You can see a pipe leaking if it is above ground or not concealed behind walls and slabs. Your piping system is, however, quite complex and most of the pipelines are not visible. When you spot damp walls or flooring, the possibility of detecting the exact leak source or cause becomes tricky without the right kind of equipment. This leaves a lot of scope for professional leak detection.
If you have a residential or commercial property in Orange County built on slabs, the chances of facing slab pipe leaks are very high. There are pipes installed under the floor of the foundation section of your house or commercial space. If any of the slab pipes leaks, you will not see water flowing into your building so soon, making slab leaks one of the most difficult ones to trace. Such leaks can go unnoticed in your residential or commercial property for a long time. Instead, you need to be able to identify minor signs of a leak to make sure you can fix the problem.
How Can A Slab Leak Occur
Older pipes tend to wear out over time. The slow breakdown of plumbing is a major cause of slab leaks. Leaks often occur in hot water pipes. The heat from the pipes can react with the surrounding soil and accelerate the corrosion rate too.
Slab leaks can occur due to the construction or maintenance work at a nearby house. Movement on the ground can cause pipe damage. So watch out for slab leaks if there is a new building around your house. Seismic movement and soil erosion could also lead to events increasing pressure on the slab pipes and cause leaks
Whatever the causes, even the smallest leak can lead to a lot of water wastage and a huge water bill.
Signs You Need to Watch Out
How do you know if you have a slab in your home? There are several ways to identify leaks:
Increase In Your Water Bill – A very easy way to find out if you may have a slab leak is if your water bill has increased significantly in a short period of time. If you can’t see any type of leak above the ground, your water costs will most likely be affected by a slab leak.
Water marks – One of the easiest ways to find leaks is to find a water mark or wet mark on your floor. They are usually triggered by a leaking hot water pipe. Not only can you notice or feel these places when walking barefoot, but you can also hear the water sounds under the floor.
Swelling – If your system is leaking, it will be more difficult to see the real leak. This is because leaks from drains usually do not have signs of damage to the substrate. However, places with a lot of dirt can be affected by changes in height, which can cause your slab to swell. Inspect the affected floor area for possible leaks.
Sound – If there are no visible water marks or swelling, the only way to detect slab leaks is to use the special detection system. This involves a process in which the experts in slab leak detection in Orange County will turn off the water to your home and pump air into the pipe. The plumber then uses a special tool to hear the sound made when air leaks from the pipe.
Comentarios