A slab leak in La Mesa is a leak in a water line buried in or under a home's concrete floor. Helix Water District supplies La Mesa, and once water passes the meter the plumbing, including any buried line, is the owner's to repair. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in La Mesa.
Clues worth checking
- The meter dial creeps forward with no water being used anywhere
- Hardwood cups or vinyl lifts in one area of the house
- Paint bubbles or stains show at the base of an interior wall
- A room smells musty even though nothing looks wet
- Pressure at the far shower is weaker than it used to be
Before blaming the slab, look at sprinkler valves, outdoor hose bibs and toilets that refill on their own.
La Mesa conditions
La Mesa is one of the older cities in East County, and its median home was built around 1970. That means plenty of houses still run on original-era supply piping. Homes from that period include both slab-on-grade houses and raised-foundation houses with crawl spaces. On a slab, a leaking line soaks the soil and works up through the floor; on a raised foundation, the leak shows in the crawl space and is easier to reach. Knowing which one you have is the first question a plumber will ask.
Helix Water District treats much of its water at its plant in Lakeside, uses chloramines in distribution and reports plant water averaging about 12 grains per gallon of hardness. That hardness explains scaled faucets and tired water heaters, but Helix doesn't link it to pipe failures under floors. The district also states it has no lead pipes or service lines in its distribution system; what's inside your house is a separate question. If water is surfacing at the meter or in the street, call Helix at 619-466-0585.
What affects the bill
- Time spent isolating the leaking line and locating the spot
- Spot repair through the slab versus a reroute through walls or attic
- The type of flooring that has to be opened and matched
- Condition of the rest of the original piping
- Cleanup of wet drywall, cabinets or subfloor
- Permits; La Mesa says a plumbing permit may be needed for any addition or change to an existing system
What happens when you call
You'll reach an independent plumber who serves La Mesa. Mention whether the house is on a slab or has a crawl space, what the meter did with everything off, and where you noticed warmth or dampness. If the leak is large, close the main shutoff and leave it closed.
Slab Leak Repair questions in La Mesa
What if my house sits on a raised foundation instead of a slab?
Does fixing a slab leak here require a permit?
Water is coming up near the meter or the street. Who do I call?
How long can a slab leak wait before it gets fixed?
More plumbing services in La Mesa
Slab Leak Repair nearby
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