The sooner you spot a slab leak or any leak in your home, the better. That’s because it could be an easy fix or require expensive repairs if left untreated! Call and expert as soon as possible to assess what needs fixing so they can provide you with helpful advice on how to go about doing that. They will either just fill up the hole (with epoxy), give instructions for repairing piping work, or recommend re-piping altogether.

When a slab leak occurs, it can lead to costly repairs. This is because the pipes inside or underneath your home’s foundation are leaking and causing damage that’s hard to see right away. The leaks may seem like small insignificant stains at first but they’ll eventually get worse until you notice something isn’t quite right with your flooring in any of different parts of your house.

If you suspect that you may have a slab leak – and you want to double check – there’s a simple way to do that.

Just check your water meter. Read our article on How To Check For Leaks and you’ll get the very simple step by step process.

14 Signs Of A Possible Slab Leak

  • Cracks in the concrete slab is an obvious one
  • Pooling of water where there shouldn’t be – this could be indoor or outdoor
  • Drywall cracks on your walls
  • Soggy carpeting, deformed wood floors or any sign of a change in your flooring
  • Baseboards are wet or moist
  • Mold or mildew – even if you don’t see it you may smell it
  • Interior doors that don’t close properly, but they used to
  • An unexplained hot spot in your floor
  • An unusually high water bill
  • Your toilet(s) and/or showers and/or bathtubs back up
  • Your water pressure decreases
  • Your hot water heater is constantly running
  • You hear odd sounds, running water but no faucets are turned on
  • You notice that you are running out of hot water for no reason (this may indicate a leak in your hot water line

If you notice ANY of these signs – contact a plumber right away to have the issue(s) assessed and fixed.

What To Do If You Have A Slab Leak?

So now that you’ve determined you just might have a slab leak, what do you do? Call a plumber right away because the longer you wait, the more expensive the project will cost.

Once the plumber has identified where the leak or leaks are then his job will be to make the best plan on how to fix it. The solutions could include:

  • Jackhammering – if the only way to gain access to the broken pipes are to jackhammer through the concrete slab then that is what will have to be done.
  • Rerouting water lines – another solution may be to reroute the water lines and essentially close down the lines that include the broken pipes
  • Trenchless repiping – yet another solution may be to use the trenchless repiping method to repair the broken pipes

Whichever solution you and your plumber choose to fix the problem will be worthwhile since the alternative is a more costly problem down the road.

Is A Slab Leak Dangerous?

Slab leaks can lead to major structural problems with your home, even if you have a steel or concrete foundation. Water pressure from slab leaks is what usually causes the shifting and cracking that leads eventually to collapse of the structure.

Slab leaks are not just a minor annoyance. Foundation damage can be severe and costly, as it requires considerable time to repair or replace. A structurally damaged home also becomes an unsafe place for children of the family who may live there.

Another potential dangerous result of slab leaks is mold which can be hazardous to your property and your health. It only takes a few days for mold to grow after water damage on any organic material. If other conditions that help the mold grow are present then you won’t even be able to see them until day 18 at least!

Because a slab leak can go undetected for a long time, that water that is leaking and collecting in one spot for a length of time can create a breeding ground for mold. Which as many of us know is not healthy to breath in.

Mold is a silent killer for your respiratory system. You may not even know you’ve been breathing it in because of its inherent ability to produce less spores than other types of fungus. The longer you breathe mold, the more likely it will cause respiratory problems such as coughing and wheezing which can lead to serious health issues like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

How Do You Stop A Slab Leak?

The 3 methods we mentioned above – Jackhammering, rerouting water lines and trenchless repiping are the three main methods to fix and stop a slab leak.

Depending on the age and condition of your home’s plumbing system, you may need to repair certain parts or replace them outright. Some homes are even in such bad shape that they require a complete re-piping job from top to bottom.

A slab leak repair is a large undertaking that can be hard to plan for. You’ll want help from an experienced company. If you have a plumber or plumbing company that you regularly use then contact them but if not, call us at Atlantis Plumbing today. We have extensive experience in slab leak repairs throughout Georgia.

Are Slab Leaks Expensive To Fix?

It’s true that slab leaks can be a pricey project to repair, but you’re going to end up paying much more if the saturation caused by your leak damages your home.

The cost will vary depending on which method is needed to repair the broken pipe(s) that are causing the leak(s). Some insurance companies will pay for this but of course, check with your insurance agent to find out if your specific policy will cover these repairs.

If you have any questions about slab leaks, if you have one or suspect that you might have one, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.