Slab Leak Repair: What Is Causing Your Slab Leak To Occur? | Mansfield, TX
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A slab is a thick section of concrete, stone, or wood. Slab leaks occur when water permeates the slab. There are several factors that may contribute to a slab leak. If a slab leak occurs, there is no sense in waiting. Postponing slab leak repair may result in more damage to your property. If you live in the area and are in need of repair in your slab, you should contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for urgent assistance.
A slab is just another way to label the concrete foundation in a home or building. Most modern homes have concrete as a foundation. Water coming through a foundation is never a good sign and must be addressed as soon as possible.
What Happens When A Slab Leak Occurs?
Slab leaks cannot be left to continue leaking. Slab leaks are an emergency plumbing repair matter that must be addressed as soon as possible. Slab leaks can affect various important aspects of your home and will lead to
The Foundation
Slab leaks are detrimental for you and your property. Water leaking from the foundation is an obvious structure compromiser. A leak in the foundation of your home or place of business can easily weaken the integrity of your property’s foundation. This may lead to the eventual shifting of your foundation, which can cause cracks, and even a total collapse of the foundation and support beams in the building. This is why immediate slab leak repair is so imperative. The faster you resolve this issue; the less damage will occur. The pressure and water in the foundation of your building are enough to alter the sturdiness of your foundation. Leading to a very unstable and dangerous situation on your property.
A slab leak can also cause damage to the outside of your property, such as your front or back yard. The water and pressure from a slab leak can cause pathways, bricks, concrete, and pavement to become weakened, or skewed. This can also be detrimental to the structure of your property. If you live in the Mansfield, TX area, and are experiencing any kind of foundation leak, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, for urgent repair.
Other Damages to The Property
Due to the nature of slab leaks, you can expect the same damages that a flood will occur in a property. The water will spew into your home leading to water damage on the carpets, and floors of your home. Slab leaks can also lead to mold and mildew formation that can affect the health and peace of mind of the building’s inhabitants.
Mold and mildew formation is not easy to get rid of, especially depending on the type of mold that may be growing. Stagnant water also leads to foul odors. Depending on where the leak is coming from, a slab leak can cause a very unsanitary and unhealthy environment to cultivate. Making life unsuitable in that building until the slab leak repair is complete and the damage has been assessed.
Causes of Slab Leaks
There are many things that can cause this damaging leak to occur on your property. One of the main culprits is your plumbing system. This is one of the reasons proper plumbing maintenance is so important. Slab leak repair and malfunctions can sometimes be avoided with proper preventive maintenance.
Cast Iron Piping
Cast iron was a poplar plumbing material used in the early 1900s. Some older homes still utilize cast iron pipes, however, most of this piping is located in the sewage line due to irons’ tendency to become rusted. However, cast iron does have some advantages over other types of modern piping. Most modern homes use a type of plastic piping, such as polyvinyl chloride. Which can be noisy. Iron piping is a lot quieter due its makeup and ability to prevent vibrations through the pipes. Cast iron piping will also not burn in the same manner, polyvinyl piping would. However, it can lead to a need for slab leak repair.
Due to cast iron’s tendency to become rusted and corroded by water and other minerals, it can easily break, crack, or become faulty in a way that allows water to leak from it. This will cause your slab to become weakened under the mounting pressure of water, spewing from your iron pipelines. If these leaks are detected before they occur, something can be done about them. Having your iron pipes with newer models may also help prevent a slab leak from happening. If a slab leak does occur due to old or rusted iron pipes, you should contact a slab leak repair professional as soon as possible. Waiting to do so will amount to more damages.
There are many other advantages and disadvantages to owning different types of metal pipes. All metals at some point will be susceptible to corrosion. This is a known fact. Proper plumbing maintenance includes the replacement of old and corroded pipes. By replacing the metal pipes before it’s too late, you eliminate the need for slab leak repair services. If the leak never occurs, no extra repair will be needed. By being proactive in your approach to care for your foundation and plumbing, you will save money, time, and prevent damages from ever occurring to your foundation.
Other types of piping can lead to slab leaks; however, the biggest culprit is not your plumbing system. The most common cause of slab leaks is expansive soil shifts. Expansive soil shifting is dangerous, it can lead to slab leaks and sometimes worse disaster. However, once you realize this is a problem you can have it resolved with professional slab leak repair.
Expansive soil shifts occur when the mineral-rich soil absorbs minerals that cause it to expand. Not all types of soil will have this happen, however, certain types of minerals are expansive. This will cause mounting pressure and water to become built up beneath your foundation. Pressure has to be released somehow and is usually released in the form of a slab leak. If you live in the Mansfield, TX, area, contact a slab leak repair professional, such as Benjamin Franklin Plumbing at Slableak.com, for immediate slab leak resolution.