Understanding Slab Leaks: Potential Causes and Solutions | Slab Leak Repair in Arlington, TX
Plumbing problems can be a nightmare for homeowners, and one of the biggest issues that every homeowner dreads is an issue with the foundation. A damaged foundation can be due to many reasons. One of these is a slab leak that has gone undetected for a long period of time.
What Is a Slab Leak?
Most Texas homes have a concrete slab foundation. Slab leaks happen when water leaks under the concrete foundation of a home. It must be noted that foundation leaks are not something to be taken lightly at all. Besides destroying the foundation of your home, there are multiple health concerns attached to slab leaks if they go unnoticed.
The biggest health concern regarding slab leaks is that the leaking water leads to mold formation. People living in the building will breathe this mold for long periods of time and end up suffering from respiratory problems. It’s important, therefore, that you call a professional for slab leak repair in Arlington, TX, for the health and safety of your family.
Besides the dangers posed to the health of your family, a slab leak also causes other physical problems. If gone undetected, a slab leak starts to rot and affects the supporting structure of your home. Naturally, this is a serious problem. In the case of Texas homes, slabs made out of concrete are particularly vulnerable to cracking, buckling and shifting, and leaving a slab leak unattended will only aggravate the problem at hand. Make sure you call a professional for slab leak repair in Arlington, TX, to prevent any serious damage.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
Slab leaks can be due to various reasons. One of the most common ones is the type of clay used underneath the foundation. Slab leaks are also caused by the shifting and heaving of soils under the foundation. This puts a lot of pressure on the concrete slab and causes the slab to heave, shift, and finally crack due to pressure.
If you’re lucky, however, you can catch the slab leak early, and even if some shifting has occurred, you can still get the foundation repaired by calling a professional for slab leak repair in Arlington, TX.
But how do you know you there is a possible slab leak in your foundation? Let’s find out.
Detecting a Slab Leak
Fortunately, there are several ways you can detect a slab leak early and get your foundation repaired in time. Some of the major indicators are:
Spike in Your Water Bill
If water is leaking under your slab, it’s automatically going to show on your water bill which will be higher than usual. You can compare your previous water bills and see when it starts to show an amount higher than the previous month. Unless there is a valid reason for the increased water usage (for example, if you had house guests in a particular month), then it’s likely you’re dealing with a leak in the plumbing.
Pooling of Water
A slab leak is basically water accumulating beneath the foundation of your house. This water pools up and will eventually find its way outside. If you spot a pool of water that appears to be pouring out from your home, and there is no other credible source for it, like a spigot or a hose, then you are likely to be dealing with a slab leak. Make sure you call for slab leak repair in Arlington, TX, immediately.
Damp Flooring
Foundation leaks are not merely visible outside your home; they will slow up within your house as well. As the leaking accumulates upward, it will eventually reach the flooring of your home and cause visible damage in the form of damp carpets in areas that have been affected, or warped flooring. If you notice any of these signs, call a professional for possible slab leak repair in Arlington, TX.
Mold Formation
As discussed earlier, one of the dangers resulting from a slab leak is mold formation. If there is a slab leak, you are likely to find mold growing outside your house as well as under the carpet, and on the walls of the house. Even if you don’t see the mold, you’re likely to smell it. As mold grows, it emits a musty smell, so if you detect a smell like that coming from the walls, you need to start looking for any other signs that also indicate a slab leak.
Low Water Pressure
A leak in the plumbing will also result in lower water pressure. If you notice a decline in the water pressure that you normally receive, a leak in the foundation could be a potential source.
Slab Leak Repair in Arlington, TX
The repair process begins with calling a local plumber for slab leak repair in Arlington, TX, who understands the layout of your house. There are two ways of repairing a slab leak:
Slab Penetration
In this method, a jack hammer is used to dig a hole that allows direct access to the slab leak. Generally an effective method, slab penetration also entails further replacement costs. It is also a noisy process and you might have to deal with some disgruntled neighbors.
Tunneling
This method involves the creation of a path beneath the slab. In comparison to slab penetration, tunneling is far less invasive in nature. It also does not involve any demolition of house interiors. If you have multiple leaks on your hands, tunneling is the most cost-effective option and is likely to be recommended by any professional plumber doing slab leak repair in Arlington, TX.
The Aftermath
After the source of the slab leak has been located, your plumber doing slab leak repair in Arlington, TX, will replace the section of the pipe that has been ruined with a new one.
A final test will then be carried out to make sure the leak was successfully repaired.
If you’re looking for a well trained crew for slab leak repair in Arlington, TX, we suggest you get in touch with plumbing professionals at Slab Leak in Arlington, TX. Their services are the best in the area and you can expect them to do a thorough job.