What is a Slab Leak?
If there are one problem homeowners don’t want, it’s a slab leak. Slab leaks are right up there with flooded basements, a hazardous mold infestation, and tree roots taking over the entire mainline. But what is a slab leak exactly? In simple terms, it refers to a leak in the water pipes located below your home’s foundation. You know, the concrete slab that your home was built on.
A slab leak can lead to all sorts of problems: It can cause severe water damage, it can destroy your flooring and furnishings, it can lead to humidity problems, and other costly damage. “What causes a slab leak?” It can arise due to any number of causes, including:
- Negligence,
- Excessive pressure,
- Regular wear-and-tear,
- Construction defects,
- Corroded pipes (from chemicals in the soil), and
- Corroded pipes due to heat, chemicals or cold.
Slab leaks are no joke, you don’t want to ignore a leak if you think you might have one. But the problem is it’s not always easy for people to visually identify them. If you suspect a slab leak, what you want to do is put on your detective hat and start looking for the warning signs, such as:
- You have unexplainably high water bills.
- You can hear running water.
- You have low water pressure.
- The baseboards are moist.
- Your floors and carpets are wet.
- The foundation of your home is shifting.
- You have mold growth and don’t know why.
If you think you might have a slab leak, it’s important to work with an experienced plumber in leak detection. Often, the solution of choice is re-piping, especially when there are multiple leaks beneath the foundation. If this is the best option, we would install a brand-new, durable plumbing system that is leak-free.
“Are slab leak repairs covered by insurance?” The good news is that sometimes slab leaks are covered by homeowners’ insurance, but it depends on the facts of the case. This usually happens when the slab leak was the result of a “covered peril,” which causes further damage to a home. One such example is when a covered peril, such as a fire, directly causes a slab leak.
“If plumbing fails due to normal wear-and-tear, tree root interference, or any negligence on your behalf, you may have to pay for repairs on your own,” according to esurance.com. To find out if slab leaks are covered under your particular contract, our advice is to call your insurance agent and ask them directly.
If you suspect a slab leak, contact Excalibur Plumbing to schedule a service call with a professional Cedar Park plumber!