Hundreds of homeowners have homes that have concrete foundations and flooring. Plumbing often is laid underneath the concrete slab. So if a leak occurs within these pipes, the leak is coined a slab leak. Leaks can be caused by the pH level of your water, shifts in the foundation of the house, or water pressure problems. The cost and serious damage related to a slab leak necessitate that you find them quickly, which means familiarizing yourself with slab leak symptoms.
American Leak Detection is a premiere company in the plumbing and leak detection industry. Steven Nagel, owner of American Leak Detection Tampa branch, has specialized in home and pool leaks for nearly 10 years. He says there are 5 main symptoms of a slab leak. These include:
- The sound of running water when no water should be running.
- A hot spot on the floor (possible hot water line leak)
- Cracks in walls or floors
- Mildew or excessive moisture under carpets
- High water bills
Although the first and last slab leak symptoms can indicate problems in piping elsewhere in the home, in conjunction with the other symptoms, they are more likely to point to a slab leak. If you are having these symptoms, you then need to think about how much water you’re losing, how the leak can be located, and how it can be repaired. Nagel answers frequent questions on these topics:
How much water am I losing?
The meter test is an easy way to determine if your plumbing system is leaking. To do this test, write down the number on your water meter when all of your water is turned off. Wait 30 minutes and then check the meter again. If there is a leak, the meter number will be different from the one you wrote down, and it will give you a rough idea of how much water is being lost in a specific period of time.
If you hear your water running when it shouldn’t, you will also have a high water bill. Most water companies bill you by the number of gallons used within the billing cycle, so you can compare your suspect bill with previous bills in order to confirm the amount of water lost.
How can I find the slab leak?
Breaking into a slab or pool deck without positive confirmation of a leak location is unacceptable. Don’t let anyone dismantle your property just to search for leaks. Finding a slab leak requires a thorough process with technical expertise, as well as experience.
Locating slab leaks non-destructively requires the use of modern tools such as electronic amplification equipment and electromagnetic pipeline locators. With the proper equipment, slab leaks can be found and repaired with minimal disruption to property. In many cases, only a single floor tile needs to be removed and replaced.
American Leak Detection’s highly trained technicians use their own noninvasive leak detection equipment to locate the leak accurately so they save you time and money, and prevent unnecessary property damage.
What are my slab leak repair options?
Once the leak has been located under the slab, a specialist will provide repair options. These options can include the following:
Spot repair: The specialist may open the slab at the spot of the leak and repair the leaking pipe. This option is cost-effective for newer construction.
Repipe or Reroute: The specialist will replace the entire line that is leaking. This is most effective for older plumbing systems that have a history of leaking.
In-place pipe coating: If a series of small leaks in the plumbing system would make it cost prohibitive or too inconvenient to dig up the slab, then in-place epoxy pipe coating could be the best option.
How can I be prepared when requesting a slab leak detection service?
Before you call a technician to fix the slab leak, figure out how much water you are losing by doing the water meter test. Be able to give a reason why you suspect a slab leak (such as hot spots on the floor), and know the number of sinks, toilets, and showers in the home. The more you know about your plumbing system before the specialist comes on a house call, the better off you will be.
