How to Detect and Ready Leaking Pipes Under a Slab Foundation

It'due south no hugger-mugger that pipes, water and sewer lines eventually begin to erode and leak. This happens with normal clothing and tear and is inevitable in most homes.

Many people presume that repairing a leaky pipe beneath a slab is a hard task. However, information technology's not as difficult as you might remember. Locating and gaining admission to the piping can be tough, only one time y'all know the full general area of the leak and can cut your way through the slab, repairing the pipe is simple.

How to Tell if You Have a Leak Under a Slab

Pipes

Luckily, there are several signs that indicate a leaking pipage under your slab:

  • The showtime indicator is the presence of h2o or damp spots on your floor. Leaking hot-water lines tin can also create warm spots on your floor. Walking around with blank feet inside your dwelling house tin can help yous identify the location of whatsoever lines that are leaking because y'all'll feel the oestrus through the flooring.

  • A 2nd state of affairs that tin can alert you that your water lines are leaking is the sound of rushing water underneath your floor. If information technology seems like a faucet is turned on beneath your house (and yous know in that location isn't really a faucet on somewhere), you likely take a leak in your piping.

  • Finally, a significant increase in your water bill could exist a sign of a leaking pipage. Since a cleaved line runs continuously, your h2o nib volition rise. If you notice an increase that you can't explain, either your water company is taking advantage of y'all, or you accept a leak!

Sewer lines

Leaking sewer lines are a different issue. They are more difficult to detect and often go unnoticed until at that place are visible signs which include damage to your foundation or domed (raised) sections of floor. If yous suspect a leaking sewer line, cheque your foundation for "heaving," which occurs when the slab swells enough to actually lift the entire structure.

Elusive leaks

Some leaks are hard to find and require the use of specialized listening devices (sonar), infrared cameras, or helium detection equipment. Subsequently turning off the water completely, air is pumped into the lines. This forces out whatever remaining water, so the plumber can heed for air escaping from the damaged pipe.

How to Fix a Slab Leak

Once the leak is identified, a plumber can evaluate the situation and the location of the leak. At this signal, a plan is configured and put into place. In some cases, it'due south better to re-plumb the afflicted section, while other times new new pipage throughout the the entire house volition be necessary. Attempting to repair onetime, galvanized plumbing is typically a waste material of money, as dated pipes will proceed to spring new leaks as they age.

Gaining Access

Once the leak is located, jackhammering a pigsty in the floor is required to admission the pipe. Finished floor will exist removed in gild to expose the concrete. Opening a slab volition create a meaning amount of dust, and then taking the appropriate steps to embrace and or remove article of furniture and valuables is important. Once the pigsty is cut, dirt is removed, providing access to the leaking pipe.

Repairing Damaged Water Lines

The most common blazon of pipe used for water lines under slab foundations is copper. Unfortunately, as copper pipes historic period, they are decumbent to wearing sparse and springing leaks. Before beginning the repairs on a section of pipage beneath a concrete slab, consideration should exist given to re-pipage, rather than using a temporary fix.

Should you decide to repair the copper pipage, rather than replace, it's a adequately easy procedure. A hacksaw or tubing cutter tin can be used to cutting out the damaged portion. The next step is to merely replace it with new tubing and copper couplings before soldering it into identify to repair the menstruation. The pipe will exist cached, concrete replaced and floors fixed, getting yous back to normal life.

Repairing Sewer Lines

While it'due south possible to repair a leaky water pipage on your own, fixing a leaking sewer line may require the services of a plumber. Earlier you determine to take on this kind of project yourself, consider the blazon of pipes that were used, along with the health-related issues involving exposure to human being waste product.

Depending on the historic period of the home, sewer lines may be cast iron, clay, or even PVC. Special rubber couplings are ideal for connecting different types of pipes, just they are not recommended for use underneath concrete slabs. The rubber boots deteriorate over fourth dimension, peculiarly when used outdoors. Working direct with a plumber will empower you to become educated on the state of affairs and give y'all choices that work all-time for your home.

To find out more than almost your options for repairing a slab leak or to schedule an appointment,

Call (888) 660-0471 or

Send AN EMAIL TO INFO@HOMEANGELSFL.COM