Do you suspect a slab leak and wondering if it’s an emergency? Plumbing leaks in the concrete foundation of your house can become an expensive problem when it goes undetected or ignored for too long.
A slab leak can be tricky and scary since they occur in the foundation of your house. But a trained professional can fix plumbing leaks with the right equipment, especially when they get detected early.
Since your Fort Worth house is sitting on the concrete slab, any water damage from a plumbing leak to the foundation can eventually cause expensive repairs. But how serious is a slab leak? Do you need emergency plumbing service ? It depends.
Is a Slab Leak an Emergency?
While slab leaks are not always an emergency, they can become an expensive problem if you don’t deal with a leaking water pipe soon. Some slab water leaks are small and you don’t see running water. They can go undetected for weeks or even months before showing noticeable signs.
When slab leaks start showing obvious signs, it can mean that it has already suffered significant damage. So, detection and prompt repair are crucial to avoid a plumbing emergency.
If you see any signs of a slab leak like a sudden spike in the water bill, low water pressure, or a mold problem, call us ! Trust our plumbing service to help you get to the root of the problem and fix your leaks in no time. We can help with pipe repair or replacement, drain cleaning, or any other routine plumbing issue.
How Much Damage Can Slab Leaks Cause?
If the water line in your concrete slab has been leaking it will eventually move out and exit out of the foundation walls, or come up through your floor making your carpet wet .
So, if you have yet to notice your increasing water bill, you will notice that parts of your flooring are constantly wet without much explanation.
Wet floors and damp spots on the wall will eventually lead to molding problems. Unfortunately, mold can sometimes grow inside the foundation, so the only telltale sign might be a moldy smell.
Living in a house with mold means that you and your family will get exposed to mold spores. You can inhale them in the air, and long-term exposure can lead to respiratory illness.
Mold-related health issues are hazardous for infants, as they risk developing a breathing problem that can even lead to death.
The longer you ignore the slab leak, the more expensive damage repair will get. Damp spots on floors and walls can eventually cause permanent damage to them, so you might even have to replace wooden boards, carpet, tiles, wallpaper, etc.
Your foundation can also get permanently damaged. Depending on the degree of damage, the slab can crack, shift, and even sink, making the structure of your house unstable.
Here’s What to Do if You Have a Slab Leak
The best way to avoid damage is prevention during construction. Installing thicker copper pipes that last longer will ensure your plumbing system has longevity, as thin pipes are prone to get damaged by things like water pressure and slab movement.
However, assuming you are already in the home consider having regular hydrostatic plumbing tests and installing water filtration. Softer water helps prevent plumbing leaks in pipes, as hard or acidic water is a leading cause .
If there is a leak, you must deal with it the moment you discover it. Left untouched, it can grow into a more expensive problem. Slab leak repair is not something you can DIY because you have to access the water leak under your floor. Your best bet is calling in a professional who fixes slab leaks .
If you suspect a leak in your plumbing system but aren’t sure, call us.
Our plumber will provide you with expert slab leak service, especially if you need emergency plumbing. They can pinpoint the right location of the water leak fast and take the best course of action to fix it so that you don’t have to spend more money than needed.
Emergency Plumbing Leak FAQ‘s
How Urgent is a Slab Leak?
While your foundation won’t immediately collapse after a leak, the damage will progress so you need to fix it soon. It can become an expensive plumbing repair if you don’t call a plumber after initial detection.
What Does a Slab Leak Sound Like?
Leaks don’t always make a water-dripping sound, especially inside your floor. You often won’t hear a slab leak, so you need to enlist expert leak detection to confirm it.
Are Slab Leaks Covered By Home Warranty or Insurance?
Most insurances don’t cover slab leak repair; however, some home warranty companies might. For example, if you moved into a house owned by someone else for years, you might get a home warranty. However, this leak must be due to poor design, bad construction, and any pipe damage that occurred during construction.
