
Understanding Slab Leak Repairs
There are a lot of older homes in the St. Louis, Missouri area built on a pier-n-beam, while others, including most new builds, are built on a slab. When there are plumbing problems under a home on the pier-n-beam style, repairs are fairly easy to do, but when it comes to homes built on a slab, leak repairs are more complicated, starting with locating the origin of the leak.
How common are slab leaks?
If you have a slab leak, don’t feel like the world is picking on you! Slab leaks are more common than we realize, and right now, there could be hundreds of homes needing slab leak repairs that homeowners don’t realize! They are common here in St. Louis and all across the country. While homes located in the west are less likely to have slab leaks, they aren’t totally immune.
What are the signs of a slab leak?
When your home is built on a slab, this eliminates having a basement or crawlspace. There isn’t any type of buffer between the flooring and the ground, except for a cement slap. And because the plumbing is installed directly under the slab, it is prone to the ground shifting which can cause the slap and house to shift. And there brings in the possibility of a slap leak, leading to water damage that will eventually (faster than you realize) seep inside the house if the slab leak isn’t detected and slap leak repairs are completed.
Five common things that could be an indication of needing slap leak repairs are:
- Unexpected and unexplained water bill increase
- Hot spots in the floors
- Standing water around the foundation
- The ceiling and walls start showing cracks
- You can hear water dripping or running but do not find any faucets or toilet running
What causes slab leaks?
In addition to the natural ground shifting under a home, other causes that result in slab leak repairs include:
- Incorrectly built foundation: A common problem with newer homes today are builders taking shortcuts in preparing the ground before pouring the foundation.
- Earth movement: Not only does the earth shift naturally, but in some areas, like out west, there are earthquakes that can result in slab leak repairs needed. The earth can erode where there are underground waterways too, causing slab leaks.
- Water corrosion: Areas with hard or soft water conditions can cause plumbing pipes to corrode, creating pinhole leaks that will lead to needing slab leak repairs.
- Pipe friction: Sometimes the plumbing pipes start to rub against concrete foundations and start leaking, especially the hot water pipes that contract and expand.
- Older Homes & Plumbing: The older the house and its plumbing, the more prone they are to need slab leak repairs.
How are water slab leaks found?
If you have any of the indications we’ve mentioned already of a possible slab leak, you should call a plumber immediately. The leak is only going to continue leaking and causing more damage that can get expensive and make your home a hazard.
There is somewhat of a science in determining the precise location where a slab leak repair is needed. The old-school plumber would use a stethoscope, but today, they have listening devices designed just for slab leak detection.
These devices allow the plumber to hear the flow of water through the floor, even through a cement slab, and through ceilings and walls. When they hear a change in the water flowing, or stopping, this will usually tell the plumber this is the area that needs slab leak repair.
These devices save the homeowner money and the plumber time by not having to jackhammer the entire flooring in order to locate the problem area. You can purchase your own slab leak detection equipment, be sure to follow the instructions thoroughly. But the chances are you’ll need a plumber to perform the slab leak repair, and they will still do their own check for locating the slab leak.
How long can a slab leak go undetected?
A slab leak can go undetected for days, weeks, and even months before you actually notice something. They typically start out as a small trickle and as the water erodes the plumbing and foundation, it becomes worse, causing extensive damage.
Is a slab leak serious?
The consequences of ignoring the need for slab leak repair will be extensive and severe damage to the structure, including the ceiling, flooring, and walls. In addition to the structural problems, there are the possible health problems that a slab leak can cause from the mildew, mold, and rot that can cause respiratory problems for your family.
How are slab leak repairs done?
A plumber that specializes in slab leak repair will use an epoxy pipe liner that will seal the broken pipe after they have completed a camera inspection. The camera inspection will allow the plumber to see examine the extent of the damage and then they will clean the pipe, enter the epoxy liner through a tube and inflate it.
How long does a slab leak repair take?
If the plumber is able to perform a trenchless slab leak repair, the time will take under 6 hours in most cases, including allowing the epoxy liner time to cure.
Keeping It Above Water
As a homeowner, being conscious of slab leaks and what is causing them is essential in keeping your home and budget above water! Ignoring the problem will only lead to more expensive and extensive repairs.
Our team would be happy to help out with your slab leak repair in St Louis, MO. Get in touch with us at 314-348-7503 today!