Having a slab leak can burn a hole in your wallet and cause massive issues with your home. That is why slab leak detection is very important to keep the situation from becoming worse and costing more money. Here are a few of the signs and causes of a slab leak in your home.
Signs You Have a Slab Leak
- Unusually High Water Bills – Do you see a drastic increase in your water bill, but you’re using the same amount you normally do? This could be a sign you have a leak somewhere.
- Wet Floor – The next thing you should look for is damp carpets or warped wooden floors that you can’t explain where the water came from. Water from a slab leak can collect and cause damage to flooring.
- Mold and Mildew – If you can’t see any visual signs of a leak, check for the smell of mold. Mold can be a sign of water damage in places you can’t see, like in your walls.
What are the causes of slab leaks?
Pressure
One of the biggest reasons for a pipe to crack is because of pressure from the ground. Pressure can cause soil to shift and move the house slightly. This can be the result of a number of things – poor construction, soil erosion or earthquakes, to name a few. While we probably won’t be seeing any earthquakes in San Antonio or Boerne anytime soon, pressure can still affect your slab.
Abrasion
Pipes are subject to expand and contract due to the flow of hot and cold water. The running water also causes the pipes to rattle. Over time, pipes wear down due to the constant friction against concrete and gravel. As the metal of the pipes get thinner and thinner, it eventually causes a leak. Hot water pipes are more likely to break because the expansion causes more abrasion than cold water contracting.
Corrosion
Hot water doesn’t only contribute to the abrasion of the pipes but the corrosion of them, as well. Cold water can also cause corrosion, but the heat of the water and the metal of the pipes have a bigger reaction. This is more common to happen to older houses compared to more modern homes. The types of metal that are normally used in older homes are often those that can corrode, like copper. Copper may be resistant to corrosion, but it is not impossible for it to happen.
Slab leaks can cause a lot of damage. The quicker you call, the better. Contact Mr. Plumber today!
