Dealing with a slab leak early is your best defense against major damage and expense. The symptoms of a slab leak can be both subtle and dramatic. Here’s a shortlist of the most common signs you have a slab leak:If you discover that your water bill is higher than normal and you have no obvious reasons for the increase, you may have a slab leak. If your heating bill for the same period is also higher, then there is a better chance that you have a slab leak. Your furnace needs to work harder to warm the water entering the home through the leak.If you are the first one up or the last to go to bed, and you hear water running when everything should be shut off, you may have a slab leak. Listen carefully and track down the source of the noise.You may have a slab leak if you discover water on the floor or unexplained damp spots. The leak will find its way to your floor through the subflooring. These leaks usually appear close to the plumbing, such as in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room.If you notice a sudden decrease in water pressure, you may leak in your main water line (located in the slab or beneath the foundation}. Even a small leak will have an impact on pressure.Keep in mind where the leaking pipe is located. To get to it, you must identify its exact location and go through the flooring, subfloor, and concrete slab. This is not a DIY project; you want to get it done right the first time. When you notice a symptom, call a professional plumber to inspect the entire first floor — not just where you suspect the leak is. It may turn out you leak, but it’s not under the concrete slab. That would be great news.The plumber can explain your options if you have a slab leak and offer a recommendation. You may be able to take advantage of a technique called relining to fix the pipe without having to trench the entire line. Typically, however, re-piping is required, which involves the invasive cutting to create access to the leaking pipe,