Like many other types of plumbing problems, a slab water leak may go undetected for a long period of time until it becomes a serious issue that needs immediate attention. Dealing with a minor plumbing problem in the early stages can help minimize the negative impacts that it causes.
How can you fix a slab water leak if you don't know that you have it? Here are some of the warning signs of a slab water leak in Springfield Missouri to keep an eye out for to avoid major plumbing issues.
Many houses don't have a basement and are built on top of a slab, which is the concrete base that supports the load bearing elements of the home. Plumbing lines often run beneath the slab which makes them difficult to access. We typically recommend that anyone building a new slab home should run their water lines in their attic instead to make it easier to access them.
What can cause your concrete slab to have a water leak? It is often the result of the soil shifting, which Missouri is notorious for. The soil underneath your home expands when it rains and shrinks as it dries out. This puts a strain on the concrete slab over time, causing it to crack and break and allowing water to creep in. Water can also come in due to the pipes in the water line deteriorating, being poorly installed or from the intrustion of tree roots.
Slab water leaks can lead to significant water damage the longer they go undetected. Water pressure beneath the slab builds up and travels up through the cracks, eventually making its way into the home.
Slab water leaks can also contribute to mold and mildew growth and a higher water bill. The most dangerous type of damage is that a slab leak can compromise the home’s foundation and the integrity of the home itself. The longer you wait, the more dangerous this situation can become.
What are some warning signs of a slab water leak? You may notice higher water bills, cracks in your foundation, wet or discolored floors, bad smells, or even visible shifts in the soil around your home.
If you’re unsure whether or not a slab water leak is the culprit, consult a professional plumber in Springfield, Missouri you can trust to diagnose the problem. At United Plumbing, we have the knowledge and experience to determine the source of water leaks, and whether it’s a slab leak or any other type of plumbing issue, we are well equipped to fix it.
You can count on the team at United Plumbling to clearly diagnose the source of your plumbing problems and recommend what we'd do to fix it if it were our own home. Call us today and let us make sure you don't have a minor plumbing problem that needs to be addressed before it becomes a major issue.