Service Brief
Plumbing
Tunneling
When a pipe fails under the slab, the choice is jackhammer your tile or tunnel from outside. S.W.A.T. Plumbing tunnels under the foundation, repairs the pipe in place, and engineers the backfill — your floors stay intact.
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When You Need This
The longer you wait,
the worse it gets.
Plumbing tunneling is the alternative to jackhammering a concrete slab when a pipe fails underneath. A crew digs a small tunnel under the foundation, accessing the failed section from below — the finished floor above stays untouched. S.W.A.T. Plumbing performs tunneling for slab leak repair, under-slab sewer repair, and any situation where preserving finished flooring (tile, hardwood, polished concrete) matters. The tunnel is shored during work and backfilled with engineered material that meets or exceeds the original soil bearing capacity.
Warning Signs
- Slab leak located with electronic detection
- Under-slab sewer failure identified on camera scope
- Premium finished floors above the failure (tile, hardwood, polished concrete)
- Want to avoid jackhammering and concrete restoration
- Foundation type makes interior access impractical
- Multiple pipes need access in the same area
- Cabinet, vanity, or fixture layout makes interior cut impossible
- Insurance covers tunneling access as part of the repair
Mission Operations
How we execute
from call to close.
- 01.
Locate
Pinpoint the Repair Target.
Electronic leak detection or camera scope locates the failure to within a one-foot radius. We mark the position above ground, calculate the entry point from outside the slab, and confirm the tunnel path is clear of obstacles (footings, columns, utilities).
- 02.
Engineer
Path, Shoring, Backfill Plan.
The tunnel is engineered before excavation — depth, length, shoring requirements, and backfill spec are all defined. We coordinate with a foundation engineer if the soil shows pre-existing movement. You see the plan before approval.
- 03.
Tunnel + Repair
Access from Below. Repair In Place.
The crew digs from outside the foundation, shoring the walls and ceiling of the tunnel as they go. At the failure point, the failed pipe section is replaced with code-grade material (copper, PEX, CPVC for supply; PVC or cast iron for drain). Repair is pressure-tested before backfill.
- 04.
Backfill + Inspect
Engineered Fill. Compacted. Final Inspection.
The tunnel is backfilled with engineered material — sand-cement slurry, flowable fill, or compacted select fill — depending on the engineer's spec. The fill meets or exceeds the original soil's bearing capacity. City inspector signs the permit and you receive the full documentation package.
Scope of Service
What’s included
in this service.
Every dispatch is fully equipped. Here’s what we cover under Plumbing Tunneling.
- Under-slab tunneling for slab leak repair
- Tunneling for under-slab sewer line repair
- Tunneling for failed drain or vent line access
- Engineered tunnel design with shoring
- Sand-cement, flowable fill, or compacted backfill
- Coordination with structural and foundation engineers
- Pipe repair with code-grade material (copper, PEX, PVC, cast iron)
- Pressure testing before backfill
- Multi-pipe access tunnels when several failures cluster
- City permit and final inspection coordination
Why S.W.A.T.
Built different.
For this exact problem.
Floors Stay Intact.
- No jackhammering tile, hardwood, or polished concrete
- No interior dust, demolition, or restoration crew needed
- Premium finishes preserved
Engineered Backfill — Not 'Just Dirt'.
- Backfill spec meets or exceeds original soil bearing
- Sand-cement slurry or flowable fill where engineering requires
- Foundation engineer coordination when soil movement is suspected
Permitted, Shored, Documented.
- City permit pulled before excavation
- Tunnel walls and ceiling shored throughout work
- Pressure test logged and inspection signed off
Verified Reviews
Real homes.
Real results.
S.W.A.T. Plumbing has dispatched to thousands of plumbing tunnelingcalls across North Texas. Here's what it actually sounds like.
“My A/C was leaking because of a backup in the main drain pipe. The tech Tyler was beyond communicative, patient, and tenacious to fix this. He stayed until almost 6p troubleshooting and sticking with the plan of action that freed the issue. Great guy and great service. As a bonus, I requested the soonest available service and when there was a cancellation that pulled my appointment forward by one day. One earlier day with A/C in Mya in Texas. Win! I was provided them through my home warranty service. I will definitely request them again. Tyler was the man!”
Marcus Combsa month ago“Daniel was great. He was Friendly, helpful, and informative. He took time to explain everything and walk me through my options. The SWAT team was great at keeping me informed on service time and expectations. Will 100% recommend.”
Achelle Evansa month ago“Over the weekend, I needed to call a plumber when the expansion tank on my water heater began leaking. I was unsure what might happen if the situation worsened, so I contacted my home warranty service to request assistance. I had previously informed them that if I ever needed plumbing services again, I preferred to work exclusively with S.W.A.T. Plumbing. On Monday morning, I received a call from Christi at S.W.A.T. Plumbing. She explained that although the plumber was finishing another job, she could have someone out later that afternoon. She told me that Scott H. would be handling the call and would contact me when he was on his way. About five minutes after our call ended, Christi called back to let me know that I would be Scott's next service stop. I really appreciated that level of communication. Less than forty five minutes later, Scott arrived at my home. Scott was professional from the moment he arrived. After a brief greeting, he immediately went to work. He confirmed my suspicion that the expansion tank was the problem, returned to his truck for tools and a replacement tank, and had the new tank installed within about twenty minutes. The repair was completed quickly, smoothly, and—most importantly—professionally. This was not my first experience with S.W.A.T. Plumbing, and it certainly will not be my last should the need arise again. This team truly knows how to take care of their customers. Thank you for inviting me to participate in this survey. I appreciate the opportunity to share my feedback. If you have any follow up questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me.”
Thomas Tangorre2 months ago
Common Questions
Answered before
you have to ask.
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Last updated: June 2026