If you have a water leak under your house, there are many things that can happen. Your floors could start to rot and the wood will eventually expand and break apart. The walls may also start to warp or crack due to moisture damage.
This is why it’s important for homeowners in this situation to contact a professional plumber quickly, before the damage becomes too great!
Leaks under houses are commonly referred to as a “slab leak”.
It may not sound like the most exciting topic in the world but if you want to get technical, a “slab leak” can be defined as when water leaks from under or into concrete slabs. This causes quite an extensive repair process with all sorts of new holes and trenches needed for repairs!
Slab leaks are treated differently than other types of leaks. The work necessary to repair a slab leak can be extensive, but luckily for you we specialize in all things plumbing!
The cost to repair slab leaks can be expensive, but ignoring the problem will only set you back more in the long run. The excess saturation caused by a leak under your house may cause serious damage and deterioration of your home or building’s foundation if left unaddressed for too long!
Who Is Responsible For Water Leak Under A House?
Generally speaking, if the leak is found to be between the water meter and your house – then you are responsible for repairing it. But if the leak is between the water meter and the city’s main water line, then your local water department is responsible for repairs.
How Do You Know If You Have A Water Leak Underground?
It’s not often that an underground leak under your house would cause an immediate flood or be quickly identified. Usually, it starts off as a very slow leak that continues to grow over time.
This could be hours, days or even months before any signs are noticed. By then, there could be a significant amount of damage done to your home’s foundation.
14 Signs That You May Have A 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.
All the water that has seeped through your foundation can cause serious structural damage. It’s important to address this problem before it gets worse and starts affecting other areas of your home. If you need help, contact an expert ASAP!
If you have any questions about water leaks or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.