Tag: leaks

Curious About Slab Leaks? Here's Everything You Need To Know About Them

What Are Slab Leaks?

Not every home is built on a slab foundation, but because building on a thick, horizontal piece of concrete called a slab is relatively simple and inexpensive, chances are, most of the homes you've ever lived in or owned had to have been built on a slab. This concrete pad, usually six to eight inches thick, is where a home sits on top of it. Right underneath it is a system of copper water pipes that may, by force of nature or over time, corrode, degrade, or break, causing a leak that is known as a slab leak. 

Slab leaks may not be a common occurrence, but when it does rear their ugly head, homeowners must pay attention because slab leaks can cause serious damage to a home and its foundations. To protect from the extensive damage that can result from an undiagnosed slab leak, homeowners will do well to look for the following signs.

 

How To Tell If You're Dealing With a Slab Leak

toiletWhile most of the signs that point to a slab leak may be subtle or can easily be mistaken as signs of a different problem, when taken all together, they help rule out other issues in the home and help homeowners understand that it is indeed a slab leak they are dealing with.

Most slab leaks become apparent when a high water bill no visible leak scenario occurs. High water bills typically point to a leak, but without a visible leak to attribute the bill to, homeowners should suspect a slab leak. Other slab leak signs may include visible water damage to furniture, appliances, and fixtures, especially ones that seem soggy or waterlogged. Warped wood and cracks in the floors, walls, or baseboards indicate a slab leak.

Low water pressure from any fixture, mold, and mildew, and strange pools of water collecting indoors or around the perimeter of the home round up the list of telltale signs that warn of the impending doom of a slab leak.

How Slab Leaks Can Be Dangerous To Your Home

Not only are slab leaks sneaky, but they can also be particularly devastating to the safety of a home. This is because slab leaks wreak havoc on a home's foundation, which may become compromised as water causes the concrete base to weaken, split, crack, and even shift. Anything that damages a home's foundation compromises its integrity, making it unsafe for its occupants. 

Other potential dangers of a slab leak include the health hazards that come with respiratory issues related to inhaling mold spores and the potential risk of electrocution when outlets and other exposed wiring come in contact with water, which can also become a fire hazard.

How Professionals Can Help

leakUnderstanding the dangers of a slab leak should compel homeowners to invest time and resources in maintaining their homes and make sure that competent individuals are tasked to do the job of slab leak detection and repair. Most professional plumbers have the required technical skills, certifications, knowledge, and experience to deal with this kind of problem, and having one handy to call will help homeowners feel safe and secure that if this scenario does occur, they will be able to deal with it swiftly and professionally. 

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air is your one-stop plumbing and HVAC solutions provider dedicated to serving the communities of Spanish Fort, AL. From A/C installation to sewer line repair and replacement, Affordable offers various solutions that prioritize the safety and comfort of every home they service. They take pride in their team of expert technicians who are clean, professional, knowledgeable, and honest, offering service that is not only exceptional but also affordable. Call them today for plumbing services in Fairhope, AL.

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A Concrete Guide to Information on Slab Leaks

Slab Leaks: The Problem and the Various Solutions

Is there a puddle in the yard that has no source? Do people hear water running in certain parts of the house when no water is running? Is the home in an area with a lot of clay in the soil? These questions point to the possibility of one of the most inconvenient and expensive plumbing issues: a slab leak. 

Defining the Slab Leakslab leak

Most houses these days have what is called a slab foundation. This type of foundation is made by digging out the footprint of the house, laying a base of gravel and sand or earth, then pouring concrete into this outline to create the floor and support system of the house. The pipes for the home's plumbing system will have already been laid by this point, and they will be sealed beneath this layer of gravel and concrete.

Thus, a slab leak is when one of these aforementioned pipes breaks via too much water pressure or some form of wear and tear, causing the pipe's catastrophic failure. The water then searches for an exit and flows against the concrete and through the gravel, often ending up in the yard. It can also push through small cracks in the concrete foundation and begin leaking into the house, under cabinets and walls. 

The Hazardous Results of Slab Leaks

When a slab leak occurs, it will always become a serious problem. There is no ignoring a plumbing leak underneath the foundation of a house. The obvious consequence of this sort of leak is the resulting water pooling somewhere on the property, whether in the yard, under the house, or inside the house. But this can cause many other problems as well.

  • Mold
  • Mildew
  • Low water pressure
  • High water Bills
  • Structural water damage
  • Sinking foundation

Professional Slab Leak Detection and Correctionplumber

There are ways for a person with common sense to detect the presence of a slab leak, such as feeling a warm spot on the floor that might mean a hot water pipe breakage, hearing running water when all the taps are off, or seeing water pooling without a known source. Still, these methods are crude at best when compared to the professional's ability and tools to perform slab leak detection.  

Professional plumbing technicians use microphones and other acoustic equipment to find slab leaks precisely and in a non-invasive way. However, repairing the leak proves a much more challenging task and the method used will likely depend on the location and severity of the leak. 

3 Ways to Repair a Foundation Leak:

  • Digging beneath the foundation: Plumbers may dig underneath the home to reach and repipe the leaks. This usually involves a deep trench on one side of the home.
  • Bypass: This repair involves disconnecting the leaky pipe and completely rerouting the pipe either through the attic or beside the foundation. 
  • Jackhammering the floor: This involves breaking up a small foundation area to repair the leak directly under the home.

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air, provides work that is done promptly and at a fair price (no overtime fees!). Call today for any plumbing services in the Fairhope, AL area.

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