Slab leaks refer to plumbing leaks that originate beneath the slab foundation of your home. That foundation is made up of concrete in a single layer, which is the base and flooring of your household structure. This construction style is popular throughout the United States due to its sturdiness and reliability. While a concrete slab is durable, this material is not impervious to damage.
Poor initial installation, excess pressure, shifting soil, and aging pipes can all cause foundation cracks and slab leaks. Uncorrected slab leaks can cause structural damage, promote mold growth, and lead to costly repairs. Even the smallest slab leaks can eventually turn your foundation or driveway into a cracked and fissured nightmare.
What Causes Slab Leaks?
There are several possible causes of slab leaks. If the initial plumbing system is the result of poor construction or made of lower-quality materials, this system can eventually buckle under the weight of your home. Other possible causes include abrasion and corrosion. Pipes naturally expand and contract when water flows through them. If the pipes are in close proximity to concrete or gravel, the pipes can begin to scratch against these materials until they eventually wear down and form leaks.
Similarly, pipes can corrode over time due to proximity to acidic soil or constant exposure to hard water. This is especially common in homes with copper or metallic pipes. Eventually, the corrosion can result in ruptures and leaks. Other sources of leaks include extremely high water pressure that bursts pipes or foundational shifts from environmental conditions like extreme weather changes or earthquakes.
The Top 8 Warning Sings of Slab Leaks
Now that you know the possible causes of a slab leak, keep an eye out for the warning signs. These signs can include rushing water sounds, warped flooring, wall cracks, or problems with water pressure and volume.
1. Sound of Running Water
If you continuously hear the sound of faint whooshing throughout your home, you may have a slab leak. Some homeowners may overlook the sound of rushing water since it’s easy to confuse with other appliances or fixtures. To help confirm whether you have a slab leak, experts advise turning off all water sources in the home such as faucets, dishwashers, or laundry machines. If you still hear running water, it’s likely that a pipe has burst and created a leak. You may also notice hissing sounds if you have smaller slab leaks.
2. Floors Warping or Planks Popping
Undetected slab leaks can damage the flooring above the foundation. Since wood is highly absorptive, prolonged moisture exposure from leaks can cause wooden floors to start to warp. Other flooring materials like linoleum or laminate can also take on a warped or darkened appearance. Household planks can also become distorted and may need replacement if the damage has become extensive enough. Underground moisture can negatively impact both wooden and vinyl floor planks.
3. Cracks in Walls or Baseboards
As moisture from slab leaks deteriorates indoor flooring, it can create a series of cracks along the lower section of walls or baseboards. If you start to unexplained cracks in these areas, reach out to a professional for evaluation. The cracks often begin as hairline fissures that gradually widen over time. Left uncorrected, enough fractures can weaken your baseboard and necessitate replacement.
4. Unusually High Water Bills
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), unchecked leaks in the home can waste as much as 90 gallons of water each day. This amount may translate into higher energy bills. Because a slab leak means water is running 24 hours a day, it is not uncommon for homeowners to see their energy bills spike as much as 25%. If you notice higher utility bills with virtually no change in water consumption, contact a plumber to investigate potential leaks. Another way to determine possible waste is to check your water meter. If the dial on your meter continues to spin even if your faucets or appliances are no longer in use, the likely culprit is a leak or broken pipe in another part of your home.
5. Mold or Mildew Under Carpets
Because slab leaks create stagnant water beneath the home, it is common for moisture to become trapped beneath your indoor flooring as well. This trapped moisture can lead to the growth of mold or mildew. Mold spores are harmful to the respiratory health of humans and pets, and mold growth can eventually spread from carpets and flooring to your walls and other parts of the house. A telltale sign of mold or mildew is a sour or musty smell throughout the household. While odors related to pets or activities fade with time, moldy smells linger and can make an entire room feel unpleasant. If left uncorrected for too long, mold can destroy drywall and lead to costly replacements.
6. Water Pooling Around the Home
Water pooling in or around the home can also signify a foundational slab leak. If you see puddles of water near the foundation or exterior walls of your home regardless of whether it has rained, contact a local plumber to check for underlying damage. Inside the home, you may notice standing water in the basement on patches of water in your garage.
7. Hot Spots on the Floor
Foundational slab leaks frequently occur within hot water lines. When these hot water pipes burst, they can make areas of the floor directly above the foundation feel hot to the touch. If you have ever walked around barefoot and noticed that localized sections suddenly feel warm underfoot, a slab leak might be the culprit. Hot spots are most recognizable on hardwood, linoleum, or laminate floors. The excessive output of heated water can lead to an increase in energy bills, and the most extreme hot spot can cause skin irritation or burns.
8. Low Water Pressure
Water loss due to leaks beneath your foundational slab can result in lower water output in all other areas of your home’s plumbing system. This lowered output can make it difficult to complete basic tasks such as cleaning or showering. If the water pressure is suddenly low in all of your kitchen and bathroom faucets, it’s important for a plumber to check for a major breach in the system. You can also check the pressure regulator on your home’s mainline to ensure that the water pressure is in the appropriate range. According to the EPA, residential water pressure should range between 45 to 65 pounds per square inch (PSI). If your water pressure is considerably lower, a slab leak could be the underlying cause.
Contact Us Today
While undetected slab leaks can result in extensive damage to the home, the situation is not hopeless. TR Miller Heating, Cooling & Plumbing offers slab leak detection services for homes in Plainfield, New Lenox, Bolingbrook, and surrounding areas. We offer foundational inspections as well as slab leak repair. Our plumbers can replace pipe sections beneath the home and conduct re-routing to prevent plumbing abrasion or erosion. If your plumbing system has undergone considerable damage, we can also complete re-piping of your entire home.
In addition to checking for slab leaks, our plumbers can also help you take other steps to prevent home flooding such as sump pump installation and drain repair. We offer underground rooter services and video inspections to keep the plumbing system beneath your home functional and clear. No matter the issue, we can help. Contact TR Miller Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today.
