What to Do If You Experience a Slab Leak

November 10, 2024

Among the most frightening issues that a homeowner can deal with will surely be a slab leak. Slab leak refers to a water leak that happens under a household’s concrete foundation. If left unattended, such leaks could significantly damage your property, usually involving high-cost repairs and mold infestation. If you suspect you have a slab leak, act fast to limit the damage and prevent a pricey repair job. This blog will tell you what a slab leak is, how to identify it, and the actions you should take if you find yourself dealing with one.

What is a Slab Leak?

A slab leak is when the water pipes beneath your home’s concrete foundation break, crack, or leak. Usually, copper or galvanized steel pipes gradually deteriorate due to corrosion, overlying water pressure, improper installation, and even soil shifting beneath your home.

Slab leaks usually happen in bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms, but they can originate anywhere water pipes are under the slab. These leaks typically go unnoticed for an extended period before their detection since they are hardly noticeable at first glance; thus, homeowners usually discover them when a lot of damage has already been done.

Common Causes of Slab Leaks

Knowing the reasons for slab leaks will enable the homeowner to prevent or mitigate the issue more effectively. The most common causes of slab leaks include:

• Corrosion: The pipes in your home corrode with time due to chemical reactions between the water and other substances. Hard water accelerates corrosion since it contains a high mineral content, making the pipes weak and leak-prone.
• Shifting Foundations: The soil under your home may shift with changes in moisture or movement or settling. All these factors impose pressure on the pipes and cause them to crack or break.
• Over-Tightened Water Pressure: The high water pressure of your plumbing system may break and crack the pipes.
• Poor Installation: Pipes installed inadequately may (after some time) become prone to leakage. Poor installation causes pipes to rub against the concrete; thus, this can cause leakage because of wear and tear.
• Physical Damage: Leakages may result from damages caused by drilling or other activities that disturb the slab, such as breakage of pipes or leaking.

How Do You Detect Slab Leaks?

Slab leaks may become the most challenging and elusive to detect, especially when they leak deep under the foundation. However, there are a few telltale signs that would alert you to the possible problem:

• Your water bills rise suddenly: If you note a sudden increase in your water bills without any explanation, slab leaks may be responsible for this. Water leakage is outside the system, and your utility company will charge you for the extra water used.
• Hot Spots on the Floor: If your leak is due to a hot water pipe, you’ll feel warm spots or patches on your floor, mainly if the leak is located near the bathroom or kitchen.
• Cracks in the Floor or Walls: Slab leaks make the foundation shift or settle unevenly, causing cracks in the walls, floors, or ceilings. They may appear as linear cracks along your floor or across your house.
• Mold or Mildew: With moisture coming from a slab leak, mold is frequently found on the walls or floors, or it will produce a musty smell in your home. If you experience any sudden surge in mold or mildew, then hidden leaks under the slab could be the culprit.
• Unexplained Puddles: Any puddle or standing water on your floor may indicate a slab leak. If these puddles remain without an apparent source (such as not being cleaned up afterwards), it is probably a slab leak.
• Low Water Pressure: Another symptom to watch for with a slab leak is low pressure throughout your home since water leaks from the pipes beneath your foundation before reaching your faucets.

What to Do If You Suspect a Slab Leak

If you suspect you have a slab leak, it is essential to act fast so less damage can occur and possibly a more significant cost of repairs. Here’s what you have to do if you have a slab leak:

1. Confirm the Leak

Although the signs above could be symptoms of a slab leak, it may also be a leak elsewhere in your plumbing. It would help if you contacted a professional plumber to confirm that you have a slab leak. To locate the leak, a plumber will use specific equipment such as electronic leak detection tools, pressure testing and thermal imaging.

2. Turn Off Your Water Supply

A slab leak must be treated immediately. Ensure you cut off your house’s primary water supply to reduce secondary water damage. This will help avoid flooding, reduce susceptibility to mould growth, and cut off further structural damage by water.

3. Call a Licensed Plumber

Slab leaks are primarily technical procedures. You shall hire an experienced licensed plumber in your area who has previously handled slab leaks. They will come, analyze the situation, and advise you on what could be done best. Sometimes, they must dig into or drill through the slab to access pipes under your foundation.

4. Investigate Leak Detection Technology

Modern slab leak detection technology has advanced to improve the speed and accuracy of detecting slab leaks. Plumbing professionals may use techniques such as sound detection, infrared thermography, or pressure testing that can help pinpoint where the leak is so your flooring and slab are not overly damaged.

5. Options for Repairs

Once the leak is located, there are a few options for repairing the leak. The plumber may recommend that the pipe’s cracked area be repaired or that the pipes be rerouted through the walls or attic if they cannot be dug up from the slab. In extreme cases, the entire pipe may need to be replaced.

6. Water Damage Restoration

Once the slab leak is fixed, inspect the house for water damage. Depending on how much water penetrates the house or where moisture has collected inside your home, you might need to hire a water damage restoration company to dry and clean the house to prevent mold and other structural damage.

7. Prevent Future Slab Leaks

Some preventive measures will likely prevent slab leaks from happening in the future. Regular plumbing system maintenance through water pressure checks, proper installation, and signs of corrosion can extend the life of your pipes while keeping your home safe.

Slab leaks might be critical and can cause enormous damage to your home, so ensure you detect them and address them in time. Knowing the signs of a slab leak might reduce the damage and the repair costs. Always seek help from a professional plumber for diagnosis and repairs, and get preventive measures to prevent future leaks. This will save you time, money, and energy in the long run.

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