Slab Leak Detection: What Are My Options? | Mansfield, Texas
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Concrete slabs are quite popular in Mansfield, TX. Compared to other foundations, concrete is cost-effective and easy to install, reducing construction times, and is well suited for the locale’s climate. Although slab foundations can last for years on end, when a problem arises, it could lead to serious issues for your home or business. If slab leak detection is not done in time, it may lead to mold and mildew or serious property damage.
It is essential to book slab leak services if you start noticing remarkably high water bills, strange odors, noticeable moisture on your flooring, and low water pressure. The longer you leave a slab leak unattended, the more damage it will cause and the more expensive it will be to repair. In the face of these signs, get in touch with a qualified plumber.
In this post, we discuss the different types of leaks you may come across and the viable options after a slab leak detection.
Types of Slab Leaks
Customarily, slab leaks are classified according to their cause. The most common types include:
Abrasion-based leaks
The pipes in your plumbing system are predisposed to contract and expand as cold or hot water flows through them. Also, the pipes under the concrete slab are subjected to constant friction. With time, this causes them to wear out, resulting in a leak. This is particularly the case when it comes to hot water pipes, as this causes more abrasion compared to cold water.
Pipe failure
Depending on the material that makes up your plumbing system, it is bound to corrode. For example, cast iron pipes are more prone to damages unless they have a protective coating. Copper and galvanized steel pipes are quite durable, but even they will fail over time. Disconnected joints are the most common cause of leaks in plastic pipes. A good plumbing company will recommend the best pipes depending on your water’s quality and make-up after a slab leak detection and repair service.
Pressure leaks
One of the leading causes of burst or cracked pipes is pressure. Apart from the water’s pressure, external pressure can cause a shift of the building’s foundation, increasing the pressure on the pipes. This shift may be due to natural causes such as earthquakes and soil erosion, or poor construction.
Poor construction
The soil in Mansfield, TX, is characteristically rocky. The plumber might not have taken the necessary precautions when laying down the plumbing pipes. When rocks and pebbles push against the pipes, they will eventually cause pinhole leaks.
What Are My Options After a Slab Leak Detection?
The technique used to repair a slab leak depends on factors such as your plumbing system’s general condition and the problem’s location. It is impossible to tell which repair options discussed below will work best unless you get slab leak services from a professional plumber. Your slab leak repair options include:
Breaking through the slab
This process involves excavating the part of the slab or drilling a hole into the foundation until the plumber accesses the pipe. With this type of repair, the slab leak detection must be accurate. Otherwise, you will end up with a mess of multiple holes in your concrete foundation.
This method of slab leak repair has several downsides. For example, you will have to cover your property to keep off the dust. Also, you might have to spend one or two days away from home when the repair process is underway.
Pipelining
Pipelining is a non-invasive way of fixing a slab leak. It is perfect for fixing pinhole leaks. This type of repair involves pouring non-toxic epoxy into a broken or cracked pipe. The epoxy dries quite fast and hardens, forming a new pipe.
As simple and good as this method sounds, there may be problems if the epoxy coating is not even or does not adhere to the pipe’s wall properly. Besides, subsequent leaks will be quite difficult to repair, and you may have to re-pipe.
Pipe rerouting
This technique is often the go-to option for most homeowners after a slab leak detection. In this case, the current pipes are left in place while new ones are installed. Your plumber may recommend this method if they establish that a particular line is heavily affected after the slab leak detection process. The new plumbing lines could be rerouted to pass through the attic or the slab’s edges. As water still runs through the old plumbing as the rerouting takes place, you do not have to move out of your house.
Replacing pipes
Also referred to as pipe bursting, this is also a trenchless solution for repairing a slab leak. Your plumber may recommend this option if there are multiple leaks. The repair process involves inserting a pipe with a bursting head through the damaged pipe. The old pipe gets destroyed as the new one is pulled or pushed through it.
Unfortunately, the diameter of your new pipe will be somewhat smaller. Your plumber must first establish the new pipe is adequately sized for all your fixtures.
Tunneling
As the name suggests, this option involves digging an access tunnel until you get to where the leak is. After the slab leak detection, the plumber will begin to dig horizontally from the closest exterior wall. One of the main advantages of tunneling is that the plumber could replace a large section of the damaged pipe if necessary. This option is also ideal if you want minimal invasion of your home’s interior.
Whether the slab leak detection was done early or you are facing a plumbing disaster, you need to make a fast decision to avoid further damage. At Slableak.com, we are Mansfield, TX, premier plumbing contractor. Our plumbing experts are well equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to help detect and repair slab leaks. We also offer annual plumbing maintenance to ensure such plumbing problems are detected early and handled appropriately. Get in touch with us today for more information about our services.