Slab Leak Detection & Repair
Slab leaks are pressurized plumbing or piping leakage underneath or within the concrete floor. A slab leak is a plumbing industry term for a pinhole leak that has developed in a copper water line below the concrete floor of your residence, or business. They are also known as foundation leaks and concrete slab leaks. Think you might need a slab leak detection and repair? Below are some of the most common symptoms.
The most common slab leak symptoms are:
- Wet base boards.
- Hot spots on the floor.
- High water utility costs.
- Sounds of water running but cannot find the source.
- If you observe cracks in the walls or flooring this could be damage from a slab leak.
- Mildew & excessive moisture under carpets could indicate your slab is cracked & the pipes are leaking.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, be sure to give boss plumbing a call and after a slab leak detection we can decide the best course of action for the repair.
What causes a slab leak?
- Natural shifting of the ground due to a change in underground moisture can pull pipes apart.
- Improper installation by unknowledgeable plumbers can lead to pipes that are too small, of the wrong material or wrapped incorrectly.
- The chemistry pH balance of water flowing through can corrode copper pipes.
- Nicked waterlines and inferior materials with imperfections can also lead to slab leaks. This may also occur when piping bends or joins other lines.
Finding the slab leak:
Breaking into a slab without positive confirmation of the leak source is unacceptable. Do not let anyone dismantle your property just to search for these types of leaks. Boss plumbing has a thorough process with technical expertise, as well as experience, to find a slab leak. Locating leaks, non-destructively, requires the use of modern tools such as electronic amplification equipment and electromagnetic pipeline locators. With the proper equipment leaks can be found and repaired with minimal disruption to property.
The solutions to such problems are as follows;
- Direct access: This is the insurance company term for jack hammering up the floor to make a spot repair on the leaking line. This repair tends to b slightly disruptive and is not highly recommended if you have a post tension foundation. This option is not practical if the leak is below the walls, cabinetry or permanent plumbing fixtures.
- Pipe re-route: This option is the industry standard for repairing a slab leak and the solution generally recognized by the insurance company. A new water line is run through the walls and ceilings of your residence to replace the leaking line below your floor. With this option the disruption to interior surfaces of your residence can be extensive on longer lines. We use this option only if the leaking line is short or not able to be repaired with epoxy restoration.
- Epoxy Restoration: This option can usually be done with the utilization of two access points during the repair. This solution has been known tyo save our customers thousands of dollars over the traditional slab leak repair methods.
- Repiping: If you’ve already had several re-routes and are tired of having to deal with slab leaks then this option may be for you. This can be done with a new water heater system that utilizes non-metallic pex pipping and may be just what you need. This option guarantees a problem free system.
Boss plumbing is open 24 hours daily to assist you in any emergencies that you may be experiencing. If you suspect a slab leak contact us and let us perform a detection and repair service.
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