Have you noticed the sound of water running under your floors when your water isn’t turned on? Maybe water has started pooling on your floor, or you’ve noticed damp carpeting?
Well, you could have a slab leak. But what is a slab leak and how can it be fixed? At Gotelli Plumbing, we know you want to protect your Marin County home from unwanted water disasters and we’re here to help.
Read all about slab leaks and what you can do about them in our guide below!
What Is a Slab Leak?
When we say “slab,” we are referring to your home’s concrete slab foundation. Most modern homes have concrete slabs under them that were poured when the home was built.
There is a whole web of plumbing underneath your concrete foundation, so a leak in that plumbing can be difficult to detect until it’s been going on for a long time.
Slab leaks can be caused by several things including:
Corrosion
Underground pipes come directly in contact with soil in the ground that contains metals. These metals can corrode your pipes over time, eating through them and causing leaks.
Pressure
As you can imagine, all that weight bearing down on your plumbing can cause stress on your pipes. Soil shifting under your home can also cause pressure on your plumbing system. Additionally, if your water pressure is too high, it can cause strain on your plumbing throughout your home over time.
Who Is At Risk of Slab Leaks?
Not everyone is going to be at risk for slab leaks. Obviously, if your home is settled on stilts instead of a concrete foundation, they will not apply to you.
However, if you do have a concrete foundation, you are more likely to experience a slab leak if your home is older. In older homes, the structure has had more time to settle and wear and tear has happened over the years. If your home is twenty or more years old, you could be at a higher risk of dealing with a slab leak.
How Can Slab Leaks Be Prevented?
Slab leaks can be scary, but luckily there are a few things you can do to prevent them. To avoid this costly disruption, make sure to:
Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
Although using chemical drain cleaners to break up clogs can be tempting, it’s better to call a plumber to snake your drains. Chemical cleaners can wreak havoc on your pipes, causing them to deteriorate at an alarming rate.
Take Action Against Your Hard Water
Having hard water can be costly in the long run. Hard water can damage your pipes, causing pinhole leaks. These leaks can lead to a major slab leak later down the line.
If you’re worried about your hard water, a water softener can be a great choice to combat it.
Check Your Water Pressure Gauge Regularly
Maintaining the proper water pressure is extremely important to avoid putting extra stress on your pipes.
Make sure you’re regularly checking your water pressure meter. Water pressure should always be between 65 to 80 psi.
How Can Slab Leaks Be Detected?
If you suspect a slab leak, have your foundation checked by a professional plumber. Leak detection is one of the many services we offer at Gotelli Plumbing, and we’d be happy to come take a look! For now, here are some signs of a slab leak:
- Wet spots on your floor
- Moldy carpeting
- Spike in your water bill
- Warped or buckling floorboards
- Drop in water pressure
Contact Gotelli For All Your Water Leak Repairs!
At Gotelli Plumbing, we know that water leaks are the last thing you want to disrupt your home. Luckily, we have proudly served the San Rafael area for years and we know our way around the pipes. Our licensed professional technicians will go above and beyond to fix leaks as well as any other plumbing issues you may have.
Call us today to schedule!
