4 Signs You Have a Slab Leak

A slab leak occurs when a pipe underneath the foundation of your home begins to leak. The pipe may have corroded to the point that it leaks or the pipe may have burst. In some cases, you will be able to tell that you have a slab leak right away, because water will be puddling or pooling underneath your feet. In other cases, the water leak may be slow and it may not be obvious you have a leak. Knowing what the signs of a slab leak are can help you to identify a leak that may not be obvious.

If the water that is leaking out of your pipe is hot, you may notice that your floor has hot spots. Your feet may suddenly feel warmer when standing on one part of your floor compared to another part of your floor. If this is something you have not felt before and there is no explainable reason for the hot spots, you may need to consider the possibility that you have a slab leak.

If a large amount of water is leaking from the pipe, your flooring may be soaked in water or you may see actual puddles on your flooring. However, if a leak is small, water may be affecting your flooring in different ways. If you have carpet in your home, you may notice a mildew-like scent as the padding gets wet. If you have vinyl or linoleum floors, you may start to see bubbling on the floor as the moisture damages the flooring material. If you have wood flooring, you may notice your flooring starts to warp or shift. If you have tile floors, you may notice your grout is crumbling or cracking.

Water that is leaking from a pipe beneath the slab in your home does not always soak upward into your flooring. It may also spread outward. If the moisture is seeping outward, you may start to notice signs of moisture around the exterior base of your home. You may notice unexplainable puddles of water near the base of your home or signs that moisture is present, such as mildew growth, fungi growth, moss, or mud. If the leak has been going on for some time, you may notice the foundation of your home beginning to crack or problems with your siding material, such as rotted wood, efflorescence on bricks, or flaking on stucco.

If you have a water leak, your water usage may increase. In most cases, you will notice an increase in your water usage once you look at your water bill. If your water bill is higher than it normally is, and there is no reason for the increase, there is a strong probability that you have a water leak somewhere in or below your home. Most homes have water meters on them, which may help you to determine if you have a leak. Turn off all of the fixtures in your home that use water and do not run any appliances that use water. Then look at your water meter. If it is still moving despite no fixtures or appliances using water, you have a water leak, such as a slab leak. If suspect you have a slab leak, you will want to call in a professional to determine if do indeed have a leak and to make the needed repairs. Here at Preferred Mechanical Services, we can help you with all of your plumbing needs, including diagnosing, locating and repairing slab leaks in the greater Beech Grove, Indiana area. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.