Pipes Under Your Slab Failing? There's a Fix for That.
Underslab plumbing replacement and pipe rerouting for homes and businesses across Metro East Illinois, one of the most specialized plumbing services we offer.
- Repair-first approach, we fix it when we can
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Repair-first approach, we fix it when we can
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Repair-first approach, we fix it when we can
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Repair-first approach, we fix it when we can
- Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
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From Emergency Repairs to Full Installations
Whether it’s a leaking pipe, a failing water heater, or plumbing for a brand-new build, our licensed team handles projects of every size across the metro east region.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups, no hot water, when it can’t wait, we answer. Day or night, Priority Plumbing shows up fast and fixes it right the first time.
Drains &
Sewer
Slow drains, clogs, and sewer line problems don’t fix themselves. From drain cleaning to full sewer replacement, we diagnose the root cause and get it flowing again.
Commercial Plumbing
Businesses can’t afford plumbing downtime. We handle everything from backflow testing and maintenance contracts to restaurant drain service and new construction rough-ins.
Water
Quality
If your water smells, tastes off, or leaves buildup on everything — there’s a fix. We install whole-home filtration, water softeners, HALO systems, and treat well water at the source.
Water
Heaters
No hot water is never convenient. We repair, replace, and install both tank and tankless water heaters — usually same day, and always with upfront pricing.
Pumps
Sump pumps, well pumps, ejector pumps — we install, repair, and replace all of them. Don’t wait for a pump failure to become a flooded basement or a dry tap.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups, no hot water, when it can’t wait, we answer. Day or night, Priority Plumbing shows up fast and fixes it right the first time.
Drains &
Sewer
Slow drains, clogs, and sewer line problems don’t fix themselves. From drain cleaning to full sewer replacement, we diagnose the root cause and get it flowing again.
Commercial Plumbing
Businesses can’t afford plumbing downtime. We handle everything from backflow testing and maintenance contracts to restaurant drain service and new construction rough-ins.
Water
Quality
If your water smells, tastes off, or leaves buildup on everything — there’s a fix. We install whole-home filtration, water softeners, HALO systems, and treat well water at the source.
Water
Heaters
No hot water is never convenient. We repair, replace, and install both tank and tankless water heaters — usually same day, and always with upfront pricing.
Pumps
Sump pumps, well pumps, ejector pumps — we install, repair, and replace all of them. Don’t wait for a pump failure to become a flooded basement or a dry tap.
When the Problem Is Under the Concrete
Most plumbing failures are accessible, under a sink, behind a wall, in the yard. Underslab plumbing failures are different. When a drain line or sewer pipe runs beneath a concrete slab and begins to fail, the pipe is buried under several inches of concrete and compacted soil. The leak or failure may go undetected for months before symptoms appear at the surface, by which point the damage to the concrete, the soil structure beneath it, and sometimes the foundation itself has already accumulated.
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Underslab plumbing replacement and rerouting is one of the most specialized services we offer, and one of Kyle Gruner’s top-performing services for Priority Plumbing. We’ve built specific expertise in this work because it requires careful diagnosis before access, a clear plan for how to reach and repair the pipe, and the skill to do it without causing more disruption than necessary. We handle underslab plumbing replacement for residential and commercial customers throughout Metro East Illinois.
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Priority Plumbing Services is licensed, bonded, and insured in Illinois (License No. 055-045366). Underslab work is significant, average projects run $6,500 to $13,000 depending on scope, access method, and pipe length involved. Every job starts with accurate diagnosis and a written estimate. Financing is available through Wisetack. Every project is backed by our 1-year warranty and 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Signs You May Have an Underslab Plumbing Problem
- Warm or Hot Spot on Your Concrete Floor or Tile
A section of concrete floor or tile that’s noticeably warmer than the surrounding area, especially near a bathroom, utility room, or kitchen, is one of the clearest signs of a hot water line failure beneath the slab. The heated water from a leaking pipe transfers thermal energy upward through the concrete, creating a warm patch on the surface directly above the leak.Â
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Urgency: Call today — a slab hot water leak runs continuously, damaging the concrete and soil structure beneath and driving up your water bill simultaneously.
