2 Home Slab Leak Repair Options
Simple plumbing leaks are a headache but discovering a slab leak in your home can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. The damage caused by hidden leaks beneath your home’s foundation can be significant and need to be treated as soon as possible to avoid extremely costly repairs. It is important to know the signs of slab leaks so that, if you notice any, you can hire a professional plumber to discuss slab leak repair options and address the issue quickly.
Common Slab Leak Indicators:
- Increase in your water bill: A sudden, unexplained spike in your water bill could be a sign of a hidden leak beneath your foundation.
- Signs of mold and mildew: If you see or smell signs of mold it is a sign that there is excess moisture. There could be various reasons for this, but one potential reason is that it could be caused by a slab leak.
- The sound of continuously running water: If you hear the sound of water running even when all taps are turned off, it may be a sign of a slab leak.
- Discoloration in drywall: Stains or discoloration on your walls, especially near the baseboards, is a common sign of water damage caused by a hidden leak.
- Discoloration in flooring: Warped, discolored, or buckling flooring may be a result of water seeping up through a slab leak.
- Wet/spongy feeling in carpeting: If your carpet feels damp or spongy and you haven’t spilled anything, it could be from water seeping from a slab leak.
- Foundation cracks: Any visible cracks in your foundation walls or floors may be the result of a slab leak compromising the structural integrity of your home.
If you think you have a slab leak, it is essential that you contact an experienced plumber immediately. Once the issue has been identified, there are two common home slab leak repair options to discuss with your plumber.
2 Home Slab Leak Repair Options
- Demo the Concrete and Patch the Pipe
- The slab leak repair option involves demolishing the concrete slab where the leak is located and patching the damaged pipe. While this may seem like a straightforward solution, it is not always the best choice because there are various potential complications. Because the damaged section of the pipe is repaired while the rest of the old pipe remains in place, there is a risk of the pipe developing more leaks in the future. Another reason homeowners may not choose this option is because demolishing the concrete slab can lead to collateral damage, requiring the repair or replacement of the flooring. Your home’s flooring material may have been discontinued which makes it challenging to find a match.
- Reroute a New Line
- The second slab leak repair option involves rerouting a new plumbing line to bypass the old, damaged pipe. This is often preferred because it reduces the odds of another leak occurring. With this method, the new pipe is run through alternative paths, such as walls, attics, or open ceilings, avoiding the need to disturb the concrete slab. By choosing to reroute the line, the damage is typically limited to the drywall. This makes repairs more manageable and less disruptive to your home.