Snellville homes are on Gwinnett County water, and everything on the customer's side of the meter, including lines under the slab, is the owner's to maintain and repair. Many homes date from the 1970s through 1990s. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Snellville.
Snellville is an established southern Gwinnett suburb on US 78. Census survey figures via Point2Homes put the median home at 1991, with about 30% built before 1980. Copper under slabs in those older homes can be forty to fifty years old. Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources supplies water and sewer; Gwinnett maintains the main and the meter, and the owner handles everything past it.
Steps to take
- Turn off all water, inside and out.
- Read the meter twice, fifteen minutes apart, without using any water.
- Check toilets with a few drops of food coloring.
- Feel the floors in kitchens, baths and hallways for warmth.
- Shut the main if water appears.
- Call for a pressure test to confirm the leaking side.
What the symptoms point to
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Warm stripe across the floor | Hot line leaking along its buried route |
| Meter moving, no wet spots | Cold line leak under the slab or in the yard |
| Musty smell in a closet | Slow leak soaking a wall base |
| Bills climbing for several months | A leak that is growing |
| Low pressure throughout | Flow lost to a leak, or a pressure regulator problem |
Cost factors
- Locating time, longer under tile or when lines run close together
- Spot repair or a reroute through walls or attic
- Flooring removal and replacement
- Repairs to water-damaged areas
- City permit and city inspection
Snellville issues its own building permits and does its own inspections. Plumbing subcontractors file subcontractor affidavits, and the city has a local plumbing code amendment covering water efficiency.
Older copper and repair choices
In the Snellville homes built before 1980, original copper under the slab has had decades to wear where it touches gravel or concrete. When one section leaks, a plumber may recommend testing the rest of the buried supply before deciding. If it tests sound, one repair through the floor is reasonable. If not, a reroute through walls or the attic retires the old pipe and avoids a repeat. In newer homes, a single joint failure is the usual story and a direct repair often settles it. Because the city does its own inspections, ask the plumber to schedule the inspection promptly after the work.
Slab Leak Repair questions in Snellville
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?
Is a permit needed for slab leak work here?
What should I do first if I suspect a slab leak?
More plumbing services in Snellville
Slab Leak Repair nearby
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