By Kendry Lee
There are many things that can go wrong with a home’s plumbing but few are more fear inducing than slab leaks. These are leaks in the pipes that run under the concrete foundation on which your house is built.
Early detection and repair of these leaks minimize damage to your home and foundation. Here are the benefits of doing so:
1. Prevents Damage to Your Foundation
Slab leaks can damage your home’s foundation and cause severe structural problems. If you don’t get them fixed as soon as you notice signs of a slab leak, like an unexplained increase in water usage, it can take tens of thousands of dollars to repair the resulting damages.
Unlike ordinary leaks, which are easily detectable with a plumber’s use of acoustic, pressure, electromagnetic, and gas tracer detection tools, slab leaks require special equipment to find and fix. This is why early detection and repair are so important.
Leaking pipes are not only a waste of money and a drain on your water supply, but they also contaminate your home’s water, harming your family’s health. Plus, left unrepaired, they can result in a sudden geyser-like eruption of water that destroys your property and exposes your family to dangerous mold and other microorganisms. With early slab leak detection, you can avoid all these issues. Licensed plumbers can use a variety of non-invasive techniques to pinpoint slab leaks and make repairs with minimal disruption.
2. Saves You Money
Slab leaks go unnoticed until there is a major problem such as water damage to walls, flooring and drywall. This can be very expensive to repair. The cost increases if the damage is not repaired quickly.
Early detection can save you money because a slab leak will usually be detected before it causes damage to your foundation and home. Also, if you catch the leak before it progresses to heaving in your foundation, you will be able to have a plumber drain and pump your pipes full of air and use sound equipment to locate the source of the slab leak.
After a slab leak is found, it can be repaired by either breaking through the foundation and cutting into your plumbing or using a method called tunneling. The tunneling technique is less invasive and costs much less than digging through your foundation to access your plumbing. However, most homeowners’ insurance coverage doesn’t help with the cost of making repairs to your foundation and plumbing if it is damaged by a slab leak.
3. Prevents Mold Growth
Slab leaks are a huge hassle, and they also create the perfect conditions for mold growth throughout your home. Molds are fungi that thrive in warm, moist environments and they can cause serious damage to your home and to your family’s health.
The best way to prevent mold from growing is to regularly inspect your home’s flooring and walls for dampness and mildew. You should also pay attention to any changes in your home’s water usage or if you notice an unexpected spike in your home’s water bill.
Early slab leak detection and repair is essential to preventing major damage to your foundation, home, and property. If you notice any of the telltale signs of a slab leak, it’s important to contact a professional slab leak repair near you as soon as possible. Early detection will save you money, time, and headaches in the long run. It will also help to prevent costly structural repairs and unnecessary home renovations.
4. Prevents Water Damage
A slab leak causes water to seep into the soil and foundation beneath your home, and left untreated for too long this can cause damage to your walls and flooring. This is because the soil can shift and crack, putting too much pressure on your foundation.
Leaks also waste water, a precious resource that is not always in unlimited supply. You may notice a sudden spike in your water bill, which is often the first sign of a slab leak.
Other signs of a slab leak include the smell of mildew, wet spots or warped areas in your floors, and cracking in your walls and floors. You should also pay attention to your water meter as it is a good indicator of your plumbing. You can even get a smart water leak detector for your incoming line that will warn you of a possible problem before it happens.
