National cost guides list a standard slab leak repair between $1,000 and $4,000, averaging close to $2,500, with detection adding about $100 to $400. A simple spot repair comes in lower. Running new lines via the walls or attic can climb to $4,000 to $15,000. None of these are Burbank quotes, and the sections below cover what shifts the number. The page is part of our help on leaks and burst pipes.
How much does it typically cost to fix a water leak?
An easy-to-reach leak, say at a joint or along a short stretch of pipe, tends to run a few hundred dollars. Fixr's guide gives burst pipe repair a typical span of $200 to $1,000, averaging about $500. If the leak sits under concrete or behind a wall, access work and patching afterward push the total up.
Three factors drive the price above all else:
- Where the pipe is. A sink cabinet is cheap, a wall costs more, and concrete costs the most.
- What it is made of. Copper, PEX, galvanized steel and plastic each carry different parts and labor costs.
- How much else is damaged. Soaked drywall, flooring and cabinets can outrun the cost of the pipe repair itself.
Nationally, Fixr reports plumber rates of roughly $45 to $200 hourly, and most jobs land from $75 to $130. Southern California usually sits higher than the national middle. I have no verified Burbank rate list, so use these numbers as a floor when you judge a quote.
Check that the quote covers leak location, the repair, the permit and finish work. A bargain price that skips finish work is no bargain.
What does slab leak repair cost by method?
Fixr breaks typical costs out by method: sealing $100 to $200, broken pipe repair $200 to $2,000, patching the slab $250 to $800, pipe lining $500 to $2,000, breaking the slab for access $500 to $3,000, tunneling under the house $900 to $2,000 and rerouting pipes $4,000 to $15,000.
| Method | Typical range (national guide) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Leak detection | $100 to $400 | Finding the exact spot, before any repair |
| Spot repair through the slab | $500 to $3,000 | Opening the floor at the leak, fixing the pipe |
| Pipe lining | $500 to $2,000 | Coating the inside of the pipe, little demolition |
| Tunneling under the slab | $900 to $2,000 | Digging from outside to reach the pipe |
| New line run through walls or attic | $4,000 to $15,000 | Abandoning the buried line and running new pipe |
Fixr also names related work that may follow, including a water-damaged subfloor at $500 to $1,000 and a replacement concrete slab at $4,000 to $8,000. Bob Vila's guide offers a broader slab leak span, $630 to $4,400.
The ranges overlap since no two jobs match. One pinhole in an otherwise healthy pipe falls at the bottom of its method. A line with several leaks is priced another way, and that is where a reroute or a whole house repipe enters the picture. To weigh the choice, see repairing versus repiping a slab leak.
What is the average cost to fix a gas line leak?
No verified Burbank price for gas line repair is available to us, and we will not invent one. In California, gas piping belongs to a contractor holding the proper license, generally with a permit, and cost follows the line, its length and access. If gas is in the air, get out and phone SoCalGas from outside.
Safety comes before price. When gas is in the air, walk everyone out first, then ring SoCalGas from a spot outside at 1-800-427-2200. Dial 911 should anyone be in danger. Keep away from light switches, phones and flames while still indoors. Do not hunt for the leak or patch it yourself.
Once the gas company has made things safe, a plumber with the right license inspects the line, tests it and quotes the fix. New pipe is only part of the work, because the line must then be pressure tested and inspected. Insist on a written quote that names both the permit and the test.
Pipe and installation costs appear on our gas line pipe prices page, while residential gas piping codes sets out what the rules demand.
How much to fix a burst water main?
A leak in the utility's own main beneath the street is its job to fix, at no direct charge to you. A burst on your service line, running from the meter to the house, is yours to pay for. We hold no verified figure for that, so request a written quote. Length, depth, whatever sits above the pipe and the option of tunneling all shape the price.
First find out where the utility's responsibility stops. Burbank Water and Power can answer at (818) 238-3700 on weekdays or (818) 238-3778 after hours. A break upstream of the meter should be reported to them, and one downstream goes to a plumber.
