The Causes of Slab Leaks and the Course of Action if You Have One | Tips from Your Trusted Mansfield, TX Slab Leak Repair Expert
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Have you noticed that there are wet spots on your carpets and floors? Is low water pressure a problem when you take a shower? Are your utility and water bills higher than they usually are? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you could have a slab leak in your Mansfield, TX home and will need a slab leak repair.
A slab leak takes place when the pipes underneath the foundation of a home start to leak. Even though these leaks may not seem important in the beginning, they can cause a lot of damage and result in you having to have a costly slab leak repair done in your Mansfield, TX home. If the problem is not treated they can totally water log the soil under your place of residence and will slowly sink your home into the ground over a period of time. To stop this from happening to your home, it is essential for you to know what causes slab leaks.
Crummy Construction: The most common cause of slab leaks is that the pipes that were not installed the right way or pipes that are of poor quality. If, during the installation process, your pipes were kinked, bent, or dented in any way, the part that was damaged can cause your pipes to leak. They could even burst due to the abrasive properties of water flowing by over time and will definitely be in need of a slab leak repair.
Copper pipes are the type of pipes that are at a higher risk of becoming corroded. The reason for this is that they are naturally softer and are exposed to the elements a lot more than other types of pipes. In some cases, especially in homes that have been around for a long time, a slab leak may require new pipes, instead of a leak repair.
Pressure From The Exterior of Your Home: Water pressure is not the only type of pressure that can cause a slab leak. If the soil shifts under your place of residence in Mansfield, TX it can result in your home moving a little bit and that can cause pressure to be put on your pipes. This can also be caused by an earthquake, an underground stream, and soil erosion. Slab leaks that are caused by this type of pressure are very large and are usually damaging and may definitely require a slab leak repair. If they do not get checked on, they can cause a lot of flooding as well.
Bad Water Chemistry and Quality: Along with your level of water pressure, you should keep an eye on the pH level of your water. Water that has a lot of acid in it (also known as hard water) or water that has a lot of alkaline in it (also known as soft water) can add corrosion to your pipes in your home in Mansfield, TX. If your water is acidic, it will leave blue and green stains in your bathtub, shower, or sink and a smell of chlorine. If you leave this sign of a slab leak undetected and do not get a leak repair, it can cause water damage that will not be able to be fixed.
Abrasion: Abrasion is another one of the main causes of slab leaks. During their regular usage, when pipes rub against concrete, gravel, and other materials or other pipes that are close to it, the regular and ongoing friction may cause them to wear down and eventually result in spring leaks. Hot water pipes are at a greater risk of abrasion. The reason for this is that pipes that have hot water running through expand as they heat up. For this reason, they rub against concrete or gravel that is all around them in the soil and the constant friction is the cause of the leaks. This friction causes a slab leak repair.
Regular maintenance and checkups can ensure that your home’s plumbing is in the best condition that it can possibly be. The maintenance and checkups (where you watch for irregularities) will help prevent slab leaks as well.
What to do if You Are Suspicious of a Slab Leak: If you think that there is a slab leak in your home and your home in Mansfield, TX may be in need of a leak repair, you will absolutely want to look out for these signs:
- Damp Spots on your floor and carpet
- Mold growing under your floor and carpet
- Hot areas on your floor
- Higher than normal utility and water bills
- Low water pressure in your shower and sinks
- You can hear water running even when all of your faucets are turned off.
- Soggy spots close to the foundation of your home
- High water meter readings
If you find any of these signs going on in your place of residence, it does not mean for certain that you have a slab leak, but you will want to contact a professional to make sure that you are not in need of a slab leak repair. Ignoring a slab leak and not seeing if it is need of a slab leak repair can cause damage that will not be able to be fixed in your home. It is not something that you should “wait and see” on.
You need to call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Slab Leak as soon as possible so that they can find where the leak is in your slab and so they can provide you with the best course of action which may include a slab leak repair. It could be a simple fix with epoxy to fill up the leak or it could result in your home getting a new set of pipes. In any case, an expert can access and fix the problem. By getting them to come to your home in a timely manner, you can save your home from a lot of damage and your family from spending a lot of money in the long run, like on an expensive slab leak repair. Professional plumbers are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to problems with slab leaks and will tell you the severity of it and what steps need to be taken to fix it.