It’s important to repair any leak underneath a concrete floor slab as soon as possible — it does a lot more than waste water. Slab leaks can\u00a0lead to moldy carpet along\u00a0with warped hardwood floors and their water damage restoration costs.\u00a0 Ignore this particular type of water leak repair long enough and the resulting erosion can undermine the foundation and lead to major structural damage. But what are your slab leak repair options?<\/p>\n
Lets learn a bit more\u00a0before going\u00a0over your slab leak repair options.<\/p>\n
In Southern California most homes and low-rise commercial properties have a slab-on-grade foundation.\u00a0 That’s a concrete slab level with the surrounding soil.\u00a0 Water, sewer, and gas pipes are frequently run underneath, or even within that concrete, so any leak there\u00a0is called a slab leak.<\/p>\n
Nearly all metals slowly corrode, and even copper pipes develop pinholes.\u00a0 Even without an earthquake or hillside location foundations settle and soil moves, putting stress on pipes and also causing leaks.\u00a0 Homes more than 25 years old are particularly prone to slab leaks as well as the need for sewer line repairs.<\/p>\n
Unlike other water leaks, a slab leak can be especially difficult to spot, being covered by flooring and several inches of concrete.\u00a0 If it’s a hot water line you may notice warm areas on the floor, and infrared thermal image can quickly locate the problem.<\/p>\n
Low water pressure, especially a sudden drop, can indicate a major slab leak.\u00a0 If you hear hissing or running water or have wet spots on the floor, then act immediately and call an emergency plumber!<\/p>\n
Otherwise clues can be subtle dampness, mold, and an increase in your water bill.\u00a0 Over time there can even be cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings.\u00a0 It’s relatively quick to determine if there is indeed a leak, but even with the latest in electronic instruments it may take a couple of hours to precisely locate the problem<\/p>\n
Unless you’ve been ignoring some fairly clear symptoms, homeowner insurance policies should cover slab leak detection as well as any water damage restoration.\u00a0 But not the slab leak repair itself.<\/p>\n
Your viable slab leak repair options depend on the location of the problem and the general condition of your pipes.\u00a0 So it’s pretty much impossible to give even a rough estimate until after tests and a thorough inspection.\u00a0 Depending on the repair method and several other factors total costs could be under a thousand dollars, a few thousand dollars, or over ten-thousand dollars.<\/p>\n
If there’s a single leak with relatively easy access, hacking through the concrete and repairing a short section of a leaking water\u00a0pipe or main sewer line is a common solution for commercial plumbing. Especially in warehouses.\u00a0 But for homes the disruption along with the cost of restoring flooring often leads people to other options.\u00a0 If the lines are in generally poor condition a direct repair may only be a temporary respite until the next leak occurs.\u00a0 For this reason once there’s been a slab leak\u00a0an insurance company may require re-piping for continued coverage.<\/p>\n
Re-piping is often the preferred solution.\u00a0 The old plumbing is abandoned and left in place while new pipes are re-routed around the outside edge of the slab or through the attic.\u00a0 That’s more plumbing work, but it’s often less expensive than jack hammering through concrete then restoring that concrete and matching the existing floor covering.\u00a0 Plus the new lines will be easily accessible for inspection and repair if there’s a future problem.\u00a0 Flexible PEX pipes are a high-quality reduced-cost alternative to copper or galvanized iron plumbing.<\/p>\n
Lining the inside of pipes with a thin non-toxic epoxy coating can be an effective lower-cost option\u00a0in dealing with pin holes in copper pipes as well as minor leaks in main sewer lines.\u00a0 CIPP (cured in place pipe) pushes through a liner that is then “cured” to become a solid reinforced coating.<\/p>\n