Last Updated on October 13, 2022 by
There are many water and sewer pipes beneath the foundation of a house that you probably don’t know about. Pipes connect to the water and sewage systems of your local municipality. At the same time, a slab foundation should deliver water to your fixtures without a problem. Rust and crack can occur in your slab pipes, and when one of them breaks, water leaks are difficult to detect.
Here is a list of the most common causes and solutions to slab leaks.
Slab leaks – what are they?
Houses are made on solid concrete foundations. Water, sewage, and gas lines are integrated into the concrete to provide water to your household. It is common for cracks and holes to develop under your house as it gets older. Water can leak from the pipes in your slab foundation if a pipe located directly below it becomes damaged.
Sadly, the surrounding soil will absorb moisture and cause the ground to shift. In the wet and unstable ground, concrete slabs can crack and degrade. If you don’t fix it quickly, a leak in your concrete slab will cause cracks in your property’s walls and floors.
The causes of slab leaks:
- Earthquakes:
Eruptions in the ground can cause damage to the pipes in the slab beneath your house. When pipes below the ground weaken, their joints become loose, making slab leaks impossible. As a result, cracks and holes can form in pipes because of the movement of the ground.
It is a sign of a slab leak to hear running water in your house, and it is the opposite to see a hot spot in your home due to a leak in a hot water pipe. Mold and mildew can grow on your floors, walls, or ceiling as soon as a leak forms in your slab foundation.
- Highly acidic water:
Hard water can be highly acidic depending on your city. If your area’s water is too acidic, the pipes beneath your slab foundation will slowly rust and crack. Hard water has a pH level between 1 and 4.
Many homeowners invest in water softeners to eliminate minerals such as calcium and magnesium from their water. Although a water softener can extend the life of your pipes, it can also damage the pipes in your foundation.
Water with a pH level between 9 and 14 is considered soft water. Your slab foundation will leak if the water in your local area is too alkaline. A quick way to tell if you have acidic water is to check the sink, shower, or toilet for green or blue stains.
- Abrasion:
The pipes in your foundation circulate water to the appliances and sinks in your home. Causing the pipes to scrape against the concrete slab on your property as they move. Gravel, dirt, and other pipes can also brush against the pipes.
If a pipe rubs against a concrete foundation, it might damage its exterior. Water leaks near your slab foundation will occur if your pipe walls are too thin.
- Pressure in the water is high:
Water Leak Under Concrete Slab foundationdue to high water pressure. Dripping faucets and a rattling sound are typical signs of high-water stress. Use a water pressure gauge to check your household’s water pressure. You use this type of gauge to measure the PSI of your water lines.
The pipes below your floors can become damaged if the water pressure is too high or low. Your property will be safer if you install a water pressure-reduction valve.
Leaking slabs: signs and symptoms
- Bills Water bills are high:
Water will begin to escape from your house’s pipes when you have a Water Leak Under Concrete Slab. You will be forced to pay more for your water bill if a certified technician fails to repair a slab leak.
- Water pressure is low
Water will escape from your concrete foundation before it reaches your sink or shower when a leak forms beneath it. Low water pressure in your home may be due to this type of leak.
A significant drop in water pressure could indicate that your foundation has a Leak Under Concrete Slab when all your sinks and fixtures are off.
- A wet floor
Water leaks can cause damage to wood floors. When a pipe beneath the foundation is damaged, water will leak into your living space. Wood floors will warp and discolor if the slab leak is not repaired quickly.
However, a pipe leak can permanently damage your carpet. Moisture and dark spots in your carpet are common indicators of a pipe leak. Look for moisture odors in your carpet before concluding that there is a Leak Under Concrete Slab foundation.
How to fix a slab leak?
There is a wide range of ways that slab leaks can be fixed. Fixing a water leak depends on the location of the broken pipe
Re plumbing:
Replacing a damaged pipe, and removing concrete from the foundation, will cost a couple thousand dollars.
You can fix a slab leak faster if you do not want to remove your floors by rerouting a brand-new pipe outside your concrete foundation. Instead of replacing damaged pipes in your foundation, install a new pipe.
You can easily access your brand-new pipe either in the attic or in the ground surrounding your foundation.
- Replacing a section of pipe requires drilling a hole:
A short section of a broken water pipe can be replaced by digging through the concrete slab. Taking out the wood or tile floors will expose the slab, so homeowners don’t like the idea of doing this.
Leak Under Concrete Slabs can be prevented by replacing a small portion of a pipe, but this does not ensure future leaks. Your entire system is likely to deteriorate if one part of your pipe is cracked, and you may need to replace the second section of your pipe if a second crack develops in it in the future.
- Pipe lining installation:
You can fix a water leak below your foundation without invasive methods by coating your galvanized steel or copper pipes with a thin layer of epoxy. The epoxy will harden and cover your existing pipes as soon as it is embedded in them.
Finally,
We have listed the causes, signs, and symptoms of Leak Under Concrete Slab to help you. The list enables you to find the reason behind the slab leak in your home.
Author Bio:- Karl Brown
Karl, a marketing manager at EZ Leak Detection, loves to write about plumbing and HVAC services to make the life of the reader easier. Leakages in your property can be dangerous but not all the leaks are easily accessible. He has given extensive information about water leaks and slab leaks and tips to detect them quickly along with quick solutions to prevent you from inconveniences and health hazards.
Leakage problems and malfunction of appliances demand comprehensive solutions. Also, regular maintenance is not the thing to be missed for leading a life with zero hassles. Read our recent post related to leakage detection and repair, alerts for HVAC shutdown and how to repair it, and installation of AC and water heater in San Diego.
