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A Comprehensive Guide To Slab Leaks: How A Plumber Can Help | Myrtle Beach, SC
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Plumbing leakages are every homeowners’ problem in Myrtle Beach, SC. Fortunately, most of the common leaks happen in easy to reach places like below the sinks and toilets. In such situations, a plumber can detect them easily and fix them with ordinary plumbing tools.
But some leaks such as a slab leak, are hard to detect and it involves complicated processes to fix them. In this regard, let’s take an in-depth dive and examine slab leaks in detail.
What Is a Slab Leak?
A slab results from leakages from the pipes underneath a home slab foundation. Apart from these leaks wasting water in your home, they are detrimental to the concrete around the leak as they erode the soil around it.
If you don’t address the problem on time by calling a professional plumber, a slab leak may lead to cracking of floors and walls in your house or make your home’s foundation buckle or shift.
In extreme cases, a slab leak may lead to collapsing of portions of your beautiful home.
Are Slab Leaks a Common Plumbing Problem?
South Carolina is amongst one of the states that is prone to hurricanes, storms, and earthquakes. And slab leaks are very common in regions that usually experience frequent shifting of the ground.
This is because these processes exact tremendous pressure on pipes, especially the ones that are located below the concrete, causing them to crack or shear. More importantly, old homes are susceptible to slab leaks that result from leaks caused by corroding sewer pipes or copper pipes.
Sadly, many homeowners may fail to notice these leaks until they are slapped with high utility bills. This is the time most of them search around looking for a plumber to check for unseen leaks in their homes.
What Are the Common Signs of a Slab Leak?
You don’t have to be a professional to diagnose a slab leak. Here are some common pointers that may signify the presence of a leak beneath your home’s foundation.
- Warm Spots on the Floor
Sometimes your hot water line below your home may leak. This may result in unusually warm spots on your floor. Such leaks are easy to detect when you have a carpeted flooring or you have extremely thin linoleum floors.
Tiled flooring complicates the process, and the only time you can detect such warm spots is when the leak is so severe. In such instances, water seeps between spaces and adhesives of the tiles. This water can cause extreme damages to your tile flooring.
If you discover such spots in your home, it is imperative to call a plumber quickly.
- Foundation Heaving
Foundation heaving is a process where the foundation undergoes swelling to an extreme degree, which causes your home’s structure to experience a slight lift. When you detect such a problem, don’t hesitate to call a professional and experienced plumber for repairs.
Sudden shifts in a building foundation are extremely detrimental and sometimes they may cause irreversible damages to your home. One of the most severe damages manifests itself as cracks on the slab, exterior, and interior wall. More importantly, a settling foundation may also cause similar damages.
That’s why it is always important to seek the service of an expert plumber to help you identify the differences.
- Increased Water Bill
If your water bill suddenly spikes without any notification of an increase of service fee from your water supply company, it may be a sign of a slab leak. And it is imperative to contact a plumber as early as possible if there are no detectable signs of a leak. Don’t wait until the slab leak elevates into severe and costly damage.
- Dome-shaped Floor
Severe leaks that are left unattended for a long time may cause floor-shaped warps that damage your home’s flooring. If you realize raised areas on your floor it may be an indication of severe water damage. On the brighter side, a raised “Dome” may act as a precise pointer of the location of the leak. On the downside, it will cost a small fortune on repairs due to the severity of the damage.
Slab Leak Detection Equipment
Sometimes you may suspect the presence of slab leaks, but you can’t locate them using the above methods. In these instances, you should seek the services of an expert plumber who uses specialized slab leak detection equipment.
In the process, they drain water from your home’s pipes and pump air in the system. And through the use of special sound listening equipment, they can pinpoint the exact location of the leak.
How Do You Fix a Slab Leak?
Locating a slab leak is one thing, and fixing it is another. It is always advisable to use the services of a professional and experienced plumber in the undertaking. Always remember some things are best left to the professionals.
For a layman, the process may be messy and very costly. In extreme cases, complications may occur and you may end up escalating the damage when using a DIY approach.
What Preparations Do You Make Before Fixing a Slab Leak?
Before you go demolishing your concrete floor, be sure of the exact location of the leak. If it’s necessary, use specialized plumbing equipment to do so.
The second step is to prepare the room in question for hazardous conditions. Clear all your valuables such as painting, electronics, furnishings, and rugs, just to mention a few. Also, make sure you wear all the necessary PPEs.
Lastly, make sure you have all the right equipment for the job.
Call for Backup
If you are in Myrtle Beach, SC, and looking for professional plumbing services to help you fix a slab leak, Benjamin Franklin of Myrtle Beach should be your first stop. We provide a wide array of plumbing services and customized solutions. And with every job at a time, customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
Contact us today, to get free estimates.