- Sewage Smell Rising From a Floor Drain or Basement Floor
A persistent sewage odor coming from a floor drain, a bathroom floor, or through a crack in the concrete slab can indicate a failing sewer line beneath the slab, cracked, separated at a joint, or deteriorated enough that sewage is escaping into the soil and the odor is rising through the concrete. This is both a plumbing emergency and a health concern.Â
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Urgency: Call today — sewage gas escaping through a slab failure is a health hazard that requires prompt attention.
- Cracks in the Slab or Foundation That Are Getting Worse
A water or sewer line leaking beneath a slab erodes and softens the compacted soil that supports the concrete. As soil washes away or becomes saturated, voids form beneath the slab. Those voids cause the concrete to settle unevenly, which shows up as new cracks, widening existing cracks, or sections of floor that have dropped or shifted relative to adjacent sections.Â
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Urgency: Call today — foundation movement tied to a plumbing leak is a structural concern that worsens with time.
- Water Bill Spiked With No Visible Leak
An underslab water line leak runs continuously into the soil beneath the slab, water doesn’t surface visibly until the soil is saturated or the leak point is near an edge of the slab. A significant unexplained increase in your water bill with no visible leak inside the home warrants an investigation that includes ruling out an underslab leak.Â
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Urgency: Call soon — an underslab water line leak running continuously is expensive in water cost and soil damage before it becomes visible.
- Water or Moisture Appearing Under Flooring or Carpet
Moisture bubbling up under vinyl flooring, wet spots under carpet, or tile that’s lifting without a surface water source can indicate a slab leak from below, water wicking up through the concrete or through a crack to the floor surface above. A localized wet area that has no overhead source and no surface water entry point points downward.Â
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Urgency: Call soon — prolonged slab moisture under finished flooring causes mold growth and subfloor damage quickly.
Types of Underslab Plumbing Service We Handle
- Underslab Tunneling & Pipe Replacement
Hand-excavated tunnels beneath the slab allow access to the failing pipe without breaking up the concrete surface, the tunnel is dug from the exterior or from inside the structure below the slab level, the pipe is repaired or replaced, and the tunnel is backfilled and compacted after completion. Tunneling is typically preferred when the failed pipe is a sewer or drain line that can’t be rerouted above grade.
- Pipe Rerouting Above the Slab
In many cases, the most practical approach to an underslab pipe failure is rerouting the line above the slab, running the replacement pipe through walls, ceilings, or enclosed chases rather than accessing it beneath the concrete. Rerouting avoids slab access entirely, is typically faster than tunneling, and works well for supply lines and drain lines that can be practically rerouted within the existing structure.
- Underslab Sewer Line Replacement
Replacement of failing cast iron, clay, or deteriorated PVC sewer lines running beneath a concrete slab, the most common underslab plumbing failure in Metro East Illinois homes built before 1980. We assess tunneling vs rerouting based on the specific line location, pipe condition, and access conditions at your property.
- Commercial Underslab Plumbing
Commercial facilities such as restaurants, retail spaces, and office buildings, often have extensive drain and supply line networks running beneath concrete slabs. Underslab plumbing failures in a commercial setting can shut down operations and cause significant damage to finished interiors. We handle commercial underslab plumbing replacement throughout Metro East Illinois with the same diagnosis-first, written-estimate approach as residential.
Benefits of Professional Underslab Plumbing Service
- Accurate Diagnosis Before Any Concrete Is Touched
Underslab plumbing work is not a job that benefits from guessing. We diagnose the leak location and pipe condition accurately, through pressure testing, thermal assessment, and camera inspection where accessible, before recommending access method or repair scope. The access strategy is determined by where the failure actually is, not where we think it might be. Getting this right before breaking concrete or digging a tunnel is how we keep your project cost predictable.
- Tunneling vs Rerouting, The Right Choice for Your Situation
Both tunneling and rerouting are legitimate repair approaches, and the right one depends on the specific pipe, its location beneath the slab, what it connects to, and what’s structurally practical within your building. We assess both options for every underslab job and give you a written estimate for each when both are viable. No default recommendation, the right method for your situation is the one we recommend.
- Protect the Integrity of Your Slab and Foundation
An underslab leak left unaddressed doesn’t just get worse, it actively undermines your foundation. Water eroding soil beneath a concrete slab creates voids that cause uneven settling, cracking, and in severe cases, structural compromise of the slab itself. Addressing an underslab plumbing failure promptly is foundation protection, not just a plumbing repair.
