Most homes in the Phoenix Valley have post tension concrete slabs for foundations. The USDA survey shows clay soil in the Phoenix area that has a tendency to expand and contract particularly during our monsoon summer rains and a reinforced slab helps prevent the foundation from cracking. But that slab also makes a particular type of plumbing problem, slab leaks, very problematic.
Much of your home’s plumbing is located under or in your slab foundation. If a line fails or develops a leak, finding it and repairing it can be a challenge. Toss in the fact that the most common type of problem is a pinpoint leak with a relatively slow water flow, meaning it can take you a while to even know you have a slab leak. An unchecked slab leak has the potential to cause serious water damage to your home. Identifying and resolving the problem early is key to minimizing damage and expense.
Common Signs Your Home has a Slab Leak
Slab leaks are sneaky. If you have a leak in a pipe above the foundation, even a pinpoint leak, you will see signs of the leak (stained walls, moisture, etc.) almost immediately. Because they are buried, slab leak signs are more subtle. Here are a few of the more common indicators that you have a slab leak:
- Spike in Water Bill. Unless you have a serious leak, even this clue might go undetected. But if you notice an unexpected hike in your water bill, you probably have a leak of some kind and if there are no obvious signs, then it is probably a slab leak.
- The sound of Running Water. If you notice the sound of water running where there are no plumbing fixtures, you most likely have a slab leak.
- Mold. If you discover mold growing on a baseboard there is moisture coming from somewhere. The most obvious source is the floor and that means a slab leak.
- A Bulge in Hardwood Floor. If enough water is escaping from a slab leak to cause a warping or bulging in your hardwood flooring, you have a serious leak and need to contact a professional plumber immediately.
Slab Leak Solutions – They Aren’t Always Obvious
Fixing slab leaks is really a plumbing specialty. You need the moisture detection technology to find it, and then the homeowner is going to have to make a decision on what the best way to resolve it is. There is more than one way to get it done. Whichever solution is best, there will likely be some excavation.
What you need is an experienced, professional, licensed and insured plumber who you can trust and who has your best interest in mind. Who you need is Phend Plumbing. We are a local, family owned shop established in 2010 with offices in Mesa and Gilbert and slab leaks are our specialty. We have the talent and technology and we will work with you to determine the solution that will work best with your homeowner insurance. Give us a call now and we will send an inspector to your home who can answer your questions and provide a competitive quote.