Slab and Sewer Leak Detection
A slab leak is one of those nightmare plumbing scenarios. Since all the plumbing components are underneath a layer of concrete, even a simple fix is hard to manage — not to mention expensive. Luckily, detecting leaks from slabs is a common service offered by most plumbing companies. In these inspections, your local plumbing contractor will help identify the root cause of your slab leak and offer up some solutions. Ready to learn more about slab and sewer leak detection? We’ve got you covered; just read on. Are you searching for a local company to provide services for plumbing in Dallas, TX? Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling and Heating is here to help. If sewer smells or water leaks are causing you problems, give us a call at (972) 291-0740 today.
What is a Slab Leak?
In some areas, contractors build homes on top of concrete slabs. This means that home builders will install your home’s plumbing system underneath the concrete. In a perfect world, that plumbing system would last forever. Unfortunately, in reality, pipes and other components have a lifespan. When things finally break, it’s up to the current homeowner to remedy the situation. In most cases, you’ll need to replace plumbing and sewer pipes. As you might imagine, having everything buried underneath a huge layer of concrete presents a unique set of problems. This makes repairing a leak underneath a concrete slab one of the most expensive plumbing fixes.What Causes Leaks in Slabs?
Underneath your home is a huge network of pipes. These usually come in two forms:- Supply lines — These provide the water for your home.
- Sewer lines — All the outgoing water from your home’s plumbing system, including wastewater, use these lines to connect with a city sewer or septic system.
Warning Signs of Slab and Sewer Leaks
How do you know if your sewer line is broken? Well, you’ll probably notice a very off-putting smell. The best-case scenario is that this might be the fault of a failed flange in your toilet. If it’s not, though, it will mean you need to fix the leak in your sewer lines. That’s the obvious symptom. If it happens to be your water supply lines causing your issues, you’ll need to pay attention to some other warning signs.- Hot spots on the floor — One sign of a leaking supply line underneath the slab is if you find abnormally hot areas of the floor. This might mean that the hot water supply line is leaking.
- Raised dome in your floor — If a supply line leak is causing water to pool underneath the floor, you may notice damage to the flooring in the form of warping or raised dome-like areas.
- Water bill increases — When a leak goes untreated, it means water will constantly be pouring into your foundation. If you’re keeping an eye on your water bill, you might be able to catch a leak in the numbers.
- Foundation heaving — If a leak is severe enough, it can actually cause the entire foundation of your home to lift. This is a situation that requires immediate attention as foundation heaving can cause some serious damage.