When you notice a slab leak in your home, it’s time to call in slab leak repair experts to fix it. A slab leak refers to a leak in the water lines under your house – particularly under the foundation or concrete slab that your house is built upon.
Such a leak could cause damage to your home by flooding the home with water, destroying your flooring, and causing damage to the sheetrock and paint. It could also lead to an increase in the water bill usage and charges and the utility bill.
Your best solution is to have the leak fixed by a professional slab leak repair company that specializes in water leak detection ASAP. But how do you know if there’s a slab leak in your home, and what causes it?
Common Signs of Slab Leaks
How to determine if your pipes are leaking under the slab foundation? Below are some of the signs you may have a slab leak.
Your Floor Is Hot
If your hot water pipes have leaks, your floor will feel warm. The water has leaked under and into the concrete slab, and now it’s warming the floor. That may also make the water heater run constantly.
You Hear Water Noises
When you hear water noises or water rushing or a humming sound near a fixture, like a bathroom sink, kitchen sink, or water heater. Noises are a telltale sign that you have a slab leak. The noise you hear is most likely water filling the pipes due to loss under the slab.
High Water Bills
Even a few bucks’ difference can indicate something is wrong with your pipes. Pay close attention to your utility bill. If it goes up exponentially one or steadily over a few months and you aren’t doing anything unusual, there is a good possibility that you have a slab leak.
Your Flooring or Carpet is Damp
Wet floors indicate you might have a slab leak. The water leaking out of your pipes has nowhere to go after some time. Once it starts accumulating, it will eventually lead to wet flooring.
Your Water Pressure Is Low
If water leaks out of your pipes, less water is available for indoor plumbing. Pay attention to your water pressure when showering or washing your hands. Unexpected low water pressure could be a sign there’s a leak.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
Water pipes run under the slab or underground. In the bathrooms, kitchen, garage, and other rooms, the pipes come up through the concrete to hook up with the plumbing in your house. When a slab leak occurs, you could have a leak underneath your home’s foundation.
Age of the Pipes
Corrosion and abrasion/stress do not cause issues overnight. It takes time before you’ll begin to see signs of a leak. Older homes are also more likely to get softer copper pipes and are more prone to damage.
Abrasion
Pipes aren’t static underground. With regular use, they contract and expand depending on the temperature of the water. They rub against the rocks or concrete slab when pipes move, touching the water pipes under the slab. Over time, small abrasions could lead to a leak. Also, seasonal changes from winter to summer and from seasonal droughts to rainy seasons can make the pipes move and expand and contract, leading to leaks.
Installation
Suppose your copper piping was bent excessively during installation or hit by a shovel or other equipment employed during the backfill and the concrete slab pouring when your house was originally built during the new construction phase. In that case, this could lead to water slab leaks.
Poor Water Quality
The pH level of the water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. Anything beyond that suggests that your water is either too alkaline or acidic. Both scenarios could lead to corrosion of your pipes.
Action You Should Take Immediately If You Expect a Leak
You have to call a professional slab leak repair expert specializing in leak detection. A slab leak isn’t something just anyone can fix. It takes time, expertise, and proper equipment. It also takes getting the proper diagnosis.
How is a Slab Leak Repair Done?
Our slab leak repair plumbers will take the first step when working on your system to inspect your entire system and utilize slab leak detection equipment to identify where the leak is. They will then determine the best method for repair: making spot repairs to small sections of your plumbing or rerouting your plumbing system.
With larger repair jobs, where rerouting your plumbing is necessary, our slab leak repair experts will discuss the location of the rerouting and the materials used in your new pipe system. In some cases, plumbing can be rerouted into your walls, while in others, it may be moved overhead or outside of your home. These decisions can be difficult, but our expert Torrance plumbers will guide you through the whole process.
How to Look for A Slab Leak Repair Expert
Check Angie’s List
Check Angie’s List. The website has reviews from actual clients and lets you find as much information as possible in a single place. The site offers a variety of information and gives you all professional contact information.
Talk to Friends and Family
Your family and friends are an excellent resource for finding slab leak repair professionals. Most of them have had a plumbing emergency and are more than willing to tell others about their experience. They can provide you with the contact information and names of several slab leak repair experts who are worth contacting and the names of those you should avoid.
Look at Their Website
Once you have found a slab leak repair professional, search their website. Are they Better Business Bureau-certified? What services do they offer? Search for any discounts they may be advertising or if they offer a guarantee for their work. Their website will provide you with an abundance of information; you have to look for it.
Ask for References
When you call to have an appointment, ask if they have any references that you can check out. Most would be more than glad to share them. They know a good word from a previous customer speaks volumes, and many are more than willing to tell about their experience.
Do not leave potential slab leak repairs to just anyone. Get assistance from people who have the training to get the job done right. Do you see the signs of a leak in your home? Contact us at Shelton Plumbing today for a consultation regarding our slab leak repair services.
FAQ
How are slab leaks repaired?
Our slab leak repair plumbers at Shelton Plumbing use three of the four most recommended methods for slab leak repair, including tunneling, pipe re-routing, and, when needed, breaking through the concrete slab from the top.
How long does it take to fix a slab leak?
A slab leak repair could take anywhere from several hours to approximately three days, depending on the method used for the slab leak repairs.