SIGNS OF A SLAB LEAK ORANGE COUNTY CA
EVANS LEAK DETECTION
Coming home from work to find you have a slab leak can be troubling and frustrating for any homeowner or renter. You become filled with dread at the thought of the underlying costly damage that could have been waiting for you if you would have come home just one hour later. This is why it’s important be knowledgeable about what a slab leak is, how to detect it, and how to prevent further damage to your flooring, carpeting, walls and other home furnishings.
Call Evan’s Leak Detection at (949) 855-1032 and we’ll send out one of our certified plumbers to assist you in your slab leak detection and repair.
WHAT IS A SLAB LEAK?
A slab leak is most commonly described as a pinhole leak. There can even be multiple leaks within the copper water pipe lines underneath the concrete flooring of a home’s foundation. They occur because poly-butylene piping was commonly used to set up the plumbing systems in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Its popularity at the time was short lived due to the pipes developing leaks and cracks, some even broke completely with catastrophic damage to the home. These cracks and leaks developed because of water municipalities water treatment facilities using hard chemicals, like chlorine and fluoride, to protect people’s health. Over an extended period of time these chemicals broke down the material causing it to flake and fray from the inside out.
How do you know if you have piping installed with poly-butylenes? It’s a fairly simple type of water line piping to identify. They are typically gray but can look a little blue in color under different lighting. Check all your major plumbing appliances and fixtures inside and outside. Also, don’t let copper fittings fool you as poly-butylene and copper fittings were commonly used together.
Since a slab leak is a water leak below your home’s flooring and foundation, it can be difficult to locate and diagnose. The first 24 to 48 hours is critical to protecting your home from continued water damage and future mold damage. That’s exactly why it’s important to act fast. Be sure to call one of our slab leak specialists to help you quickly and accurately detect and repair the problem.
SYMPTOMS OF A SLAB LEAK
Homeowners can be on the lookout for conditions that lead to slab leaks, such as pipes in poor condition and tree roots. As a homeowner it’s also important to educate yourself on symptoms of slab leaks. Common symptoms include an unexplained increased water bill, wet planters adjacent to the home, wet base boards, the sound of running water, a sudden drop in hot water temperature when the hot water heater is running all the time, increased humidity in the home, warm/cold spots on the floor, wet wood flooring or damp carpeting, cracks in baseboards, wall, flooring and tiles, bubbles in linoleum or laminate flooring or the water heater platform is dry when water is coming out below it.
WHY DO YOU HAVE A SLAB LEAK?
Primarily, a slab leak is caused by a reaction within pipes below a home’s flooring. They often initiate from poly-butylene piping and electrolysis involving copper and/or granite compounds. Other causes include pipe contact with concrete, too much soldering flux, non-reamed pipes, rebar and rocks. In addition these secondary causes occur in a very low percentage of slab leaks:
- Poorly assembled pipes and fittings
- Rust
- Ground movement from contracting or expanding
- Tree and plant roots
- Industrial grade pipe cleaners (chemicals) that can eat through pipes or sewers
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A PROFESSIONAL?
Assessing damage, implementing a repair plan, and restoring furnishings caused by a slab leak can be complicated and time consuming. It is best to contact a professional to handle your water leak as soon as possible. Call Pat or Lloyd or one of our plumbing specialists at the first sign of a slab leak and ask about our FLAT RATE pricing for leak detection and slab leak repair to minimize cost and damage.
