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What is a Slab Leak?
A slab leak occurs when your pipes slowly leak water into your home’s foundation. Because they buildup so slowly over time by the time you notice it, the slab leak may have caused major damage to your home. Luckily, if you look for the right symptoms, a homeowner can notice a slab leak before it strikes.
Signs of a Slab Leak
A Sudden Increase in Your Water Bill
A good way to monitor the health of your plumbing system is to analyze your water bills. You don’t need to be a master plumber to know that something is wrong when your bill doubles from last month with seemingly no explanation. A slab leak is constantly drawing on your water which can lead to a huge spike in usage. If this is the case, you should contact a professional to take a look at it.
Signs of Water Under Your Floorboards
As water builds up from your foundation it begins to push up against the bottom of your house. Areas of your flooring may be warm to the touch without explanation. A slab leak can warp wood flooring and even cause mildew or mold to grow on your floor.
Hot Water Issues
If you are noticing hot spots on your floor, it is likely because the slab leak originated in a hot water pipe. If this is the case, you may notice that your hot water heater is constantly on. Your heater doesn’t realize that the constant demand for hot water is coming from a slab leak.
Your Water is Constantly Running
As we’ve mentioned a slab leak slowly, but constantly siphons water from your pipes into your foundation. Luckily, there is a way to see if this is the case. Simply, turn off every water appliance in your home and check your water meter which should be near your driveway.
There are a few different designs, but in general, for analog displays, there should be a small triangle shape on the meter. If you have a small leak that triangle will spin. If your water meter is digital, shine a flashlight on it to activate it. The flow rate should read 0. If it doesn’t you have a leak or forgot to turn off a water appliance inside.
If you suspect you may have a slab leak, give our team at Lloyd’s Plumbing a call at (805) 495-8766 or fill out an online contact form.