A slab leak or under-slab leakages are leaks which occur in the pipe underneath a concrete or stone in your home. These network of pipes can either be water or sewer lines and are difficult to detect since the pipes are buried beneath a slab foundation.

Slab leaks can seriously damage your foundation, ruin your floor, allow molds and mildew to thrive in your home causing serious health, occupation and financial damages.

How to detect a slab leak

Due to the fact that water and sewer pipes are buried beneath your housing foundation, a slab leak can be difficult to detect and can go for months without being noticed. However, there are signs which slab leaks are responsible for such as:

1. High water bills
2. Low water pressure
3. High water wastage
4. Dampness of indoor carpeting and floors

How to prevent a slab leak in your home

To prevent a slab leak or minimize the likelihood of its occurrence, these are recommended:

1. Determine an appropriate water pressure for your home

A major cause of slab leaks is a high water pressure. To prevent a slab leak, maintain an appropriate water pressure. A high water pressure gives your pipes a shock, and with time, these shock cause wear and tear on your pipe network. Any protective layer will be worn out due to the frequent shocks.

2. Check for water hardness or softness/ water ph

Always use a ph scale to check for water hardness or softness. Besides, know whether the water in your area is hard (acidic) or soft (alkaline). Why? Acidic or alkaline water may corrode your pipes causing serious damages to your slab foundation. To prevent a slab leak as a result or hard or soft water, use the normal drinking water beside following the step of other homeowners in your area. In addition, you can install a water softener to improve water ph issues and prevent unforeseen damages to your pipes.

3. Avoid chemical drainers

Chemical drainers/cleaners can be a quick fix to clear logs and blockages in your pipes sinks and plumbing system. However, this short-term solution can have negative effects on the health of your pipes as they corrode pipes and causing leaks. Seek the service of a plumber to clear logs and blockages in your pipes and sink like other homeowners. Austin homeowners constantly seek the service of a plumber to clear clogs in an annual pipe cleaning schedule.

4. Use a slab-leak-detector.

A slab leak detector is a special tool or equipment used mainly by plumbers to detect and locate leaks in a pipe network. With a slab leak detector, you can have the trouble of leaks solved quickly with less damage to your slab/home foundation.

5. Craftsmanship

Poor workmanship is blamed for consistent slab leaks in many homes. Let all your piping, plumbing and repairs be done by a skilled and licensed craftsman. In addition, avoid using inferior plumbing suppliers for your water supply network.

6. Rusty pipes.

Galvanized or iron pipes are susceptible to rust when they come into contact with soil or gravel. Since these are the pipes used in our homes, they should be replaced immediately they show rust.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Hawthorne, Little Falls and Ringwood.