Everything Homeowners Should Know About Slab Leaks
Homeowners have a lot to worry about when it comes to problems with the plumbing. Plumbing problems can cause disruptions in daily life until they are sorted out, and they can cause secondary damage that makes them a true headache.
One problem many homeowners are unaware of is slab leaks. Slab leaks tend to remain hidden. They also happen to be rare due to their location in the home. But, dealing with slab leaks is an important task for every homeowner to know how to do. Here are some guidelines from local plumbers to help.
Slab Leaks Defined
Water leaks can occur at any point in a plumbing system. Unfortunately, a large portion of that plumbing is located underneath the home. In most new homes, the living space is anchored to a giant "slab" of concrete that serves as the home's foundation. The problem with slab leaks is that they are hard to access because one must remove the slab to make repairs.
Common signs of slab leaks are:
- Musty odors
- Wet spots on the floor or soggy carpets
- Cool spots under tile floors
- Spikes in the water bill
- Wet spots on the lawn with dense vegetation or no vegetation
Finding slab leaks early is key to minimizing the disruption they can cause. If any of these signs are present, one should call a professional for help.
Problems Caused By Slab Leaks
It may seem like a small leak is no big deal under the house. But, any leak, no matter how small or the location, can have potentially devastating consequences. Like with normal leaks, slab leaks can do a lot of peripheral damage. Just because the leak is under the slab of a home doesn't mean that the water won't leach upwards into the living space. When moisture moves upward into the home, it can cause problems like:
- Warped flooring
- Ruined carpets
- Wall damage
- Mold infection, visible or invisible
- Wood rot to structural members of the home
And the problems aren't just limited to these. Water that pools under the home becomes a haven for insects that feed on wood. Additionally, foundation problems can occur if the leak saturates the soil supporting the home. Quickly dealing with leaks can prevent these problems from getting out of hand.
Professional Slab Leak Service
Most water leaks can be difficult to find. Water tends to travel along with piping, only to drip down at a low point quite a ways away from the leak. Water also absorbs into various materials where it spreads out, obscuring the leak's location. These properties of water make it notoriously difficult to locate slab leaks.
Professional slab leak detection is both a science and an art. Leak detection plumbers use special tools to precisely locate the exact origin. Precise location prevents unnecessary removal of the slab to make slab leak repairs. When leaks are precisely targeted, the disruption of slab leak repairs is minimized.
About C & D Plumbing Inc.
Think you have a slab leak? C & D Plumbing Inc. is the local choice for slab leak repairs. Call today for quick slab leak detection and repair in Fort Lauderdale, FL.