Slab leaks are one of the more significant problems that can afflict the plumbing in a home. These are leaks that occur down in a house’s foundation, usually under a few layers of concrete in either the hot or cold water lines. (80% of slab leaks happen in the hot water lines.) Slab leaks will not only create immense water waste, they can also cause damage to the house and even lead to flooding down in subfloors and crawlspaces. If you believe that your home has a slab leak, you must call for repairs from professionals as soon as you can.
But this leads to a good follow up question: unless there is visible water leaking up into your house from the foundation, how will you know that you have a slab leak in the first place?
Here are some of the signs to look for that will warn you:
- The water heater coming on at odd times: We mentioned the a large amount of slab leaks that occur in hot water lines because this causes strange behavior from hot water heaters. If hot water is escaping from leaks, the water heater will start to turn on even when there is no demand for hot water. If this is happening with your water heater, call for plumbers to look into it.
- Sound of running water: If you hear running water coming from lower parts of the house even though there is no obvious source for it, it may be due to a slab leak.
- Cracks in the foundation: If you notice cracks in the concrete foundation of your home, it might be because of the pressure of the water escaping from a pipe down in the concrete.
- High water bills: Always keep a close watch on your water bills during the year, since any sudden upward spike could indicate a hidden leak such as a slab leak.
My Drain Company Inc. provides slab leak detection and repair services in Los Angeles, CA. Call us any time of the day or night.
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