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Slab Leak

5 Things to Prepare for Freezing Weather

By Plumbing, Plumbing and Air Conditioning Dallas TX, Slab Leak

Preventing your pipes from freezing is important to avoid the potential damage and inconvenience associated with frozen or burst pipes during cold weather. Here are some steps you can take to keep your pipes from freezing in your home:

Insulate your pipes:

    • Add insulation sleeves or foam pipe insulation to exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas such as crawl spaces, basements, attics, and exterior walls.
    • Pay extra attention to pipes located in areas prone to colder temperatures.

Seal gaps and cracks:

    • Seal any gaps or cracks in the walls, floors, and foundation of your home to prevent cold air from entering and affecting the pipes.
    • Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal windows and doors to reduce drafts.

Keep the heat on:

    • Maintain a consistent and reasonable indoor temperature, even when you’re not at home. A minimum temperature of 55°F (13°C) is generally recommended.
    • Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.

Allow faucets to drip:

    • During extremely cold weather, let faucets (both hot and cold) drip slightly to keep water flowing through the pipes, which can help prevent freezing.
    • This especially applies to faucets on exterior walls or in unheated areas.

Use heat tape or cables:

    • Install heat tape or electric heating cables on vulnerable pipes, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • These can be especially useful for preventing pipe freezing in areas that are difficult to insulate or heat.

Add extra insulation:

    • Insulate attics, basements, and crawl spaces to help maintain warmer temperatures around your pipes.
    • Make sure your home is properly insulated to reduce heat loss.

Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses:

    • Before the cold weather hits, disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and close the inside valves supplying outdoor faucets.

Keep the garage door closed:

    • If you have water supply lines running through your garage, make sure to keep the garage door closed during cold spells to retain heat.

Monitor weather forecasts:

    • Stay informed about upcoming cold weather conditions and take extra precautions when temperatures are expected to drop significantly.

Install a temperature alarm:

    • Consider installing a temperature alarm system that can alert you if the temperature in your home drops below a certain threshold.

By taking these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of your pipes freezing during cold weather. It’s important to be proactive, especially in regions with harsh winters, to protect your home’s plumbing system. If you’re unsure about any of these steps or need assistance, consider consulting a professional plumber or contractor for guidance and assistance in insulating and protecting your pipes.

January 10, 2024

Sirius Plumbing & AC Takes Slab Leaks Seriously

By Blog, Slab Leak

A slab leak is a leak in the water pipes that run beneath the concrete slab foundation of a home. These leaks can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor installation, corrosion, and shifting of the foundation.

To repair a slab leak, the first step is to locate the leak. Sirius Plumbing & Air Conditioning uses specialized equipment that can detect the location of the leak without damaging the slab. Once the leak is located, the damaged pipe section can be removed and replaced with a new pipe.

There are several methods for repairing a slab leak, including:

  1. Breaking through the slab: This involves breaking through the concrete slab to access the damaged pipe. This method is effective but can be costly and time-consuming.
  2. Epoxy pipe coating: This involves coating the inside of the damaged pipe with epoxy resin, which seals the leak and prevents further corrosion.
  3. Re-routing the pipe: This involves rerouting the water line around the damaged section of pipe, which can be a more cost-effective solution.

It’s important to hire a licensed plumber with experience in slab leak repair to ensure the repair is done correctly and safely. At Sirius Plumbing & Air Conditioning we employ fully licensed technicians to ensure your repair is done right.

If a slab leak goes untreated, it can lead to several serious problems, including:

  1. Water damage: A slab leak can cause water to seep into the building’s foundation, walls, and floors, leading to water damage, mold growth, and structural damage.
  2. Increased water bills: A slab leak can cause your water bill to increase significantly, as water is constantly flowing out of the damaged pipe.
  3. Decreased water pressure: If the water pressure in your home is low, it could be due to a slab leak, which can restrict the flow of water to your faucets, showers, and other water fixtures.
  4. Health hazards: A slab leak can cause mold growth, which can lead to respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues.
  5. Foundation damage: If left untreated for a long time, a slab leak can cause the home’s foundation to shift and crack, which can lead to serious structural damage.

It’s important to hire a licensed plumber to do slab leak repair for several reasons:

  1. Knowledge and expertise: Our licensed plumbers have the knowledge and expertise necessary to accurately diagnose and repair slab leaks. At Sirius Plumbing & Air Conditioning our technicians have undergone extensive training and testing to become licensed, and are required to stay up-to-date with the latest plumbing techniques and technologies.
  2. Safety: Slab leak repair can be a dangerous job, especially if it involves breaking through the concrete slab. Sirius Plumbing & Air Conditioning has the proper tools and safety equipment to perform the repair safely, minimizing the risk of injury to themselves and others.
  3. Code compliance: Licensed plumbers are familiar with local plumbing codes and regulations, and will ensure that the repair is done in compliance with these codes. This is important not only for safety reasons, but also to avoid any legal or financial liabilities that could arise from non-compliance.
  4. Insurance coverage: Hiring a licensed plumber can protect you from liability in case of any accidents or damage that may occur during the repair. Sirius Plumbing & Air Conditioning has you covered. Our company and technicians are fully insured.
  5. Quality workmanship: Our technicians take pride in their work and strive to provide quality workmanship. They will ensure that the repair is done correctly and will stand behind their work with warranties and guarantees.

Overall, hiring a licensed plumber to do slab leak repair ensures that the job is done safely, correctly, and in compliance with local codes and regulations. It’s important to always hire a licensed professional for any plumbing work to ensure the safety and integrity of your building’s plumbing system.

Our promise to you is to be honest, committed and caring when it comes to you, your family and your home. To schedule your service call 972-235-6600. Or you can visit us online at SiriusPAC.com. At Sirius, our goal is to make lives better for our customers and team members every day. You can trust your home to Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning for work that is done right, guaranteed.

March 27, 2023
Common Ways to Spot a Slab Leak

Common Ways to Spot a Slab Leak in Plano

By Slab Leak

Slab leaks are particularly troubling. They can often go undetected until they have caused a significant amount of damage. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to catch these leaks before they go too far. Keep reading to learn the signs that it is time to schedule slab leak repair for your Plano home.

What Is a Slab Leak?

The word slab refers to a flat, concrete foundation found under some homes. If your home has a slab foundation, water and sewer lines may lie just below the concrete. If those pipes rupture, you have a slab leak.

What Causes Slab Leaks

Several things can cause slab leaks. These include the following:

  • Pipe corrosion
  • Friction from concrete or rebar
  • Pressure resulting from ground settling or shifting

Remember that soil weight and density can vary from place to place in Plano. Pipes that last for decades in one area may crack under the pressure of surrounding dirt in others, leading to an urgent need for slab leak repair.

How Urgent Is Slab Leak Repair?

If you, or your plumber, notice a slab leak, you must immediately take action. The potential for damage is significant. You should also assume that the leak occurred for at least some time before you found it.

Slab leaks can lead to the following home-related problems:

  • Mold
  • Electrical system damage
  • Rotting floor joists
  • Soil erosion

Without early detection and slab leak repair, you could be dealing with significant damage.

How Do Plumbers Detect Slab Leaks in Plano Homes?

Today, there are all kinds of helpful technologies to help plumbers see—and sometimes even hear—leaks below your slab foundation. Your plumber might use helium detection, ultrasonic detection, infrared technology, or sonar to discover a leak.

It’s great that these technologies are available. Unfortunately, they are often not deployed until it’s clear that something is wrong.

Signs of Slab Leaks for Homeowners

Fortunately, there are measures that homeowners can take to detect the need for slab leak repair. Remember that the sooner you can catch a leak, the better. Chances are, you will have to invest less money in repairing the leak and dealing with any residual damage.

Here are some signs that you are dealing with a slab leak:

  • Unexplained wet spots on the ground around your home
  • Warm places on your floor
  • Excess moisture, especially in your basement
  • Mold or mildew

If you notice any of these things, contact a licensed plumber in Plano. They will come out to assess the situation for you. Then, they will recommend the best process for slab leak repair. Remember that it’s always helpful to take regular walks around your property to see if anything seems off. You never know what problem you might catch early.

Can Slab Leaks Be Prevented?

There is no slab leak prevention method that’s 100% effective. Still, there are things you can do that can reduce your risk of a slab leak.

First, keep in mind that you can best avoid slab leak repair if your home was properly constructed and maintains good structural integrity. If you are lucky enough to be involved in the construction of your home, insist that a reputable company in Plano handles the plumbing. They will assess the ground and other factors to determine the materials and processes that will best assure that no pipes rupture in the future.

As a homeowner, there are other precautions you can take. First, avoid using chemical drain cleaners. They are harsh and caustic, and they can cause damage to sewer pipes. They’re also largely ineffective. Another way to prevent slab leaks is to avoid using high water pressure. Finally, buildup from hard water can cause issues with your pipes. Consider a solution to mitigate that before damage occurs.

What to Expect From Slab Leak Repair

If your home does have a slab leak, you may be pretty worried—and reasonably so. Any issue relating to your home’s foundation is always concerning. Fortunately, qualified plumbing services can help you with slab leak repair.

Remember that every situation is different, but below, we’ve listed some of what you can expect during the slab leak repair process.

Slab Leak Detection

Your plumber will come to your home and listen carefully as you describe the symptoms you’ve noticed. They will have specialized equipment, as mentioned above, that will allow them to determine that there is a leak. This equipment will help them pinpoint the leak’s exact location. When they have finished looking, your plumber will know exactly where the leak is and have some suggestions for repairing it.

Assessment and Advice

Before they do anything, your plumber will need your consent. They will explain what they found, provide you with all of your possible options, and give you a price estimate. At this point, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do.

Slab Leak Repair

There are a few ways to repair a slab leak. If it is a single leaking pipe, your plumber may recommend repairing it. However, if your pipes are old or have other issues, repair may not be the best idea. Repairing a leak may work for a while, but a new leak is likely to crop up.

Your second option is to have your plumber reroute the plumbing to bypass the ruptured pipes. They will essentially add new sewer or water pipes that will go around the broken ones. Your plumber will cap off the broken one to prevent any water or sewage from flowing through them.

Finally, if there is significant damage or the pipes are in poor condition, replacement is the only real option. Your plumber will remove the existing pipes and replace them with newer lines made of modern materials.

Where to Find Plumbing Repair Near Me

If you need help with a slab leak, Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning can help! We are your source in Plano for all types of plumbing repair. Contact us, and we will send a qualified plumber right away.

June 11, 2021
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