A buried service line costs more with a longer trench, greater depth, hardscape such as a driveway or patio that must be cut and rebuilt, utility marking (call 811 first), permit fees and restoration. A shallow lawn break is cheapest, and one beneath a driveway or pool deck is the most expensive. Where possible, compare trenching with boring or lining. Our page on underground water leak detection shows how the break gets found.
How much will a plumber charge to fix a leaking pipe?
Pipe you can reach will probably cost a few hundred dollars. Fixr's published guide cites about $400 for a basic flat-rate repair and $200 to $1,000 for a typical burst pipe. Pipe inside a wall or beneath a floor costs extra, as does an after-hours call.
Fixr prices pipe replacement at about $150 to $250 per linear foot, varying with material and access. Materials by themselves span roughly $0.50 to $30 a foot, a very wide spread.
Put these questions to the plumber. Is the price hourly or flat? Is a trip charge included? Are parts covered? What if opening the wall uncovers further damage? When available, a fixed price with a clear scope beats open-ended hourly billing. For how quotes come together, read plumber leak repair cost and the guide on hourly plumber rates.
How much does a plumber charge to fix a burst pipe?
Fixr reports burst pipe repairs usually cost $200 to $1,000, averaging near $500, and hard-to-reach jobs can approach $2,000. Emergency or after-hours visits add a fee. Cleaning up water damage after the break frequently costs more than the pipe.
On water damage, Fixr averages $1,200 to $5,000 for repair following a burst pipe and notes that drying alone needs three days at minimum. The pipe is the inexpensive piece, so shutting off the water quickly is how you hold the total down. The first-hour steps and cleanup costs are in the water damage page for burst pipes.
Need help immediately? Our emergency plumber page for burst pipes lists what to do until help arrives.
How much does it cost to fix a leak in a crawl space or in a wall?
Crawl space leaks are often less costly than slab leaks, since nobody has to break concrete to reach the pipe. A wall leak brings the added expense of cutting and patching drywall. Access decides the price, so have the plumber point out the leak location.
Some Valley homes sit on a slab and others on a raised foundation over a crawl space. Beneath the floor, a section of pipe can often be swapped in place. In a wall, extra costs come from the drywall cut, patch, texture and paint. Fixr's restoration guide prices drywall restoration near $1.50 to $3 per square foot.
Is there a slab leak repair cost calculator?
Not a reliable one. Online calculators take your square footage and return a figure without knowing the pipe, how many leaks there are or how to reach them. Better to have the leak located first and then request written quotes, one per workable method. Compare scope, not the headline price.
Build your own estimate from this list: detection fee, repair method, permit, flooring and drywall repair, drying, and any insurance deductible. Total it up and compare. Also ask if the detection fee counts toward the repair.
Before you sign, look up the contractor in the state license board's online lookup, and keep the written estimate on file.
Questions people ask
How many days does a slab leak fix take?
Fixr offers rough durations. Trenchless repairs may take two hours or so, tunneling four to six, breaking the slab a day or two, and rerouting longest of all. Detection plus any drying or finish work comes on top. Have the schedule written down by whoever does the work.
What do I ask a contractor before agreeing to a slab repair?
Find out which method they favor and the reason, what flooring and wall work the quote covers, whether detection is credited, if a permit applies, and the plan if more leaks surface. Collect the contractor's license number and confirm it on the state's site. Get the scope on paper too.
Must I stay home while the slab leak is fixed?
Attend the first visit so you can approve the method. On jobs lasting several days, set up access and give the plumber a way to reach you. With pets, or if you must be away a day or two, allow for noise, dust and water shutoffs.
Is the cost of slab leak repair covered by insurance?
Partly, at times. Many policies pay for sudden damage to the house but not for fixing the pipe, and some cap tear-out. Fixr notes that homeowners policies usually exclude slab leaks, though terms differ. Read your policy and phone your insurer before work begins. Our slab leak detection page explains what to document.
Prices are one part of the job: plumber burbank covers the rest.
References
Updated