Slab leaks or foundation leaks occur when you have a broken water supply pipe under the concrete slab of your home. If you suspect you may have a slab leak, there are several tell-tale signs that homeowners can look for if they suspect they have a slab leak. Here are some slab-leak indicators.
- Water will appear on the floor where there shouldn’t be any water. This can occur in the middle of a bedroom floor or under the wall where the wall meets the trim.
- Spongy or swollen wood floors can be a clue that you may have a slab leak.
- Hot spots in your tile floor when you walk on it may be a sign of a slab leak. One customer we had couldn’t figure out why his dog always picked the same spot to lie down. When he finally called us to determine if he had a slab leak, we were as surprised as he was that the hot water leak was located under the dog’s favorite sleeping place.
- The sound of water running when you have no plumbing fixtures in use could well be an underground leak. Open the doors to the bathroom vanities or the kitchen cabinet and listen. If you hear water running or hear a hissing sound you may have a leak.
If you do have an underground slab leak, it won’t take long before you notice your water bill rising and if it’s a hot water leak, your energy bill will increase, as well.
Here’s the first step you should take if you experience any of these signs. Shut off all your plumbing appliances. Go out to your city water meter and watch it. If the meter shows water going through it when in fact you are not using any water because you’ve shut off all your fixtures, you may have a slab leak.
If any of these indicators cause you to think you have a slab leak, your best course of action is to call a plumbing professional. Tell them the symptoms, and they can determine whether or not you have a slab leak. An experienced plumber will be able to determine if you have a leak and the leak location.
Initially, leaks that do not produce tell-tale signs can occur, although over time, most leaks will appear somewhere or other.
Slab leaks cannot be ignored without significant damage to your flooring, walls, or even your foundation. Once you know you have a leak, your plumber can provide options so you can choose the best course of action and promptly fix the issue before the leak causes significant damage to your home.