All plumbers are exactly the same and are good at all types of plumbing repairs . . . said no one ever. In reality, there’s a dizzying array of choices in plumbing contractors in the Bryan-College Station area, maybe almost too many choices and you might be finding it hard to narrow them down.
But you are interested in plumbers that can work on plumbing leaks under your foundation. Who are the best plumbers that do that kind of work?
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’ve worked on thousands of homes in the local area for the past 40+ years and oftentimes work hand in hand with plumbers during foundation repairs and under-slab tunneling projects.
Sometimes our customers are getting foundation work and then an under-slab plumbing issue is identified. Or you might just suspect that you have an under-slab plumbing issue and are trying to figure out which plumber to call for repairs. Either way, we want to point you in a helpful direction to get the work done right the first time with a plumber well-versed in under-slab work.
In this article, we’ll offer our best recommendations and a bit of advice too about under-slab plumbing projects and plumbers that handle them.
Wait, Can’t All Plumbers Do Under-Slab Plumbing?
Yes, theoretically, all plumbers should be able to do under-slab plumbing work. However, every plumber has specialties, preferences, and things that they are naturally more inclined to do. Some are great for outside work, some are great for fine finishing work, some are the most experienced with remodels or stellar at problem-solving complicated repairs, while others prefer to only install new builder plumbing work.
It takes a special type of person to be comfortable crawling through a tunnel and under a slab to assess and repair a damaged drain line properly, using the right materials to make sure the problem is addressed thoroughly the first time.
Plus, you really don’t want to have to do this stuff more than once so it’s important to choose your plumber wisely. We have seen it not get done right the first time and don’t want that frustration for you.
This is where it can be very helpful to hear from a foundation repair expert. Nearly 40% of the foundation repair jobs we do at Anchor also have an under-slab plumbing issue that needs attention. We also provide tunneling for plumbers to help them access the repair locations even when no foundation work is needed.
What Good Under-Slab Plumbing Looks Like
Though we are not a plumbing company, we know what right looks like with regards to under-slab repairs because we have seen so many of them through our decades in business. We want to help make sure that you feel confident in your contractor choices and their workmanship when making an investment in your home.
When things are done right with under-slab plumbing repairs, this is what we see:
- Avoiding the use of flexible “Fernco” fittings – these fittings are not authorized for under-slab use
- Securing and maintaining the proper pitch of drain lines using “clevis hangers” along the underside of the slab
- Retesting the pressure of the lines with a hydrostatic pressure test after repairs to ensure that all the work has been sealed up properly and there are no further leaks
We know that some of the terminology and technique mentioned in this list sounds like a foreign language called “I Don’t Care, Just Fix It”. Just know that if you use one of the plumbers listed below, we are confident that they will do all this stuff right for you and then you don’t have to understand it at all.
Guide to BCS Under-Slab Plumbing Experts
We have worked with each of these companies on many occasions and are familiar with their quality of work. We have great relationships with them built on mutual respect, trust, and understanding of each other’s needs in the repair environment. We like them and they like us.
They are being listed in no ranked order, just alphabetically. We do not have any sort of referral arrangement with any of these companies so no one has anything to gain from this listing, other than YOU getting great service!
1. Chollett Plumbing, LLC
Year Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Caldwell
Phone Number: 979-324-7834
Insider Insights: Small company that focuses on customer service. Veteran-owned and operated. Owner Jason Chollett and company primarily serve the west side of the Brazos Valley but can handle under-slab repairs throughout our area.
2. CL Plumbing
Year Founded: 2023
Headquarters: Hearne
Phone Number: 979-255-2789
Insider Insights: Plumber Cris Lopez handles plumbing and gas lines and virtually any types of plumbing repairs and installs. Lopez works hard to maintain good contact with customers so that everyone is on the same page. His customers appreciate his professionalism, cleanliness, and punctuality. Serving Brazos, Burleson, and Robertson counties, and anything in between.
3. Cole Parker Plumbing, LLC
Year Founded: 2022
Headquarters: College Station
Phone Number: 979-219-8771
Insider Insights: Two experienced plumbers joined forces in 2022 to create a new company with two divisions: Service & Repairs (headed up by Cole Parker) and New Construction & Remodels (with Carson Vaughn in charge). These local guys with local ties have 25 years of combined experience and love solving plumbing problems while helping people too.
4. Marshall’s Home Plumbing Services LLC
Year Founded: 2022
Headquarters: College Station
Phone Number: 979-229-1497
Insider Insights: One-Man-Show Marshall Allen is a Master Plumber with 17 years in the field. He launched his own company in 2022. Marshall has tons of experience with tunneling and under-slab plumbing, along with all other plumbing issues and installs. He brings in extra guys to help with big jobs and is one of the nicest guys on the planet.
5. Wilson Plumbing Co., Inc.
Year Founded: 1945
Headquarters: College Station
Phone Number: 979-690-4219
Insider Insights: Locally owned and been in the Brazos Valley for over 75 years – that’s impressive. Owner J.B. Alexshonis and his crew know how to do under-slab work right. J.B. worked for the Wilson family business for 12 years before buying the company in 2001.
To Locate or Confirm an Under-Slab Leak
One of the most important factors in determining both the scope and cost of an under-slab leak repair is knowing where the leak is located. If you have not yet determined where you have a problem, or even if you have a problem, there’s an outfit you might want to contact.
Plumbers can also identify the repair points but this service can offer an unbiased evaluation from a company that will not be doing the repair work. Their independent assessment can assure homeowners that a problem indeed needs attention and removes any suspicion of the “guaranteed plumbing problem” coming from a plumber who might be benefitting from potential repair job income.
Not that we think that the plumbers listed here will present biased information, but we acknowledge that it happens in the contracting industry. Homeowners might find the opportunity for a neutral opinion useful.
American Leak Detection of Central Texas
Year Founded: 1998
Headquarters: College Station
Phone Number: 254-213-5410 or 979-200-4774
Insider Insights: The premier company when it comes to location and diagramming leaks under and around your home. Franchised but locally run and serving the Brazos Valley area. Local owner Brian Bailey and his team specialize in leak location services and share the results with the homeowner, local plumber, or tunneling company to complete the repairs.
Under-Slab Leaks Can Be Reached by Tunneling
A lot of people think that the only way to access under-slab plumbing is by jackhammering, but there is another option. Under-slab tunneling keeps the mess and chaos away and allows you to continue using your home as usual. This method keeps all repairs that need to be done underneath and outside the home and the repairs are completed with no holes or debris inside the house. Seems like a huge plus, right?
At Anchor Foundation Repair, under-slab tunneling is one of our primary services and we regularly tunnel under homes. Because we do this quite a bit, our team of professional experts knows the proper techniques to remove and then replace the dirt under your home with future stability in mind at all times.
So even if you don’t need foundation repair, Anchor can help get whatever plumber you choose easy access to do the repairs under your home. Then we will fill the tunnel using a thorough method to retain the stability of your home.
Once you know where the leak is located, we are happy to work and coordinate with the plumber of your choice to get your problem solved. It could be one of the companies above, but it doesn’t have to be. We just highly recommend asking questions of your chosen plumber to make sure they have an understanding of working in the expansive clay soils that we have in this area.
If tunneling sounds like a good option for you, we can give you a bid on that! Contact us here to start that process. But no matter what plumber you decide to use and whether you want tunneling services or not, we wish you the best of luck in getting your under-slab leak problems solved!