Slab leaks are bad news for a home—they’re one of the most destructive types of plumbing problems, leading to a huge waste of water, flooding in the lowest parts of the building, and health problems from mold growth. But if you catch signs of a slab leak early enough, you can have our expert plumbers on the job to fix it. The sooner we can stop the leak, the easier the work and the less it will cost. Best of all, you won’t have water seeping up into your home through the floorboards!
Sweetwater Plumbing Blog : Posts Tagged ‘slab leak’
The Major Warning Signs You’ve Got a Slab Leak
Monday, July 2nd, 2018What You Need to Know About Leaks in the Plumbing
Monday, May 21st, 2018
Household plumbing can suffer from leaks. That’s just the way things are: the finest plumbing installation and maintenance work can’t prevent all potential leaks. The best way to deal with leaks is to have them fixed as soon as possible—and most of the time, that means calling a professional, licensed plumber.
Below are a few facts about leaks in your home we think you should know:
Slab Leaks Are Tricky: Here’s How a Plumber Locates One
Monday, December 18th, 2017
There are few plumbing problems a home might encounter that present more difficulties than a slab leak. What’s a slab leak? It’s the name for a leak in the pipes laid in the concrete foundation of a building. These leaks can occur in either hot water or cold water lines (around 80% are in the hot water lines) and lead to extensive water waste and eventually damage to the foundations.
What makes slab leaks a tough plumbing repair is that they’re difficult to locate and then to reach. Skilled plumbers can use a variety of methods to fix a slab leak once they’ve gotten its location. Using a jackhammer to dig directly down is one option, but plumbers can often use lateral tools to avoid excavation and instead put in new pipes to bypass the leaking section.
How a Professional Plumber Fixes Slab Leaks
Monday, October 23rd, 2017
We’ve talked before about slab leaks, one of the more difficult problems when it comes to residential plumbing, but we’ll go over them again to give you an idea what you (and our plumbers) are dealing with.
A slab leak is any pipe leak set down in granite or other hardscaping on a residential (or commercial) property. In most cases, when plumbers talk about slab leaks, they are specifically talking about leaks in the cold water and hot water pipes down in the foundation of a house, although pipes in slabs can be found elsewhere. Around 80% of slab leaks happen in hot water pipes, which expand with heat to abrade faster against the stones around them.
Plumbing Repairs and Replacement to Help You Save Water
Monday, June 5th, 2017
There are many ways you can reduce the amount of water you use in your home:
- Take shorter showers.
- Collect running water while you’re waiting for the shower or tub to warm up, then use it for other tasks like watering plants.
- Always turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth.
- Only run the dishwasher and laundry machines with full loads.
You’ve probably seen all this advice before; it was spread around during our recent drought, and all of it is good advice. But what if you follow all these tips for lowering your water bills but you still find you’re paying more than you think you should? According to the U.S. EPA, a household of four people shouldn’t be using more than 12,000 of water per month. If your usage is higher, you almost certainly have problems with the plumbing, such as leaks or broken fixtures.
Don’t worry—it’s our job to help you in these situations. Below are some of the repairs and replacements we can do to help get those water bills under control and stop needless water waste.
What Causes Slab Leaks?
Monday, November 28th, 2016You may have heard about slab leaks before and not understood exactly what it meant. In plumber lingo, a slab leak is a pipe leak that occurs under a concrete or granite slab. Usually, it refers to a leak that happens in the foundation of a house, although this leaking can occur in other places. But as a homeowner, the type you’re most likely to encounter is the concrete foundation type.
How Can I Know I Have a Slab Leak?
Monday, September 19th, 2016Slab leaks are one of the most difficult of all residential plumbing problems to find and fix. These are leaks that occur down within the concrete foundation of a house, either in the cold water or hot water pipes. (80% occur in hot water pipes.) These leaks waste large amounts of water and can lead to building damage—but since they are located under concrete, they are difficult to notice at first. How can you tell that you have a slab leak so you can call on professional plumbers to fix it? Below is a short guide to some of the more common warning signs of a slab leak:
