22 Apr Slab Leak Detection
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The Importance of Early Slab Leak Detection
As a homeowner or a business owner, you may not know the dangers of a slab leak. However, the reality is that slab leaks can lead to significant destruction and expensive leak repair if you do not identify and rectify them early enough. Knowing the importance of early slab leak detection, water leak detection, plumbing repair, and preventative leak detection through plumbing inspections can save you thousands of dollars in potential repairs and help limit damage to your home.
What is a Slab Leak?
A slab leak is a plumbing system leak that occurs under a structure’s concrete slab foundation. It occurs in residential, commercial, and industrial properties and may result from age, moving earth, poor construction, or pipes’ erosion.
What Does a Slab Leak Look Like?
Slab leaks are irritating and costly in leak repair and structural damage repair if they are not detected and fixed as early as possible. If the leak persists too long, it can destroy the foundation, electrical systems, and the general structural integrity of the building. This can lead to cracks in the foundation, mold growth, and even potential electrical fires. Further, a slab leak can also result in water damage to walls, floors, and furniture, adding additional costs in damages and repairs. An unchecked slab leak can lead to much higher water usage and a large spike in your water bills.
How to Find a Slab Leak
Early slab leak detection is crucial in preventing too much damage. Here are a few ways to detect a slab leak in your home or business.
- Look out for the signs of a leak in your home, such as the sound of running water despite all faucets being off, cracks in walls and the foundation, or an unexpected spike in your bill.
- Use a water meter to check for abnormal water consumption.
- Conduct a pressure test to detect any differences in water pressure of the hot or cold water lines.
- Perform regular plumbing inspections with a plumber as preventative maintenance. Additionally, ask for a checklist for small inspections and areas to pay attention to between inspections.
How Common are Slab Leaks?
Leaks are a major issue for homeowners and commercial property owners. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, over 10% of all insurance claims are water-related, with leaks making a significant contribution. This is because most buildings, particularly in Tyler, Longview, and Whitehouse areas, are built on concrete slabs, making them more prone to leaks.
How Do You Identify Leaks?
One fairly common leak identifier is the sound of running water, even when all the fixtures and the appliances are off. This is a sign that there is a problem with your water pipes. Other signs could also be cracks in the foundation or walls, a quick increase in your water bill, or hot spots on your floor. Call a Longview, Whitehouse, or Tyler plumber for a thorough plumbing inspection if you notice any signs.
How to Fix a Slab Leak?
Before fixing a slab leak, you will need to identify the source of the leak and assess the damage done by it so far. With slab leaks, speed is everything. The quicker you find the source, the better your chance of preventing or limiting damage. Once you find the leak, here are the steps involved in fixing a slab leak:
- Track down the source of the leak. A professional plumber can precisely locate the leak spot using specialized tools, including electronic amplifiers and slab leak detection equipment.
- Prepare the area. Before starting any repairs, the plumber must chop into the concrete slab to reach the damaged pipe. This can include but is not limited to, removing flooring, drilling through the concrete, or making a small cutout for leak repair.
- Slab leak detection and leak repair. A plumber will follow up with relevant tools and materials to repair or replace the damaged pipe. This could include welding, capping, or replacing the entire pipe.
- Clean up the area. The extent of the damage determines how big of a cleanup is necessary. It may include tasks like filling and leveling the concrete, re-flooring or drywalling, and general debris cleanup.
Can Water Leak Through Concrete?
Water can penetrate through small openings in concrete slabs. This can cause foundation cracks, shifting, cracks in baseboards and walls, and severe water damage to the foundation, flooring, walls, furniture, and appliances. For this reason, it is important to deal with a slab leak as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your property.
Slab Leak Damage
Damage from slab leaks can range from a slightly higher water bill to more serious hazards like electrical fires and foundation cracks. Here are some common ways that slab leaks damage your home or business
- Potential Electrical Fires: Water and electricity are a poor pairing, and a slab leak can pose many electrical risks when it comes into contact with the wiring or appliances. This is a safety risk and may lead to expensive repairs.
- Mold Growth: Mold can thrive in moisture caused by a leak. It is a risk to your property and also a health hazard to you, your family, or workers.
- Foundation Cracks and Shifting: Water can erode the foundation of your home or business through cracks and shifting. This can damage structural integrity and prompt costly repairs.
- Damage to Flooring, Walls, and Furniture: Water damage to your flooring, walls, and furniture may cause expensive replacements and repairs.
How to Prevent Slab Leaks
Although it is nearly impossible to eliminate slab leaks completely, there are certain precautions you can take to lower the risk.
Conduct Regular Plumbing Inspections
A professional plumber should perform whole-home plumbing inspections annually to identify potential problems before they become major.
Get Free Plumbing Inspections
The Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Club Membership Program is a great tool for homeowners to use as preventative maintenance, and it helps save money over time. The maintenance program provides these annual services:
- Professional safety inspection
- Leak Check
- Water Heater Tune-up
- Water test
- Service discounts for any repairs or fixture replacements
Starting at $12.95 per month, the plumbing membership offers an affordable option to create peace of mind around your plumbing.
How to Avoid Slab Leaks with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Tyler
Tyler, Longview, and Whitehouse area homeowners and business owners may run into leaks, which can be common and expensive problems. Early detection prevents severe damage and costly repairs. If you notice any signs of a slab leak, contact a reputable plumbing company for quick and quality leak detection services.
A slab leak does not have to be a huge problem. With proper preventative and ongoing maintenance, slab leaks can be an easy-to-tackle obstacle and potentially avoidable under the best circumstances. Don’t stress; set up proactive prevention and know what to look for. Enroll in the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Club Membership Program for free inspections, VIP service calls, discounts on repairs and replacements, and peace of mind.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Tyler serves the East Texas cities of Kilgore, Longview, Tyler, and Whitehouse with a team of certified plumbers. In addition to emergency plumbing repair, some of the plumbing services provided by the company include faucet repair, drain services, toilet repair, plumbing fixture installations, tub and shower installations, kitchen sink repair, faucet installation, water heater repair/replacement, and garbage disposal replacement. Call us today at (903) 730-6611 to schedule an appointment!