When plumbing problems come to mind, you might think of a clogged toilet or a leaky faucet. While these plumbing issues certainly are annoying, the most serious issue a Bridgeport resident could face is a slab leak. A leak like this occurs in the water lines underneath the home’s concrete foundation, also called the slab. Since these leaks stay hidden, they can go undetected for a long time, resulting in significant damage long before you ever know there’s a problem. Slab leaks require immediate, professional plumbing services to mitigate the damage to your property.
Why Slab Leaks Pose a Serious Threat to Your Home
The reason a slab leak poses such serious problems for your home stems from its location. Any time a water pipe under your home’s slab bursts or even develops a pinhole leak, the water flows continuously and causes far more problems than a high water bill.
A slab leak can cause structural damage and foundation cracks. Your home’s slab foundation is designed to rest on stable, compacted earth. When water flows freely, this causes the soil to erode and can cause the slab to settle unevenly, resulting in cracking. In the Bridgeport area, where freeze-thaw cycles are common, water leaking under the slab can exacerbate the problems and affect the structural integrity of your home’s foundation, resulting in costly foundation repair.
Slab leaks can also cause extensive water damage and mold growth. It doesn’t take much water to saturate building materials such as drywall, concrete, baseboards, and basement or lowest-level walls. Aside from the cost of repairing or replacing building materials, you also must consider the health hazards presented by mold. To ensure the health of your household, you must hire mold remediation services to clean the mold and return your home to its original state before the slab leak.
High water bills might not pose a serious threat to your health or your home’s structural integrity, but they can threaten your monthly budget. Because slab leaks involve pressurized supply lines, water is continuously pouring out, 24 hours a day. You might notice a sudden, inexplicable jump in your water bills, sometimes hundreds of dollars, before any physical signs of the leak appear. Or, you might notice the bills slowly creeping upward for no apparent reason. But what’s happening beneath the surface is wasted water and money flowing into the ground.
Why Slab Leaks Happen
Factors such as construction quality, environmental conditions, and general plumbing wear and tear usually cause slab leaks. Corrosion is a major factor since many underground water pipes are made from copper. The copper reacts with chemicals and minerals in the soil and water, causing them to thin and develop pinhole leaks. We see this happen a lot in older Bridgeport homes.
Poor installation is another reason slab leaks occur. If a pipe was bent too sharply or was accidentally nicked by a shovel or tool during the foundation pour, it can become weakened in that spot, eventually giving way under pressure.
Ground shifting also causes water pipes to burst or develop cracks. Over time, shifting soil, frost heave during the winter, and natural ground settlement can put pressure on underground pipes, resulting in damage.
How We Detect Slab Leaks
Because the leak is hidden, detection and repair are strictly professional jobs. Do not attempt to locate or repair a slab leak yourself, as this can lead to unnecessary damage to your home’s concrete and interior.
Signs of a Slab Leak
Although slab leaks are quite sneaky, they do give some clues. For example, a higher-than-normal water bill for no apparent reason is a good indicator of a hidden slab leak. You might notice hot spots underfoot in your basement or at the lowest level if you don’t have a basement. Baseboards warping and mold forming on drywall near the floor are also signs of a slab leak.
At Midstate Plumbing & Air , we use non-invasive, specialized technology to pinpoint the exact location of the leak without tearing up your flooring or concrete slab unnecessarily. Some of the technology we use includes:
- Electronic listening equipment
- Thermal imaging
- Pressure testing
Our slab leak experts are always ready to investigate and provide you with the best slab leak repair solutions in Bridgeport. Our comprehensive plumbing services also include water heater installation and repair and sewer line services. Give us a call today to learn more!
