You may not think about what’s underneath your home until you discover a problem, but it’s a good idea to pay close attention to any potential issues may that arise. Cracks in foundation walls or water damage on floors could signal you have a slab leak.
We also have the experience and the latest technology to find even the smallest leaks. We use state-of-the-art equipment, which allows us to locate your leak quickly and efficiently.
Once we have located the leak, we will provide you with a comprehensive repair plan. We will work with you to ensure that your repairs are done in a timely and efficient manner.
What Is a Slab Leak?
A slab leak is a leak under a structure’s foundation. If left unrepaired, slab leaks can compromise the structural integrity of your home’s floors, foundation, and walls. Slab leaks are relatively common, particularly in older homes or areas that experience ground movement due to your home’s foundation settling or seismic activity.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
Slab leaks can result from several factors, including broken or leaking plumbing pipes or shifting in the ground.
Ground Shifting
Earth shifting under your home’s foundation could result in a slab leak. Soils in some areas tend to absorb water and expand. When this expansion occurs, the resulting movement can damage pipes, which may result in a slab leak.
Materials Used for Plumbing Pipes
Pipes fabricated from cast iron or galvanized steel can also corrode over time. Older homes, in particular, are more prone to developing slab leaks than new home constructions. That’s because older homes can contain materials such as copper pipes that degrade over time and are more susceptible to leaks. Even PVC pipes can develop cracks if consistently exposed to small vibrations in the ground.
Poor-Quality Foundation
If your home has a poorly built foundation, the construction quality can compromise its integrity, making it more prone to slab leaks. If you plan to buy an older home, request a home inspection to check for potential slab leaks.
Pressure on Plumbing Pipes
Plumbing pipes installed underground are more vulnerable to leaks. As natural events such as earthquakes and ground shifting exert pressure on the pipes, the pipes’ stability can be compromised over time, resulting in leaks. If a pipe sustains too much pressure, it may burst, which could result in a slab leak.
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What Are Some Signs Your Home Might Have a Slab Leak?
Although a leak in your roof is hard to ignore, you might not readily detect a slab leak. The following are some of the signs that signal you could be dealing with a slab leak in your home.
Cracks in Your Home’s Foundation Walls
Cracks in your home’s foundation walls could point to a potential slab leak. While these cracks may result from other issues, they’re strong signals that your house might have a slab leak.
Running Water Sounds
If you’re not using the dishwasher or washing machine and hear running water, the sound could signal your home has a broken pipe.
Warm Floors
Slab leaks can result in breaks in hot water pipes, resulting in leaks. Warm spots on a floor could indicate a leak in a water pipe.
Water Damage to Floors
Warped flooring material or moldy floors could point to a problem with a broken plumbing pipe. Pay close attention to water puddles or damage to flooring in areas with substantial plumbing components, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.
Water Puddles, Shifting Soil, and Uneven Plant Growth Outside the Home
Water puddles along the base of a home’s foundation, soil shifting around a building, or uneven growth in shrubs or foundation plants can also indicate the possibility of a slab leak.
How Do Plumbing Professionals Detect a Slab Leak?
t Zest Plumbing, our plumbing professionals use specialized equipment to identify the source of a slab leak. Audio and visual clues such as those mentioned above can make you aware of a potential problem, but you should call a professional plumber with the experience and tools required to confirm if it’s an issue that you need to address.
If a leak occurs in a hot water line, plumbers can use thermal imaging devices to find the source of the leak. Sound identification equipment is another tool that plumbers use to identify leaks.
How Do You Fix a Slab Leak?
Before beginning any slab leak repair, you must identify the source of the leak. Using specialized equipment, our Zest Plumbing professionals can isolate the location of the slab leak, inspect the piping to determine the nature and severity of the leak, and present options for correcting the problem. Several repair options exist for fixing a slab leak.
Pipelining
This type of pipe repair involves coating the pipes’ interior with an epoxy coating. The coating can seal pinhole punctures in pipes or minor pipe failures in main water and sewer lines. Pipelining isn’t recommended for more substantial pipe damage.
Re-piping or Rerouting Plumbing Pipes
If you own an older home, you be able to re-pipe or reroute your home’s pipes around the outside edge of the slab to resolve slab leaks. This option is often more desirable for homeowners as it doesn’t require jackhammering through a concrete slab to access pipes or repairing flooring afterward. Re-piping allows new plumbing pipes to remain accessible for future inspection and servicing.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair a Slab Leak?
It’s essential to address a slab leak as soon as possible. Doing so can minimize the damage and level of repair required to correct a problem.
Slab leak repair costs can vary depending on the type of work required. Repair costs range from $600 to $4,500, with total slab replacement averaging between $3,600 and $8,000.
Does Your Home Have a Slab Leak?
If you’re concerned you may have a slab leak in your home, contact our plumbing specialists at Zest Plumbing and Drain. We provide the best possible slab leak detection and repair services at a fair price. Call us today at 480-448-5750 or send us a message to schedule an appointment. Find out why our insured and bonded plumbers are your trusted source for a wide range of plumbing services in Greater Phoenix, Arizona.