Slab Leaks: Warning Signs to Look Out For

Have you had the chance to check your home’s foundation lately? Unfortunately, many homeowners often forget to do so until it’s too late, and there are leaks all over their property.

These problems are not entirely difficult to correct, but they’re not easy to detect. There’s only one solution to this: regularly perform maintenance checks on your home, particularly the concrete slabs, as they’re prone to leaks.

How Do Slab Leaks Develop?

Slab leaks develop over time for several reasons; foremost among these is the repeated rise and fall movement caused by environmental changes. The pipes and slabs are strained and stressed, and these are what create the leaks.

A slab leak may also develop if your pipes are substandard or incorrectly installed. Other factors that cause leaks include corrosion and abrasion.

If a slab leak is left untreated, it can create more problems for you. In your garden or yard, the ground underneath may cause additional pressure on the leaks, which can worsen the breaks. Often, issues like this are difficult to detect unless you hire slab leak detection specialists.

It is also vital that you know how to spot the warning signs for slab leaks. Here are some tips that may prove helpful to you.

Signs That You Have Slab Leaks

Slab leaks are silent predators. You think that everything’s good in your home, but underneath, some turmoil is already happening. There are telltale signs, though, that you’ll eventually notice over time.

A sudden increase in your water bill

An unexpected increase in your water bill is almost always an indication that you have slab leaks. If you hear running water even in the middle of the night, you need to call for professional help. Water that runs 24/7 is a surefire sign of leaks.

Damaged flooring

Slab leaks cause water underneath to travel upward onto your flooring, causing moisture to develop. Your tiles will crack, your floorboards will warp, and your carpet will feel damp. If you find a raised area or dome-like formation on your floor, call for professional help right away, as this indicates your foundation may also be damaged.

Do not leave damaged flooring unattended to prevent further problems.

Warm, hot, or dark spots on the floor

If your dog or cat likes to lie down in a particular spot on your floor, check out the area. If it has a warm, hot, or dark spot, you may have slab leaks. To find out if it’s hot, place your palm on the area and feel if it is warm. The hot spot may be difficult to detect unless you use a thermal imaging camera in some instances.

Warm or hot spots are easier to identify on tiles, linoleum, and hardwood flooring.

Changes in water pressure

When you’re taking a shower, and you suddenly notice that the water is not as powerful as before, it means there’s a decrease in water pressure. Slab leaks siphon off all the pressure in your shower. Since there’s a leak in the pipes, water flows through without anything stopping it.

Strong, unpleasant odor in the house

If your house smells bad, even if you’ve cleaned it thoroughly more than once, there’s a big possibility that you have slab leaks. The unpleasant odor comes from walls, spots underneath carpets, and other areas in the house that may be covered with mildew or mold.

Water leaks often go up and leave excess moisture on your flooring, which in turn causes the growth of mildew and mold. These can spread to other parts of your home if left unattended.

Even if you do not see molds growing on your walls or floors, the fact that a musty, nasty odor is sweeping through your house is already an indication that something is wrong.

A pool or puddle of water

Water that leaks from slabs gather underneath before it eventually sneaks into your home’s foundation or flooring. Go out of your house and try to find the slab foundation that’s pouring out water like a free-flowing faucet. If you don’t see a hose or sprinkler anywhere nearby, the water flow is caused by slab leaks.

Inside your house, check your flooring for pools or puddles of water. If the affected area is near an appliance, verify if that item (ex. washing machine or refrigerator) is leaking out water. If it is in perfect working condition, the puddles are caused by slab leaks. 

Slab leaks are often barely visible and difficult to detect. If these are left untreated, they can lead to serious damage to your home and property. The best solution for this is regular maintenance with the help of a professional slab leak detection specialist.

About the Author: Anthony Quinn is the Marketing Strategist of Phoenix Leak Detection. Aside from the marketing aspects of the business, he is also in charge of reaching out to residential and commercial property owners to look into their leaking problems. When not writing, he plays golf with his friends and colleagues.

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