- One of Kyle's Specialty Services, Built-In Expertise
Underslab plumbing replacement is one of the highest-ROI services Kyle Gruner identified when building Priority Plumbing Services, and one where he’s developed specific expertise. We’ve handled underslab jobs throughout Metro East Illinois across a range of home ages, slab conditions, and pipe configurations. The experience matters on this type of job in ways it doesn’t on a standard fixture repair.
- Financing Available for a Significant Repair
Underslab plumbing replacement is a major home repair, average projects run $6,500 to $13,000 depending on scope, method, and pipe length. This isn’t a planned expense for most homeowners. We offer financing through Wisetack with quick pre-qualification and multiple tiers for all credit levels so the repair is manageable without delaying work that’s affecting your foundation.Â
Your Problem, Solved in 4 Simple Steps
We make the process simple so you can get back to what matters.
Call, Text, or
Book Online
Reach out however works best for you. Prefer not to talk on the phone? Book through our online scheduler anytime.
Get a Quote or Get Scheduled
Need a price first? We'll give you one. Ready to go? We'll get you on the schedule — same day when possible. You'll get a text or email confirmation.
We Show Up and Do the Work
Our licensed team arrives on time, explains what we're doing, and treats your home like our own. No surprises.
Transparent Billing, Warranty in HandÂ
You get a clear invoice and a 1-year warranty on our work. If anything isn't right, we come back and fix it.
WE'LL BE IN TOUCH
Hear It From Your Neighbors
The five star standard we hold ourselves to
- Susan Donaldson
- Tim Darling
- Connor Stich
- Lena Faitz
- Jennifer Diesen
- r williams
Proudly Serving Five Counties Across Southern Illinois
From our home base in Pocahontas, we serve homes and businesses across Madison, Bond, Clinton, Montgomery, and Macoupin Counties. One local team that shows up fast and gets it done right. If you’re in the Metro East or surrounding areas, we’ve got you covered!
Underslab Plumbing Questions
How do I know if I have an underslab plumbing problem?
The most common signs are a warm or hot spot on the floor above a hot water line, sewage smell from a floor drain or through the slab, unexplained moisture under flooring, a water bill that’s spiked with no visible leak, or foundation cracks that are progressing. Any combination of these warrants a call. We assess the situation and confirm whether the problem is underslab before recommending any work.
Is tunneling or rerouting better for underslab pipe repair?
It depends on the pipe. Sewer and drain lines beneath the slab are often better addressed by tunneling, because their slope and connection points make rerouting above grade impractical without significant structural modification. Supply lines are frequently rerouted above grade because their smaller size and flexibility make routing through walls and ceilings straightforward. We assess both options for every job and recommend based on your specific pipe and structure.
Will you have to break up my entire floor?
Not necessarily, and tunneling specifically avoids breaking up the slab at all. Tunneling accesses the pipe from beneath by digging horizontally under the concrete rather than cutting through it from above. Where slab access cuts are required, we target them as precisely as the leak location allows. We never open more slab than the repair requires.
How long does underslab plumbing replacement take?
Project duration depends on scope, the length of pipe involved, the access method, and what the diagnosis reveals once access begins. Most residential underslab projects run 2 to 5 days. We provide a clear timeline in the written estimate and keep you updated if conditions during access affect the schedule. You’re not surprised by delays, we communicate as we go.
Does underslab plumbing replacement affect my foundation?
Done correctly, no, it protects it. The underslab leak itself is what’s damaging your foundation by eroding supporting soil. Proper tunneling technique maintains slab support throughout the access process, and proper backfill and compaction after pipe replacement restores soil density beneath the slab. Addressing the leak is what stops the foundation damage, not what causes it.
Is underslab plumbing repair covered by homeowner's insurance?
Coverage varies significantly by policy. Some policies cover sudden accidental pipe failures beneath slabs. Others exclude underground pipe or gradual leaks. We provide thorough documentation such as leak location, pipe condition, access method, and repair performed, that you can submit to your insurer. Check your specific policy for slab leak and underground pipe coverage before assuming it applies.