Slab Leaks – Ways To Detect Them

Posted on: October 25, 2016
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Plumbing

Plumbing Leaks Are Damaging The Concrete Slab Foundation in Houston Homeowners

Many property owners want to learn how under-slab plumbing leaks damage concrete slab foundations. It’s a very common in the Houston Area, as well as other parts of the country. One way how plumbing leaks harm slabs is by allowing moisture to enter your porous concrete foundation and creep into existing cracks. When soil absorbs water, the weight of the soil can force a foundation upward and lead to structural failure. The worst part about slab leaks is they can often go undetected for a long period of time, since they are not clearly visible to a homeowner as they go about their day to day routine. 

The first step in taking care of slab leaks is to locate the exact position of the leak. Leak detection for slab leaks is performed using specialty equipment such as thermal imaging devices, moisture detection devices and sonar guided listening devices. 

A slab leak is a major hassle, but it helps a little when you know what to expect. Watch this video to see how slab leaks are detected and repaired. 

When you can realize that it is a leak of water in your home

Firstly, your house and notice areas are mushy, moist ground. It is something related to your "should be" dry climate but there is always a mushy ground around your house. Abnormally soft ground could represent a broken water line that’s draining directly into the earth around your home. Allowing the leak to go unfixed will not only keep your yard soggy, but could eventually lead to the earth to shift, causing costly harm to your foundation.

Secondly, check you water bill often. If you have a incredible water bill at the end of the month and you do not have that much usage, that might be some leaks with your water pipes somewhere. Make sure you contrast bills over a time period of time. Also consider looking at last year’s bill.

Thirdly, the sound of a running toilet or dishwasher. As it’s such a typical sound into the typical home, you might possibly fail to notice the sound when appliances aren’t running. Occasionally look at your devices and toilets when you hear the sound of running water to make sure something is actually turned on. If you hear the sound but know all things are switched off, you must have a leak under your home or into the walls.

Fourthly, your water meter. Turn off all your water devices for a while and check your water meter. If it still goes very fast, that means you have a problem with your water leaks.

Last but not the least, the smelling odor of your house. Smelling a moldy odor in your home means that water is lurking somewhere. Give consideration to hiring a water leak detection professional to help you search for the source. Breathing into the moist air is not merely uncomfortable, however it also can negatively impact your allergies.

Why you need a water leak detection

Large water expenses cause many homeowners to worry about excess water usage and leaking pipes. Keeping an eye on your own very own very own water meter, checking your fixtures for running water, and monitoring your usage are all important to aid keep costs down. Regrettably, leaks in plumbing systems can be unavoidable. Into the long run, pipes corrode and break down, even when high quality items are utilized and installed by expert plumbers. Once a system is installed, there’s not much thus far as preventative maintenance that a home or business owner can do in order to avoid a leak. But once a leak is suspected, the steps taken to detect it play a major role in how much a solution will cost and if it is probably to last. The leak detection system that a service technician uses can mean the distinction between a permanent solution and a quick fix. Some companies simply look for in that the water is coming through a ceiling or wall-but that will not mean that’s in that the leak is. Water could drip through a ceiling, for instance, ten feet or higher from in that the actual leak occurs. Detecting a leak in this manner could lead to excess injury to your property as contractors continually create holes to be capable of finding the precise location of a leak. There is a system that is more accurate a lot less invasive than the others regarding the market. It involves state-of-the-art technology that isolates hard-to-find leaks by picking up vibrations or sounds caused by a faulty pipe.

Tools to use

Inactive Water Leak Detection instruments are battery operated devices. So, the batteries needs to be recharged from time for you time. These are placed at spots at threat of water leaks. These instruments have a dampness sensor along with an alarm generating system. On sensing water leak, they produce a large startling and disturbing sound. These alarm sounds alert one to action. Alarm sound is made whenever their moisture sensor becomes moist. These are rather fair and very easy to create up. The passive detection technology makes usage of a technology named as noise acoustic data loggers. These loggers direct sound down the pipe. If there is a get into the pipe, it presents a higher dispute therefore the sound intensity increases. Data loggers determine the augmented noise level and record that area as a plausible leak into the pipe. A problem related making use associated with technology that pipe decomposition, which also improves resistance, may be used as a leak.

Active Leak Detection Instruments also includes of an alarming system which on making a sound makes you aware about the existence of a leak. These perform a function that will avoid the water flowing. These instruments can be manufactured to turn through the main water supply even though the alarm sounds. Active detection instruments are sub-divided into two categories: individual and whole appliance system. Individual active instruments examine and identify leaks from single appliance like washing machine. Whole active instruments are composed of several moisture sensors. When a leak is sited, these systems exit the main water provide.

We highly recommend you to be closely connected with you trusty plumber and let them examine your water system every a while. If you realize you may get a trouble with your water leaks, please contact your local plumbers immediately.

Early Slab Leak Detection Can Help Prevent Costly Foundation and Slab Leak Repairs.

Slab leaks can be most homeowners worst nightmare. While slab leaks can sometimes be seen or detected by observing unexpected water consumption in a home, they are at times difficult to spot. Because the consequences of slab leaks can be so severe, it’s important to have such plumbing issues handled by professionals. With the right training and the right equipment, our professionals can handle the necessary work to protect your plumbing and your home from the damage slab leaks can cause. Call us here: (713) 812-7070 for your home service and repair needs.

For more related articles and info visit Blog.