Hidden Leak in Sherman? How Plumbers Find and Fix It.

Most hidden leaks give themselves away in one of a few ways: a water bill that jumps without a reason, the meter dial moving with every tap off, a damp or stained spot on drywall or ceiling, the sound of running water at night, or a warm patch on a slab floor over a hot-water line.

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Try the meter test first. Turn off every fixture and appliance that uses water, then watch the meter for 15 minutes. If the leak indicator or the dial moves, water is going somewhere.

Finding the leak is often the bigger part of the job than fixing it. National cost data from HomeGuide puts a slab leak inspection at $300 to $750, digging and replacing pipe under a slab at $700 to $5,000, and lining the pipe instead at $500 to $3,500.

National typical price: $300–$5,000

National typical ranges (HomeGuide): $300–$750 to inspect for a slab leak; $700–$5,000 to dig and replace pipe under a slab; $500–$3,500 for pipe lining. Simple exposed-pipe repairs cost less.

How a plumber usually handles leak detection & pipe repair

A plumber will usually isolate the system first: shutting off the water heater supply to see whether the leak is on the hot or cold side, and pressure-testing sections of the line to narrow it down.

From there, they use listening equipment, thermal cameras and moisture meters to pinpoint the spot before opening anything. On a slab home, the choice is usually between breaking the slab at the leak, tunneling, or rerouting the line through the attic or walls. Ask which approach they recommend and why.

On exposed pipe under a sink, in a wall or in a crawlspace, the repair is usually a section replacement or a new fitting. If the home still has galvanized steel supply lines, ask whether it's time to plan a repipe rather than chasing one leak after another.

Leaks, older pipe and who to call for the street side

Sherman's median home was built around 1980 and Denison's around 1967, according to Census Bureau estimates (ACS 2024 5-year). Homes from the 1950s through the 1970s were often plumbed with galvanized steel or copper supply lines, which can corrode and pinhole with age.

Not every leak is yours. A leak at the meter or on the street side of it is usually the city's to fix. In Denison, the city's water distribution office takes leak reports at 903-465-2720, extension 2046 during business hours, and extension 5105 after hours. In Sherman, contact the city's water utility. If the leak is on your side of the meter, that's when a plumber comes in.

Repairs that replace or alter regulated plumbing need a permit in Sherman, and city plumbing permits are $75 plus $30 for each additional inspection. Ask the plumbing company whether your repair needs one.

Sources for this page

Sources: HomeGuide slab leak costs · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year, via Census Reporter · City of Denison water treatment · City of Sherman Code Art. 3.01 · City of Sherman fee schedule (Appendix C)

What moves the price

Where the problem is (a trap under a sink vs. a line under a slab or in the yard)
Whether a camera, hydro-jetting or leak-locating equipment is needed
Pipe material and age (older cast-iron, galvanized or clay vs. PVC, PEX or copper)
Permit and inspection fees where the city requires them
After-hours or weekend calls, which plumbing companies often price higher
Repairing walls, floors or landscaping after the plumbing is fixed

See our Sherman pricing breakdown for more detail.

How the referral works

Call or send the form.
Tell us what the plumbing is doing and where you are in Sherman, Denison or the rest of Grayson County. Calls go to voicemail, so leave your name, number and the problem.
We pass your request on.
We send your details to an independent local plumbing company that serves your area. If we can't place your request, we'll tell you, so you can call someone else.
The plumbing company gives you its price.
The company contacts you, looks at the job and gives you its own price. You decide whether to hire it. Sherman Plumbing Guys doesn't charge you anything.

Why homeowners use Sherman Plumbing Guys

One call or one form instead of working down a list of numbers.
It's free to you. Sherman Plumbing Guys doesn't charge homeowners for a referral.
You deal directly with the plumbing company, and its price, work and warranty are between you and that company.
Plain local information on Sherman and Denison permits, water supply and older-home plumbing, with sources.
No pressure. You decide whether to hire anyone.

What to know before anyone starts work

Sherman Plumbing Guys doesn't perform plumbing work and doesn't hold a plumbing licence. The company that does the work is responsible for its own licence, insurance, permits, price and workmanship.

Before anyone works on your plumbing, ask for the Responsible Master Plumber's licence number and look it up with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

We use your details only to handle your request, and we don't sell them.

Questions we get a lot

How do I know if I have a slab leak?

Common signs are a warm spot on the floor, a jump in the water bill, the meter moving with everything off, or cracks and damp spots in flooring. A plumber can confirm it with pressure testing and leak-location equipment.

What does leak detection cost?

National typical ranges from HomeGuide: $300–$750 to inspect for a slab leak, and $700–$5,000 to dig and replace the pipe. The company you're referred to will quote your home.

Who fixes a leak at the water meter?

Usually the city, if it's at the meter or on the street side. Denison takes leak reports at 903-465-2720 ext. 2046 (business hours) or ext. 5105 (after hours).

Leak, clog or no hot water?

Call or send the form. We'll pass your request to an independent local plumbing company, and that company gives you its own price.