The concrete floor you walk on every day is called a slab. Your slab is located underneath your house and looks a lot like a tic-tac-toe board or a checkerboard, with concrete beams and piers. Copper water lines run under your home and through the piers. Through these lines are where your home’s water supply comes from.
The slab ties all those beams and piers together and keeps your house from moving or shifting and damaging your copper pipes. Sometimes your slab develops cracks or the foundation does an unexpected and strong shift. These cracks and shifts result in what is called a slab leak. Although a slab leak may sound like a small problem, they can grow to be an immense issue if slab leak detection is not performed or ignored during the first signs of a slab leak.
Causes of Slab Leaks
When one of the water pipes that run under and through the slab develops a leak and leaks water underneath the concrete, that’s called a slab leak. A leak under the slab can be caused by many factors. Knowing how slab leaks can be created will be helpful when you contact a Carrollton plumber.
Copper Pipe Conditions
Sometimes a slab leak happens because the water lines that run through the concrete beams and piers aren’t protected properly. Sometimes they happen because of impurities in the copper rolls they use to make the water lines under the house. Knowing the condition of your copper pipes and how the protection is surrounding them is vital to understanding why a leak could have occurred and what next steps need to be taken.
Temperature and Pipe Contraction
Temperature is a key factor when determining the cause of a slab leak. Sometimes leaks happen because of expansion and contraction. When you use hot water the water pipe expands with the heat. Then when you use cold water the line cools down and contracts. This back and forth of temperature extremes can cause the pipes to rub against the concrete, and this can create leaks.
Foundation Shifts
One of the most common reasons for slab leaks is the soil and clay underneath the slab shifting unexpectedly. These shifts can damage your pipes, creating the slab leak problem. By knowing that your home is shifting and taking action against your slab leak problem, you are putting yourself a step ahead of disaster striking your home.
Why Does a Slab Leak Have to Be Repaired?
Slab leaks have to be repaired because not only are slab leaks dangerous but they can end up costing you a lot of money. If you know you have a slab leak and leave the problem unrepaired, you are opening your family up to:
- Skyrocketing water bills,
- Foundation damage,
- And deadly mold spores appearing in the home.
All of these issues can easily be prevented by contacting an emergency plumber that will be able to efficiently determine the problem and how to approach an affordable and successful solution.
Plumbing Dynamics is Carrollton’s Go-To Slab Leak Repair Team
If you notice any signs of slab leak or related foundation damage around your home, don’t wait. Contact the team at Plumbing Dynamics today to receive experienced and efficient repairs on your home. When you work with us, your home’s plumbing is in the best hands.
