Slab Leaks: What to Look For

Plumbing services embrace a large number of specific operations, from unclogging stubborn drains to repiping entire sections of the household. Few operations are as serious or delicate as slab leaks, however, which can be devastating our home and requires serious work to correct. In and of themselves, they’re simply leaking pipes, no different than leaks in any other popes in your home. It’s the placement of the pipe that creates the concern: buried beneath the concrete foundation of your house or porch, or sometimes embedded in the concrete itself. You need to know how to spot the signs of a slab leak if you’re to counter it in an effective fashion.

Why is it a Problem?

Slab leaks are particularly problematic issues for two reasons:

  • They’re hard to detect. Because they’re hidden from sight and don’t emit a lot of clear signs, it can be months or even years before they’re spotted. In that time, the water can cause devastating damage to the concrete around it. In the worst cases, they can even crack your foundation, rendering the entire house unlivable.
  • They’re hard to reach. Once the slab leak has been detected, it can take a great deal of expense and effort to get to them. Ideally, the plumber can simply lay down a new length of pipe and circumvent the leaking area, but in some cases, the foundation must be breached to fix the problem.

Speed is of the Essence

The faster one can deal with a slab leak, the easier it is to fix and the less damage it causes. But the plumber can’t arrive until the homeowner calls, and the homeowner won’t call unless they spot the signs of trouble. The good news is that, if you know what to look for, you can detect the presence of a slab leak in your home. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sounds of running water or dripping water. You’ll hear these in places you wouldn’t normally expect to, such as under the floor or your home or porch.
  • Puddles forming around the foundation. Water leaking from the slab leak will sometimes puddle around the edges of the house. You can differentiate them from other puddles in that there likely won’t be an obvious causes.
  • Warm spots or cold spots on the concrete. Hot water pipes or cold water pipes will effect a temperature change in the surrounding material when a leak takes place, and you may be able to detect the difference simply by touching the spot.
  • Sudden spikes in your water bill. You pay for the water leaking out of your pipes, even if you don’t use it. An unexplained rise in your water bills usually merits a plumber’s attention regardless of whether it’s caused by a slab leak or not.
  • Cracks in the foundation. In the worst cases, you’ll see cracks or other signs of damage forming in the concrete itself.

For fast action and quality results with slab leaks in the Atlanta, GA area, call upon Quick Action Plumbers today!

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