slab leak

Water leaks in your home can quickly become a destructive plumbing issue. One devastating water leak that will require immediate attention is a slab leak. If left undetected, a slab leak can cause flooding, mold and mildew and additional, costly damage to your plumbing system.

What’s a Slab Leak?

A slab leak occurs when the drainpipes or water supply pipes that are encased in or run under the concrete slab below your home crack, burst or break. Leaks occur for a number of reasons with some of the most common being pipe corrosion, wear and tear on pipes cause by friction from gravel, concrete and other pipes, poor quality or improperly installed pipes, high water pressure, and setting or shifting of the slab.

Consequences of a Slab Leak

These types of leaks can drastically increase your water bill and lead to serious water damage. Slab leaks can cause water damage to a home or businesses structure and possessions. Slab leaks can also cause mold or mildew throughout the property, not only damage a home’s foundation but cause health issues as well.

Detecting a Slab Leak

The best way to deal with a slab leak is to recognize the signs of leak. Signs include hearing running water when its turned off, a spinning water meter when water isn’t in use inside or outside the home, mildew or noticeable moisture underneath carpeting or other flooring, cracks in the flooring or walls, recent insect problems, the smell of sewage and higher water bills.

Slab leak detection calls for an experienced plumbing expert who will carry out a comprehensive detection process. With the proper equipment and state of the art tools, a licensed plumber will be able to detect and repair slab leaks with a minimal amount of damage to your property.

How to Fix a Slab Leak

Fixing a slab leak could require foundation repair, but maybe not. There are several strategies that can be used to fix a slab leak that includes the following.

  • Pipe re-routing: With this repair option, a new pipe is laid out above ground. This approach is an option if only a short length of pipe has to be replaced.
  • Re-Piping: Re-piping is frequently used when multiple leaks are involved. This solution can involve invasive cutting into floors and concrete slab so that the plumber can access the pipe leak and install new piping.
  • Pipe Relining: Pipe relining is a trenchless pipe repair solution requiring entry holes on both ends of the pipe. It’s an alternative to digging a trench to expose the buried pipe. Based on the size of the leak, a new liner can be pressed through a broken sewer pipe, covering breaks, and sealing all the leaks.

Before you decide to have foundation repair performed, have your entire house checked for leaks so that you have a comprehensive plan of attack. Give us a call today to discuss your plumbing concerns.

 

Write a comment:

*

Your email address will not be published.

© 2020 Scottsdale Plumbing - Website Design by Fyresite

STAY CONNECTED WITH US: