Slab Leak Detection
Leaks are a pain no matter where they happen, but some leaks are worse than others.
It’s one thing to deal with a leaky pipe in a wall or under your sink. Now imagine a leak deep beneath your home’s concrete slab.
You’ll need help from a slab leak detection expert at Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning to deal with that. Fortunately, we know what it takes to get your home back in great shape!
What Is a Slab Leak?
If your home is built on a concrete pad, plumbers call that pad a “slab.”
There are usually pipes running beneath the slab, and when one or more of these are ruptured, you have a slab leak.
Unlike other leaks, a slab leak can go on for quite a while before you notice that something is wrong. Meanwhile, the leak can cause serious damage.
Fortunately, there are some slab leak detection signs that can help you to recognize a problem. You should be on the lookout for:
- The sound of running water when no fixtures are turned on
- A sudden increase in your water bill for no obvious reason
- Warm or damp spots on your floor
- A moldy or wet smell
- Moist areas on the walls
- Wetness on the bottom of cabinets
- A loss of water pressure
- Soggy patches in your yard around your foundation
You can also check your water meter to see if there may be a leak. To do this, turn off the water to all of your fixtures. Then, check your water meter. If it is still registering activity, there is a good chance of a hidden leak somewhere.
If you notice any of these issues, let us know. The Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning slab leak detection team can help. We’ll find the slab leak under your home and get it fixed. If the problem turns out to be something else, we can help with that, too!
What Causes a Slab Leak?
There are a few things that can cause the pipes under your home to leak.
Older pipes can become corroded. Sometimes, pipes are made from materials that react to the surrounding soil. This reactivity can cause them to deteriorate faster. Additionally, homes can settle, and that places pressure on buried pipes that can make them leak.
Finally, if the builder didn’t properly install your pipes during construction, they are more likely to break down.
How Does Slab Leak Detection Work?
Slab leak detection experts use different tools and technologies to pinpoint the leak’s location under your home.
We use infrared, helium, sonar, and ultrasonic detection to see or hear the leak that is causing your problem.
This technology is so reliable that we can often determine the location of a leak within a single square foot. Once we do that, we can take action to repair your slab leak.
Why Is Slab Leak Detection Important?
If a slab leak goes on undetected, it can cause extensive damage. The water that leaks out can saturate the ground, leading to instability and foundation issues.
As the leak seeps through your floor, it can damage your subflooring, carpet, or other floorings. The mold created can cause air quality issues and be difficult to eradicate.
If you have electrical wiring of any sort in your impacted walls or floors, that can be damaged as well. This damage may even create a fire hazard.
Outside your home, the water leaking into the ground can cause sinkholes and erosion.
Fortunately, you can prevent extensive damage by acting quickly. As soon as we find the leak, we can make arrangements to repair it.
Don’t panic if you think you have a slab leak. Let the team at Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning help.
Slab Leak Repair
Once our slab leak detection crew has identified the exact location of the problem, we can fix the leak for you.
The best repair here will depend on the number of pipes involved, the pipe material, and the extent of the leak.
In some cases, the best choice is to replace the pipes entirely. Fortunately, in the majority of cases, we can reline the pipes that are impacted. This solution is the least invasive type of repair and will be completed in a relatively short amount of time.
Make a Slab Leak Detection Appointment Today
If you have a slab leak, it’s important to have the issue fixed right away. Please don’t wait!
Our team is happy to come out and assess your home for slab leaks. If we find a leak, we can quickly provide a fix that will keep your home dry for years to come.
Your home is always in good hands with the experienced team at Sirius Plumbing and Air Conditioning. Contact us to set an appointment today!