Slab leaks are a severe problem that can ruin your home’s foundation. You may think your house is old, but slab leaks cause many issues that need to be addressed immediately.
Fortunately, there are some signs you can look for to determine whether or not your home has a slab leak. Contacting an expert plumber for slab leaks is crucial, as they possess the experience and technology to detect and repair these problems quickly before more damage is done.
The most common reason behind slab leaks
Slab leaks are the result of poor drainage around the house’s foundation. If water pools around the foundation or inside an exterior wall, it can seep into cracks in the concrete and cause them to break down over time – especially if there’s already some existing damage from past flooding or other sources of water infiltration like cracked pipes or broken sprinkler heads that aren’t appropriately fixed after initial installation (or even never installed correctly).
How to identify a leak?
Slab leaks are tricky to diagnose because they’re often silent. If you are suspicious about a slab leak, the first thing to do is listen to the sounds of running water. Look around your home for signs of water damage and check your water bill; if it seems high and there’s no explanation, there could be a leak somewhere. Your basement or crawl space may also be damp or moldy, indicating moisture seeping through the floorboards above.
Why should you contact a plumber?
To detect if you have a slab leak, you’ll need to call a professional who will perform an inspection of your plumbing system. The examination will involve testing for any signs of leaks and listening for sounds that may indicate water flowing inside walls or floors around pipes. Once they determine where the issue is coming from, they’ll repair it using specialized tools like saws or core drills to prevent further damage while fixing problems existing at the same time!
How can plumbers detect and repair leaks?
Pressure testing
Pressure testing is the standard method plumbers use to test for slab leaks and involves pushing water into the pipes and listening for leaks. If you hear any noise from your floor, you have a leak that needs to be repaired. Because this method doesn’t require special devices or tools, it is much cheaper and more effective than other methods.
Specialized electronic equipment
Plumbers use electronic equipment to detect slab leaks, using a specialized electronic device applied over a non-conductive material, like paper or foam. In other words, it’s similar to your home smoke detector; however, instead of sensing smoke and taking appropriate action, this type of system will detect any moisture in the ground.
Special microphones
Plumbers also use a microphone to hear the water leaking inside the floor. The microphone is usually placed on the floor and in the walls, and it can be connected to a computer to show the leak’s location. A plumber can also place this device in underground or above-ground pipes. It will detect any sounds from water flowing through them and pinpoint where leaks may occur.
Sealing off the area with cement
Many homeowners choose to seal off the area with cement once it has been repaired or replaced. Cement can help prevent water from leaking through the floor, which is why many people use it as a permanent fix for leaking basements and other areas prone to leaks.
You should immediately contact an expert plumber if your house has a slab leak. They will use the latest technology to detect the slab leak without opening up your flooring unnecessarily and ensure they fix the leakage by replacing the pipes or doing whatever is required.
