How to Prevent Slab Leaks in Your Home

The tendency among homeowners
is to not worry too much about any of their plumbing systems until they notice
some sort of problem. One problem you almost certainly won’t spend time
thinking about until it happens is a slab leak.

A slab leak is what happens
when there is a leak in one of the water lines that runs below your home’s
concrete foundation. Given the nature of this kind of leak, it can be difficult
to know when you have one, let alone what you can do to prevent it. There are
some professionals who recommend rerouting water lines to help prevent slab
leaks from occurring, but we generally say that is unnecessary unless you have
already dealt with multiple leaks in the home.

Here are just a few signs you
might be dealing with slab leaks, and the steps you can take for preventing
slab leaks in Mesa, AZ:

• Unusual
  water pressure: Have you noticed unusually high water pressure? This could
  be a sign of a slab leak somewhere in your property. It’s a good idea to keep
  an eye on your home’s water pressure to make sure it doesn’t exceed the
  recommended pressure of 80 PSI. In fact, professional plumbers tend to
  recommend you stay within the 50 to 75 PSI range.
• Old home:
  The age of your home can play a role in your potential risk for slab leaks,
  especially if you’ve experienced such leaks in the past. The older your home,
  the more proactive you should be about searching for potential vulnerable spots
  on your property. Over time, pipes heating and cooling will create friction
  that can wear down the copper pipes that run underneath the foundation. If
  you’ve already had slab leaks, you should make sure you keep an eye out for
  signs of additional leaks.
• Warm or
  wet spots: Keep an eye out for warm spots on your tiles or hardwood floors,
  or wet spots on carpeting. These are signs you may be experiencing a slab leak.
• Mold or
  mildew: Obviously, mold and mildew are attracted to warmth and dampness.
  The longer the leak goes on, the greater the potential for mold, so check for signs
  of mold in flooring, along baseboards and inside lower cabinets that are
  located on the floor.
• Other
  leaks: If you’re experiencing other types of leaks in your home, such as
  dripping faucets or running toilets, you should take a look at your water pressure.
  If your water pressure seems to be unusually high, this is likely a sign of a
  slow leak or drip, which could be indicative of a slab leak.

If you believe you have a slab
leak on your property, it’s important that you call in a plumbing specialist as
soon as possible to inspect the issue and address it as needed. If you do have
a slab leak, you can repair the leaking pipe, reroute the pipes or re-pipe
altogether, depending on the severity.

For more information about preventing slab leaks in Mesa,
AZ, contact PlumbSmart Plumbing Heating and Air today.