Common Causes of Slab Leaks
Plumbing leaks can happen at pretty much any time, in any place – even those places you can’t see. For homeowners, one of these hidden spots is your concrete slab foundation. A serious problem for anyone who experiences one, slab leaks are those that occur in the plumbing system found underneath the home, and since this is a pretty tough spot to access, it isn’t always obvious when one starts to form. But there are warning signs you can look out for, such as wet floors or increases in your water bill.
So what causes them? Let’s take a look:
Pre-Damage and Poor Installation
It’s not unusual for some materials to get a little banged up when building a home, but if it’s the pipes that experience any damage, it could cause problems in the long run. Furthermore, if the pipes are installed incorrectly from the start, there’s a good chance that they won’t be able to function properly once they have an entire house sitting on top of them.
Abrasion
Pipes naturally expand and contract as water flows throughout them, but doing so can cause trouble depending on how your home was built. If the pipes are in a place where they are exposed to concrete, gravel, even other pipes, they could start to rub against them (until they eventually wear down) if they don’t have enough room to expand.
Corrosion
With these particular pipes being located underground, it’s only natural for them to come into contact with soil. However, the addition of soil to the mix can cause the pipes to corrode over time. If your home’s plumbing system is made from copper pipes, this may be the cause you’re more likely to run into.
Since slab leaks can cause excessive damage, the most important thing to do as soon as you suspect you have one is contact a plumbing company like Barker and Sons Plumbing & Rooter. We’ll provide fast, same day service so that the structural integrity of your home isn’t too severely compromised. For more information about our slab leak detection and repair services, please give us a call at 714.630.8766.
