You’ve heard of pipe leaks and toilets leaks, but you may not have heard of a slab leak. The slab refers to the concrete foundation located under your home. All of your plumbing runs through this slab and if there is an issue with the plumbing, then the leak can cause a lot of damage to the foundation and the rest of your home.

This blog answers a few of the frequently asked questions you might have about slab leaks.

What Exactly Is a Slab Leak?

In homes where there is no crawl space or basement, or there is a portion of the home that is not laid on top of a basement, there is a cement slab. This slab acts as a foundation, and typically, there are several pipes running through this cement. When a leak occurs in this plumbing, for whatever reason, it is referred to as a slab leak.

The leak can be anything from a small hole that causes a trickle of water to major damage that will cause a serious leak under your home.

What Are the Signs of a Slab Leak? 

Depending on the size of the leak, the signs of a slab leak may be subtle or very noticeable. Either way, here are a few of the signs you might have a slab leak:

• Increasing water bills. Leaking pipes could be the reason your water bills are rising. If you’ve had a plumber checks the pipes throughout your home, then the issue could be a leak in your slab.

• The sound of running water. If all the faucets in your home are off, but you can still hear a faint sound of running water, the issue could be water leaking inside your slab.

• Cracking foundation. When the water continuously leaks inside your slab foundation, it will leak into cracks and make them larger. If you notice cracks, then contact a professional immediately.

• Sinking foundation. If your foundation is sinking, the floors will be uneven, you will notice cracks in your home and foundation, and your doors will become easily jammed.

If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your home, then you should call a professional to have your slab inspected. 

What Caused the Slab Leak?

A slab leak can occur for several reasons. For example, if you have copper pipes running through your slab, the minerals inside the water coming into your home can cause the copper to corrode. Eventually, the corrosion will lead to holes in the pipes that will allow water to leak into your slab.

Another common cause of a slab leak is high water pressure. If your water pressure is too high, it will cause damage to the pipes. This damage will then cause a leak in your slab.

How Can You Detect a Slab Leak?

If you suspect there is a water leak in your slab, contact a professional immediately. They will use several tools to determine if you have a leak and where the leak or leaks are occurring.

For example, if there is a hot water leak, the professional might use a thermal imaging camera to detect hot spots in the slab. When there are hot spots in the slab, it typically means there is hot water found somewhere in your slab. There are also special devices that will allow a professional plumber to listen for a leak and pinpoint the exact location of the damage.

Once the professionals find the leak, they will take the necessary steps to fix the leak and ensure it doesn’t occur in the future.

Slab leaks are an issue that should be resolved immediately. If you have any additional questions, contact us today: (317) 423-7289