Do You Have a Slab Leak?
Was your home built on a slab foundation? Meaning before your home’s concrete slab was poured, plumbing pipes were laid. Therefore, many of your home’s main pipes and lines are located underneath your home. Unfortunately, slab leaks can be frustrating because they can be complicated to detect. These types of leaks occur underneath your home’s concrete slabs.
Knowing how to identify the common signs of a slab leak is essential. This will allow you to address the issue early, mitigate the damage and potentially save money on repairs.
Has There Been A Spike In Your Water Bill?
If you’ve noticed a sudden surge in your home’s water usage, that’s a sign that something is off. If there is a slab leak, this means that water is running 24 hours a day. If that’s the case, you’ll certainly see a spike in your water consumption. Depending on the size of the leak, the increase you’ll see will vary, but any noticeable spike in your water bill is worth looking into.
Does Your Floor Have Hot Spots?
A key indicator that you have a slab leak is if you see a focused spot of warmth in a floor or a single room that is warm or humid. Most if not all slab leaks occur in the hot water line. Once the hot water starts to leak out into the ground, it will heat the concrete above it. As the concrete warms, your floor starts to get hot to the touch. If you have hardwood, tile or linoleum floors, it’ll be easier to detect a hot spot.
Are You Experiencing Reduced Water Pressure?
When there is an active slab leak in your home’s foundation, you may also notice your water pressure is lower than expected. You should see a difference when using faucets in your home or while in the shower. This happens because less water is running through your pipes due to the underground leak.
Do You Hear Running Water?
Do you constantly hear water running even when everything is turned off? If so, turn off all of the fixtures in your home, including your water heater. Go to the lowest level of your home and listen to the floor. If you hear the sound of water flowing, even though all of your water is turned off, this indicates that you could have a slab leak.
Are Your Floors Wet or Damaged?
Unfortunately, when you have a bad leak, it can also cause damage to your flooring. If you have carpet, be on the lookout for unexplained damp spots or a darkened appearance. On hardwood, linoleum, and laminate flooring, make sure to take note if your floor has a warped appearance.
Slab Leaks Need To Be Taken Seriously
Slab leaks can be a serious threat to your home. It can ruin carpets, flooring, walls and cause mold and mildew damage. Repairing these leaks can get quite expensive. So, if you notice any signs of a slab leak, give us a call as soon as possible!
Call Stephens Plumbing for Your Slab Leak Detection, Repair, & Replacement
Count on Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning for quality replacement. No matter how bad your slab leak is, we’ll ensure the plumbing beneath your flooring is working properly.