The Quick Guide to Finding and Fixing Slab Leaks

by | Sep 20, 2021

Any leak is a serious matter, but some are more problematic than others, like slab leaks. These leaks are beneath your home’s slab foundation. Unfortunately, a slab leak is a challenging issue to fix. That’s why we’re here to help. 

It’s possible to have a slab leak for quite some time before it’s noticeable. Then, when you do uncover the problem, it’s a real challenge to find the exact location of the leak. You can’t do this without under slab leak detection. Finally, you have to tackle the problem of fixing a leak deep beneath your home without causing major upheaval.

That’s the challenge. Fortunately, there are some great solutions. The first is being an alert, educated homeowner. You need to know that you have a slab leak in order to fix it, right? Once you’re aware of the problem, you need to contact a skilled team of slab leak detection and repair experts. This article covers the following points about slab leaks:

  • Homeowner awareness (signs of slab leaks)
  • Expert intervention and under slab leak detection
  • Solutions (how slab leaks are repaired)

Every homeowner should be able to recognize a possible slab leak so that they can take immediate action.

Homeowner Awareness: Signs of Slab Leaks

The homeowner is usually the first person to become aware of a slab leak. Sadly, this often happens after some damage has occurred. The sooner you can identify a problem, the better. That’s why homeowners must be vigilant about any of the following signs:

  • Warm spots on the floor
  • Soggy ground near your foundation
  • Hissing or water running sounds in the walls or beneath cabinets
  • Damp spots on carpet
  • Sudden spike in your water bill with no explanation
  • Cracks forming in the walls and ceilings

A high water bill is probably one of the most common initial signs. If you suspect an issue due to unusually costly bills, try this. Turn off every sink, washing machine, or other appliance that uses water. Then, walk around and listen. Can you hear water running? That’s a problem. Now, look at your water meter. If you can access it, there should be no activity. If there is, water is running somewhere undetected.

Understanding Slab Leak Damage

Any water leak is a problem, but slab leaks must be dealt with immediately. Because they happen outside your home, you can’t control them with water shut-off valves or plug them with temporary patches. These leaks will remain unblocked until you get them permanently repaired. 

Without intervention, the slab leak can saturate the ground around and underneath your home, causing significant damage to your foundation, walls, and flooring and making your house shift and sink. Also, slab leaks introduce moisture into your home, which can lead to mold and mildew problems. The fungus can cause respiratory issues and poor air quality.

The key to minimizing this damage is to get help right away. An expert crew will be able to identify and solve the issue quickly.

Expert Intervention: Under Slab Leak Detection

Since slab leaks aren’t a DIY problem, you’ll have to call in a professional to fix this issue. When they arrive, the first thing they have to do is pinpoint the exact location of the link. If they didn’t do this, every slab leak repair would involve digging and jackhammering until they found the leaking pipe. Of course, that would be a huge mess.

That doesn’t have to happen because there are great tools and technologies to help find leaks. Pipe detectors and amplification equipment are two of the most popular tools used for under slab leak detection. These even work when the problem is deep beneath your concrete slab. These are so effective that they help to make the next step much easier for technicians and homeowners.

Solutions: How Slab Leaks are Repaired

Once under slab leak detection experts have pinpointed the exact location of the leak, it’s time to fix the problem. Fortunately, detection equipment makes it possible to know where the leak is within a variance of two feet or fewer. That means the repair crew can go directly through the floor to the damaged pipe and complete the fix. This can be done relatively quickly, and in most cases, only a small portion of flooring is affected.

Call Today for Help with Slab Leaks

If you have any reason to suspect that you have a slab leak, it’s essential to call for help immediately. You want to prevent structural damage to your home and find a resolution quickly.

Indiana leak detection offers slab leak detection services for area homeowners. Contact us to have a crew dispatched to your home as soon as possible.

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