Do You Have a Slab Leak?
The best foundation leak repair team in east texas is found at fountain plumbing. We can fix your slab to give you the always important peace of mind!
Fountain Plumbing has handled foundation leaks in Smith County for over 20 years. We know the area and we know the land. Because of that, we know how to fix your foundation to keep slab leaks from destroying your property.
Slab leak signs can be hard to detect, but once you see them, they need to be fixed immediately. Even a minor delay can drive the slab leak repair cost through the roof. Having a professional plumber fix the cause is the only way to minimize the chance of it happening again.
While many plumbing services may be attempted as a DIY project, slab leaks definitely need to be handled by a professional. It requires detection as to the precise point of the leak, as well as industrial tools to fix the slab leak. Then the area will need to be repaired.
Call us immediately at the first sign of a slab leak. We’ll come out ASAP to get it fixed and keep the damage to a minimum!
What is a Slab Leak?
A slab leak is a crack in the pipes that run in the foundation of a home or business. Since these cracks are usually hidden underneath flooring and are inside the foundation, it can be hard to diagnose a slab leak without advanced detection equipment.
While a slab leak can occur because of a number of different, unrelated issues, one of the main causes is improper installation of the pipes. Failure to understand the geography can result in placing pipes too close to each other, or without enough “give” that causes pipes to crack under pressure. A good plumber will work with the general contractor on a new plumbing installation to create a piping plan that mitigates future problems as much as possible.
WWhat are some common signs of a slab leak?
Unfortunately, detecting a water leak inside your foundation can be next to impossible. Oftentimes, a home or business owner won’t even notice that a leak has developed until the signs are obvious and/or major damage has already occurred.
Below are some of the signs that you should keep an eye out for to determine if a slab leak has occurred.
- Higher Water Bills. A sudden and unexplained increase in your utility bills usually means that there’s a leak somewhere. If you can’t find it in the pipes that you have access to, it’s very possible that it has occurred inside your slab.
- Water Spots on Floor. If you start to notice a wet spot, warping, or discoloration on the floor of your home or business, call a plumber immediately. Alternatively, you may even notice mold developing on your carpet. This can occur if the slab leak occurs in lesser-used areas of the home, such as a storage closet.
- Reduced Water Pressure. A leak in one area of your home will most likely mean that water pressure throughout the house is decreased as well. Check multiple outlets if you notice a drop in water pressure. If all of them are lower than normal, you have a leak somewhere in your home that needs to be fixed ASAP.
- Sound of Running Water. Unless you have a decorative water display in your home, you should not hear any sounds of running water in your house. If you hear running water, shut off all the water sources in your home and go to the outdoor water meter. If the meter is moving, that means there’s a leak somewhere. Call a plumber to have it fixed.
- Water Pooling Around the Home. Sudden water that appears inside your home is usually a cause for concern, but you should also check the area around the exterior of your house as well. A water leak in the slab could lead to water moving down and underneath the house, which could cause major damage to your foundation if not checked.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
A water leak (of any kind) occurs when the pipes that are running through your home burst or crack.
It’s usually more difficult to have a water leak form in the slab because those pipes are protected by a layer of concrete. It’s not unheard of though, and slab leaks can form due to one or more of the following issues:
- Improper Installation. A good plumber will take all factors into consideration when installing a piping system for the home. That includes transport of materials (so they aren’t damaged en route), as well as weight of the structure. Since the foundation holds the weight of the entire home or business, the pipes have to be able to hold the weight as well. Improper installation can lead to premature failure.
- Damage to Pipes. Sometimes, the pipes themselves can become so corroded over time that they simply fall apart. A plumbing system can also be damaged when the pipes are laid against rocks or jagged concrete edges that can rub up against the pipes. Over time, tiny holes could form and the pipes could burst.
- Shifting Soil. The soil in East Texas has a lot of moisture, so it’s not uncommon to see the foundation underneath a home or business shift as well. When that happens, it can bend the pipes and cause them to break, resulting in a slab leak.
How To Tell if You have a Slab Leak
The easiest way to determine if you have a slab leak is to look for the above signs: decreased water pressure, increase in utility bills, or water spots appearing on the floor.
Once you know that a leak exists though, it can be next to impossible to determine where the actual slab leak is without advanced equipment. This can include thermal imaging cameras that are able to look into the foundation, or audio devices that are ultra sensitive and can hear exactly where the water is moving. Plumbers may also perform water pressure tests on the pipes themselves.
In cases where a plumber can’t detect exactly where the slab leak has occurred, they may have to drill into the foundation to locate the leak. These are usually tiny holes that allow equipment to go into the foundation and look for the leak.
It’s important for plumbers to know exactly where the leak has occurred to minimize damage to the structure, but they also have to check for other damage that has occurred as a result of the leak. Water damage, mold, warping — all of these and more are possible when there’s a slab leak.
A slab leak doesn't have to destroy your home or business! Call Fountain Plumbing at 903-566-LEAK today to get your foundation repaired in no time!
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