Consequences of Slab Leaks In Dallas Homeowners
Leaks that are found in your home can cause serious problems if they aren’t dealt with quickly. Even the smallest leak can lead to substantial issues as the problem worsens over time. Leaks can lead to water damage to the structure of your home as well as to any of your home’s possessions.
This would be a sign of a possible slab leak, you have water coming out of the slab underneath the house where there is no reason for there to be water pulling up.
Symptoms Of A Slab Leak
The sound of running water, when no water should be running, could indicate a slab leak.If you hear running water in your home when all should be quiet, means there is flowing water somewhere.
Your home’s plumbing is pressurized and static when all appliances and faucets are in the off position. The sound of running water is created by the vibration of the flow of water against the piping system. It means an outlet from the system is allowing flow. You will need to check all faucets, toilets, sprinklers, as well as water connected appliances like refrigerators, clothes washers, dish washers, or water purification systems.
If you don’t find visual clues to the source of the sound of water, it could mean you have a hidden leak in the wall or under the slab.
The water is coming from the slab, surfacing and finding the path of least resistance to come through the cracks. If you touch the water and it’s hot you’re dealing with a hot water slab leak which is what homeowners will have 80 – 90% of the time when dealing with these types of leaks.
Hot floors. It’s a lot easier to determine if your floors are hot when you’re dealing with wood or tiled floors rather than carpet because there is no insulation. If you have a hot water slab leak, the temperature in the water heats up the concrete which in turn heats up the tile.
So if you’re walking barefoot in your kitchen you may notice there’s a hot area and no you don’t suddenly have heated floors. If there are cool tiles just a few feet away from the heated tiles you’ve probably got a slab leak problem.
Hot water heater is constantly running. Another tell-tale sign that you’ve got a hot water slab leak is if you notice that your water heater is constantly running. This is happening because you have a constant flow of hot water going out and a constant flow of cold water going in. The hot water heater is constantly having to heat the water to keep up with the demand.
The hot water heater is constantly having to heat the water to try and keep up with the increased demand.
You hear running water sounds. A slab leak can also be detected by simply listening with your ears. Sometimes when water is leaking below the foundation you can actually hear sounds of running water beneath the flooring. You may need a plumber to determine the exact location of the leak.
Unusually high water or heating bills. If you detect a sudden spike in your water or heating bill it may be due to a slab leak. When your water and gas are running 24/7 to keep of up the demand to heat the cold water coming into your house both your gas and water bill will be higher than normal.
Water puddles along the outside of the house. If you notice water puddles along the side of the house and it’s not the result of water hoses or a dog’s water bowl take a closer look. Chance are the water leaks may be coming out of the cracks just below the surface of your house.
Constantly spinning meter dial. Checking the water meter can help determine if you have a cold or hot water slab leak. The water meter is normally located somewhere close to the curb in a box and in the ground. Take the lid off the box and look at the meter’s dial.
Make sure no water is being used anywhere in your house. If the dial on the meter is spinning at a very fast rate and there is no running water in your house that’s a pretty good indication that the water is leaking underneath the slab.
Slab Leak Solutions
The most common type of pipe used under a concrete slab foundation is copper. Over the years, as the copper pipes age they begin to wear thin and become more prone to leak. If you have to rip up concrete and repair a line in one section, it can be added pressure on the rest of the aged pipes.Sometimes it just may be better and less expensive to re-plumb your house than repair an old pipe. Talk with your plumber about it and ask their opinion. A slab leak in some cases can be considered a major and very expensive repair. Call (713) 812-7070 us for your home service and repair needs.
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