What Options Do You Have For Slab Leak Repair? | Mansfield, TX
When you live in Mansfield, TX, where the ground can be unstable, slab leak repair is something you will have to face at least once in your lifetime. Slab leaks tend to be a fact of life when homes are erected using a concrete slab as a base instead of a more traditional foundation in order to prevent the walls of a basement from breaking because of the shifts and instability of the soil.
Concrete slabs became a popular construction choice during the period immediately after World War II. It had the advantage of being faster to build and cheaper in cost. In this type of construction, pipelines are usually placed under the concrete slab. This makes it quite difficult to have access to them when repairs are needed.
Slab leaks develop when these pipelines develop cracks or leaks, due either to the movement of the ground in which they are embedded, or a number of other reasons. When this happens, you end up with one of the most problematic and serious issues any homeowner can ever face.
The reason why slab leaks are such a serious matter is because the water leaking out of the pipes causes the soil beneath the slab to erode, which lessens the support of the concrete slab, which can result in it developing cracks. At this point, the water can start flooding into your home, letting you know you have a problem and you are going to need slab leak repair.
The biggest, and most expensive problem happens if you don’t get timely slab leak repair and the water starts causing damage to your floors, walls, and the entire structure of your home and everything in it. Because of this, slab leak repair is considered an emergency situation and should be done before you end up losing your Mansfield, TX home and everything in it. It is at this point that the question arises: How do you repair a leak that developed under hundreds of tons of rock-solid concrete? Read on to find the answer.
How to Know You Have a Problem
One of the most important facts about slab leak repair is that many people are so unfamiliar with this type of problem that it can go undetected for a very long time, even for years! In most cases, the effects of a slab leak develop so slowly that they are difficult to notice. Because of this, many homeowners don’t know they have a problem until it’s too late.
Even so, slab leaks do give signs that will lead you to suspect something might be wrong, including the following:
- Unexplained increases in your water bill
- You can hear running water when none of your fixtures is being used
- You notice cracks in your home’s foundation
- You floors look damp or feel warm
- There are strange odors coming from your floor and walls
- You notice a shift in the soil around your home.
Noticing any of these signs is a good reason to call a slab leak repair professional to get a diagnosis of your problem and determine what course of action you should take to mitigate the potential damage.
What Options Do You Have?
Even though slab leak repair will require you to make a number of decisions, deciding whether to do anything about it or not is definitely not one of them. If left to fester, the problem can become serious enough that you could end up spending thousands to fix it, even running the risk of losing your home.
Fortunately, there are several ways to perform effective and functional slab leak repair, two of which don’t involve tearing your home’s concrete slab apart in order to get to the source of the problem. Let’s take a look.
- Rerouting your home’s pipes – This is probably the easiest form of slab leak repair because it completely avoids breaking the concrete and digging under the slab. In this case, your pipes are rerouted above the ground, and is the quickest and less bothersome solution. One of the advantages of this method is that you won’t have to find another place to live while the problem is being repaired, and while the process may be somewhat inconvenient, it can be carried out quickly so your family life can return to normal as soon as possible.
- Breaking the slab to find the leak – When rerouting your pipes is out of the question, cutting through the slab to repair the leak may be your only option. Keep in mind it is also the most expensive method, and can create a lot of disruption in your life.
- Digging under the concrete slab – This method involves digging a tunnel under the slab in order to reach the site of the leak and repair it. It can be beneficial because you won’t have to move out of your home during the repairs, and it is the less expensive method. Tunneling under the slab also helps protect your home’s flooring.
Many companies that repair slab leaks can also use other methods, such as pipe lining and bursting in order to fix a slab leak in your home. In either case, it is always a good idea to discuss your options with your contractor, and even get a second opinion, in order to make the best decisions based upon your needs. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have, so you can make an informed decision on what solution could be best for you.
Repairing a slab leak can seem like a hassle, but considering the alternative, and the risk of losing your home and ruining your belongings, it is definitely something that should be done as soon as possible. Because of this if your home in Mansfield, TX has developed a slab leak, your best bet is to contact us for help. At SlabLeak.com we are proud to offer the most updated techniques for the repair of slab leaks. So don’t hesitate and give us a call today!