, a small section | No | No |
| Walls or ceiling opened | No | Small openings to drop lines | Access at fixtures |
| Best when | One leak in sound pipe, easy floor to lift | Leak under tile or cabinets, or more leaks likely | Specific pipe conditions; not every plumber offers it |
| Old pipe still in use | Yes | No, for that branch | Yes, coated inside |
Ask the plumber which one they'd choose for your house, and why. The answer should mention the age of the copper, where the leak sits, and whether this is the first leak or a repeat.
Why reroutes suit single-story Westminster houses
Much of Westminster's housing went up after the city incorporated in 1957, and a lot of it is single-story on a concrete slab. A single-story house usually has an open attic over every room. That gives a new line an easy path: across the attic, then down inside an interior wall to the kitchen, a bathroom or the laundry.
Two-story homes, more common in parts of Fountain Valley and north Huntington Beach, need routes through walls, closets or chases to reach first-floor fixtures. Ask how the plumber plans to get there and how much drywall that touches.
What a reroute day looks like
- The water is shut off, and the leaking branch is confirmed with slab leak detection.
- A new line is run through the attic, in PEX or copper, and insulated where it crosses hot attic space.
- Small openings are cut in walls at the fixtures the branch serves.
- The new line is connected at each fixture and at the supply.
- The old line is capped where it leaves the slab and abandoned.
- Water goes back on, and the new line is tested.
- Wall openings are patched. Ask in advance who patches and paints.
Reroutes commonly need a building permit and an inspection. Ask whether the plumber pulls it. In Midway City, which is unincorporated, permits go through the County of Orange rather than a city.
PEX or copper for the new line
Both are accepted materials when installed to code. PEX is flexible, needs fewer fittings and bends around attic framing. Copper is rigid, traditional and uses more joints. Neither is the right answer for every house. Ask why the plumber recommends one, how it's supported and insulated in the attic, and what fittings are used.
When a reroute isn't the answer
- The leak is on the main line that feeds the whole house, which can point to water line work or a repipe.
- Several branches are failing at once. A whole-house repipe may cost less than rerouting them one by one.
- The problem is a drain line, not a water supply line. That's a different job.
- Small leaks keep appearing in copper above the slab too. See pinhole leaks.
The third option: lining
Epoxy lining coats the inside of the existing pipe, sealing small holes without removing it. It suits some pipe conditions and not others, and fewer companies offer it. If it interests you, ask whether your lines are a fit and how the lining is inspected afterward.
Related reading
What affects the cost of a slab leak repair explains why reroutes vary from house to house. Living at home during the repair covers the day-to-day. Slab leaks and homeowners insurance covers claims. The main slab leak repair page compares every option.
Questions callers ask
Is it OK to leave the old pipe under the slab?
Yes. It's capped and disconnected, so it no longer carries water. It simply stays in the concrete.
Will a reroute stop future slab leaks?
It takes that branch out of the slab. Other branches still under the slab can leak later, which is why the age of the whole system matters when choosing between a reroute and a repipe.
Can I stay home during a reroute?
Usually. The water is off while connections are made, and there will be people in the attic and small openings in walls near fixtures.
Does homeowners insurance cover a reroute?
Policies vary. Some cover access and damage but not the new pipe. Ask your insurer how a reroute is treated before you decide.
Talk to a plumber about this leak
Call about a slab leak · (657) 347-3584Your call is transferred to a plumbing office that serves Westminster. The transfer can go quiet for a moment, so don't hang up until a person answers.