You’re proud of your home. You meticulously keep up with routine maintenance, you replace old appliances when needed, and you get yearly HVAC inspections to ensure your home’s systems are operating at peak performance.
But, what about your slab foundation? The many drainage and water pipes running through your home’s concrete slab aren’t visible. How can you be sure everything is in good condition?
Often, you won’t become aware of these problems until you notice signs of damage, such as dark spots in your carpet, signs of mold, or puddles on the floor.
All these signs indicate the presence of slab leaks.
What Are Slab Leaks?
If your home is built on slab foundation, a significant portion of your home’s plumbing system runs through this slab.
The pipes within your concrete slab will ultimately age or begin to deteriorate due to friction or from the pressure of the consistent running water. This wear and term forms cracks and holes and causes a water leak within the concrete slab.
This leaking in your pipes system beneath the concrete slab is called a slab leak. These leakages may cause extensive, expensive, and catastrophic damage to your home if not addressed quickly.
Signs You Have a Slab Leak
Because the plumbing running through your concrete slab is concealed by concrete, it’s difficult to determine whether or not the pipes are in good condition.
Here are several signs of a slab leak you should look out for:
An Increase in Your Bill
An increase in the water bill should reflect an increase in water usage. But what if your intake has been consistent month-over-month?
If you notice a significant increase in your water bill, inspect all the typical leak-prone locations, such as under sinks or behind your washing machine. If no leaks are present, this is a sign you could have a slab leak.
You Hear Water Running When the Water is Off
Are you hearing the whoosh of running water, even when all faucets are turned off? This is definitely the sign of a leak somewhere in your plumbing system. If you can’t find the source of the water, it might be within your slab foundation.
Mold and Puddles on the Flooring
Not only is mold an annoyance, but it can also cause significant damage to your home’s structure, as well as your health.
If you see signs of mold accumulation, puddles on the flooring, or dark areas below your carpet, call an expert immediately––you might have a slab leak.
A Reduction in Water Pressure
Minimal or even slightly slower-than-usual water pressure is another sign of a slab leak.
This may indicate that water is escaping from another place apart from its normal taps and faucets.
Why Slab Leaks Happen
Slab leaks might not be a typical incident, but they can be disastrous if they happen. There are a few common causes of slab leaks, and many of these are preventable.
Faulty Construction
Poor construction can make your home more prone to slab leaks.
Faulty installation, such as kinks or using dented pipes or using the wrong material can result in a slab leak. Copper pipes put your home at especially high risk due to their predisposition to rust. Copper pipes are even more likely to erode when exposed to acidic or hard water.
Poor Water Quality
Excessively alkaline or exceedingly acidic water can threaten your plumbing.
You can evaluate your water quality and determine its quality by inspecting your bathtubs and sinks. If you see blue and green areas or can smell chlorine in these locations, it implies your water is highly acidic or alkaline.
Pipe Abrasion
The water’s movement throughout your home’s pipes may cause pipes to rub against your house’s concrete slab or other pipes.
This friction causes abrasions to the pipelines’ covering, which can result in holes, cracks, and water leaking into your foundation.
Age and Time
In older homes, copper pipes as well as galvanized steel pipes are not uncommon. Although tough, galvanized steel is vulnerable to corrosion. After some time, these corroded water lines are likely to cause slab leakages.
Call Moore Home Services for Reliable Slab Leak Repair Work
Slab leaks can cause extensive damage to your home if not addressed quickly. If you’ve noticed signs of a slab leak in your home, schedule an appointment with the experts at Moore Home Services today.
Often, you won’t become aware of these problems until you notice signs of damage, such as dark spots in your carpet, signs of mold, or puddles on the floor.
All these signs indicate the presence of slab leaks.
Here are several signs of a slab leak you should look out for:
Faulty installation, such as kinks or using dented pipes or using the wrong material can result in a slab leak. Copper pipes put your home at especially high risk due to their predisposition to rust. Copper pipes are even more likely to erode when exposed to acidic or hard water.
This friction causes abrasions to the pipelines’ covering, which can result in holes, cracks, and water leaking into your foundation.
