Slab Leak Detection: Find Hidden Slab Leaks Before It’s Too Late | Mansfield, Texas
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One of the most common causes of water damage in any building is slab leaks. These leaks are caused by a break or crack in your home’s concrete slabs and can lead to very costly repairs if not caught early enough. In this article, we’re going to cover how slab leak detection works and why it’s so important to have a professional come out for an inspection every few years.
How Does Slab Leak Detection Work?
Slab leak detection is the process of finding and identifying leaks in your home’s concrete slabs. This is done using various methods such as thermal imaging, sound amplification, or pressure testing. By using one or more of these methods, professionals can pinpoint the exact location of the leak and begin to repair it.
Why Is Slab Leak Detection Necessary?
While a slab leak may not seem like a big deal at first, it can be incredibly destructive if left unattended. Not only can slab leaks cause water damage to your home, but they can also lead to mold growth and other structural problems. That’s why it’s so important to have a professional come out for an inspection every few years for slab leak detection. They will catch any potential slab leaks before they become a bigger problem.
Signs of a Leaking Slab
You can lookout for a few signs to identify if your slab is leaking or has already begun leaking. These include:
- Pooling water on the ground: if your concrete slab is cracked and leaking, it’s going to pool with water. If you see pools of standing water on top of the ground in any area surrounding your home, contact a professional right away.
- Cracks in walls: another sign that something might be wrong with your concrete slabs are cracks inside of your walls or along exterior surfaces. This is usually a sign that the slab has shifted and is no longer level. Slab leak detection can help to identify the source of these cracks.
- Water stains on ceilings or floors: if you’ve ever seen water stains on your ceiling or floor, it’s likely because of a slab leak. Look for areas where the paint or finish seems to be bubbling up – this could indicate water damage.
- Mold growth: slab leaks can also lead to mold growth, which can harm your health. Look for any areas of your home where the mold is growing. Contact a professional immediately if you find any for slab leak detection and repair.
- The smell of sewage: if you smell sewage in your home, you likely have a slab leak. This is because the leaking water will create an environment where mold and bacteria can grow, which will lead to the smell of sewage. Besides, it could be that the sewer line has become compromised due to the leaking slab.
- Constant condensation: slab leaks can also cause constant condensation on windows and other surfaces. If you notice that your windows are always wet, it’s likely because of a slab leak. Get slab leak detection to find the source.
- High utility bills: last but not least, another sign of a slab leak is high utility bills. If your home always seems to be too warm or cold and you’re paying more than usual on your monthly heating/cooling bill, it’s likely because of the leaking water causing a constant temperature change in your home. This will cause your air conditioning or heating system to run more to regulate the temperature.
Causes for a Leaking Slab
There are several reasons why your slab could be leaking, but the most common are:
Plumbing problems: one of the most common causes of slab leaks is plumbing problems. If you have any broken or cracked pipes underneath your concrete slabs, it can lead to a leak.
Hitting a water line: another common cause for slab leaks is hitting a water line when digging underneath your slabs for another reason.
Improper installation: if the concrete slab isn’t installed correctly, it can lead to an uneven surface and cause leaking over time. This is especially common in homes that were built without an expansion gap around the home’s foundation.
Soil movement: if the soil around your home is constantly moving, it can cause the slab to move and crack – leading to a slab leak.
Age of the home: an older home is more likely to have slab leaks, as the concrete slabs can start to crack and break over time.
Preventing Slab Leaks
There are a few things that you can do to help prevent slab leaks from happening in your home:
Have regular inspections: one of the best ways to catch any potential problems with your slab early is to have regular inspections on the home. This will allow a professional to look for potential problems before they become major issues that can lead to leaks.
Expansion gap: another good way of preventing slab leaks over time is by adding an expansion gap around your foundation when you build or remodel your home. An expansion gap is simply a space between your home’s foundation and the concrete slab, which allows the slab to move without putting stress on the foundation.
Waterproofing: if you already have a slab leak, waterproofing is one of the best ways to repair it. Waterproofing will help to seal any cracks or holes in the concrete and prevent water from seeping through.
Install a sump pump: another good way of stopping slab leaks is by installing a sump pump. A sump pump will remove any excess water that comes into your home, which can help prevent further damage to the foundation and slabs underneath it.
Pipe repair/replacement: if you have cracked or broken pipes underneath your slab, it’s a good idea to repair them as quickly as possible. This will help prevent any further damage and leaks from happening in the future.
Concrete leveling: sometimes, slabs can become uneven over time due to soil movement around the home. If this is the case, concrete leveling can help fix the problem.
Contacting a Professional for Slab Leak Detection in Mansfield, TX
Slab leaks often go undetected for years because there is no visible sign of water damage in your walls or ceilings. In some cases, the only evidence you have that something has gone wrong with your slab is a sudden increase in your water bill.
If you’re not sure whether or not you have a slab leak, it’s always best to call a professional and have them take a look. By catching the leak early on, you can save yourself from costly repairs down the road. Slab leaks can cause a lot of damage over time if they’re not repaired quickly, so it’s essential to act fast!
If you reside in the Mansfield, TX area and think that you may have a slab leak or would like to know more about preventing them in your home, give us at Slableak.com a call today! We’ll be happy to come out for an inspection of your property.