Nearly half of Chamblee's homes were built before 1980, so copper under those slabs is old enough to leak. DeKalb County Watershed Management maintains the line to the meter, and the owner is responsible from the meter to the house. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Chamblee.
What the call involves
We connect you with an independent plumber who serves Chamblee. They'll ask what the meter does with the water off, where the warm or wet spot is and how old the house is. On site, they'll confirm the leak, figure out whether it's on the hot or cold side, pressure test and then pinpoint it with acoustic or thermal tools. Before cutting anything, they'll explain the repair and reroute options and what each involves.
In split-level homes, common in Chamblee's older neighborhoods, the lower level often sits on a slab while the upper level is framed. That can make a reroute easier, since new pipe can run up through a wall and across the upper floor's framing instead of under concrete. Ask the plumber about that option if your leak is in the lower level.
If a leak has already been repaired once in the past few years, mention it. A second failure in the same buried run often signals the rest is near the end of its life.
Cost factors
- Locating time, especially under tile or in a split-level
- Repair in the slab or a new line above it
- Flooring that needs to come up
- Drying and drywall repair
- A city permit, which Chamblee requires for plumbing alterations
Chamblee background
Chamblee is a multicultural north DeKalb city with an early-1900s railroad downtown, the Buford Highway corridor and Peachtree-DeKalb Airport. Census survey figures via Point2Homes put the median home at 1984, with about 47% built before 1980. Ranches and split-levels from the 1960s and 1970s often have original copper under the slab.
Water comes from DeKalb County Watershed Management, treated at the Scott Candler plant. DeKalb is responsible for the line from the main to the meter, typically in a pit outside the property, and the owner covers the line from the meter to the home's plumbing. DeKalb keeps a service line inventory with a "Check your line" lookup.
The City of Chamblee requires permits to install, alter or replace plumbing systems, with fees paid through its iWorQ portal.
Short checklist
- Do a meter test with all fixtures off
- Locate the main shutoff
- Note the age of the house and any past leak repairs
- Mark warm or damp spots
- Call DeKalb, not a plumber, if the meter pit itself is leaking
Slab Leak Repair questions in Chamblee
Is a permit needed for slab leak work here?
Who is responsible for a leak between the meter and the house?
Does the age of my home change the odds of a slab leak?
Can a cold water line leak under the slab too?
More plumbing services in Chamblee
Slab Leak Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: