If you have all the signs of a water leak but can’t determine the source, it may be a slab leak. Call First Choice Plumbing for fast, effective slab leak repair in Gainesville and prevent massive damage to your home.
A slab leak refers to a water leak that takes place underneath the foundation of your home. When there is a leak under this concrete slab, it can take weeks or even months before a homeowner has any idea what is happening. At First Choice Plumbing, we have experience detecting and repairing slab leaks, and we can ensure there is minimal damage done to your Gainesville home.
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Signs of a Slab Leak in Your Home
Even though you may not become aware of a slab leak in your home for some time, there are several signs that will indicate you have one. The first sign that many homeowners notice is a damp or musty odor that seems to hover around a particular spot. The musty smell is caused by the excess moisture and subsequent mold that can happen when your concrete slab wicks moisture up into the occupied areas of your home. Depending on the type of flooring that is present, you may have moist spots in the carpets, slick cool spots in tile, or obvious buckling of laminate floors.
Another major sign of a slab leak is soggy spots in your lawn or sections of landscaping that grow faster than the surrounding area. When pipes leak underneath a slab, the water has to escape somewhere. Some of it will migrate upwards into the home, but most of it will travel to the outer edges of your home’s foundation. While this can be difficult to notice, repairs should be made immediately to prevent foundation damage and possible infestation by moisture-loving insects like termites.
The easiest way to look for leaks in your home is to watch your water meter for movement or keep an eye on your bill for spikes. Homeowners can look at their water meter and verify that it isn’t moving when all fixtures are turned off inside the home. If you need help determining if you have leaks or need expert slab leak repair, the professionals at First Choice Plumbing are ready to help.
What Causes a Slab Leak?
Unfortunately, apart from meticulous installation, there isn’t much that can be done to prevent slab leaks. There are several causes of slab leaks, including:
- Improper Installation: One of the main causes is the result of pinpricks in the walls of the piping that occur during installation. Sand, rocks, or building materials can compromise the wall of the pipe in such a way that it won’t leak for years. However, the abrasion will weaken over time and result in a slow leak. Using different materials or installing piping properly can help reduce the likelihood that this will happen.
- Soil Issues: Another unavoidable cause of slab leaks is due to soil instability. As soils expand and contract with seasonal rains, stress is placed on piping. Heavy clay soils are especially hard on pipes and pipe joints. Despite the size of a home’s concrete slab foundation, it is also subject to the pressure of moving soils.
When considering the difference in movement between a home, the surrounding soil, and the home’s plumbing, it's no surprise that problems can occur.
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Working With the Best
Since installation is so important to preventing slab leaks, it is important that you work with the best when you are installing new plumbing to your residential or commercial property. At First Choice Plumbing, we have decades of experience installing a variety of materials in homes, businesses, and renovation projects. We know the best way to prevent trouble down the road, and we are proud to give you the highest level of service.
If you suspect that you have a slab leak under your home, we’re ready to help with that, too! Our slab leak detection teams can pinpoint exactly where the leak is occurring, so we can keep the disruption to your household as minimal as possible. Call today for a slab leak detection visit and restore your home to working order with our slab leak repair services!
