Detecting A Slab Leak In Your Home

NCT plumbing provides highly-rated professional plumbing solutions to the Fort Worth Area. Left undetected slab leaks can cause substantial water damage to your property which would be both expensive and time-consuming to repair. Some slab leak repairs can take up to three days which is why it is important to be able to detect the early signs of a slab leak in your property.

At NCT Plumbing we can promise to give an upfront estimate of repairs and a solution we stand by. We will work diligently on your behalf knowing your time is important to you.

What is a Slab Leak?

A slab leak is an issue that begins in the plumbing running inside or below your home’s concrete foundation. Your pipes can weaken for a variety of reasons, such as soil shift, high water pressure and pipe material.

Although they may start small, if you leave a slab leak unattended for too long, it will begin to saturate the soil underneath your home causing the floors to become inundated and the building to slowly sink.

Slab Leaks can initially be difficult to detect so here are some signs to look out for if you are concerned that you might have a slab leak:

Sudden Spikes In Your Water Bill

As a homeowner, it is important that you are always monitoring your home’s water bills. These bills will naturally fluctuate depending on how much water you use. But you should still keep an eye out for any unexplained spikes as these may indicate a leak.

If you are concerned about a Slab Leak in your property then get in touch today to arrange your consultation.

Warped and Domed Floors

If a leak is severe and lasts for long enough, you may notice damage to your floorboards in the form of warps or buckling in your floor; it can look like a “dome”, or raised bubble.

The presence of a dome can give you a good indication of the slab leak’s location. Plus, it can also indicate that there is severe water damage occurring somewhere in your property’s foundation.

The buildup of hydraulic pressure beneath a slab will need to be released somewhere.

This pressure eventually finds its way to any weakness or cracks on your property. In the most severe circumstances, the damage continues until the floor erupts like a geyser!

The Smell of Mould, Mustiness, or Mildew

Mould enjoys thriving in areas where there is a lot of moisture. A hidden leak underneath your home will have a lot of moisture trapped between your floors.

The carpet/laminate/flooring will eventually absorb some of the moisture, thus creating the ideal conditions for mould growth. Mould spores may start forming under your carpet, after which you will start to notice more patches of warped or doming flooring.

Expansive Soil Shift in Fort Worth

Many different factors can cause a slab leak in your property but shifting expansive soils is among the biggest causes. According to geology.com, the damage from soil shifts totals more than the cost of property damage caused by floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes combined.

A slab leak displaces water into the ground beneath a home and in Fort Worth, the soil is more prone to this kind of foundation-threatening shift. The leaks then create a domino effect that can ultimately lead to substantial water damage.

Sound of Dripping/Running Water

If you hear the sound of running water even when all of your water fixtures are turned off, then you likely have a plumbing issue. The sound of water flowing/dripping could indicate that you have a slab leak as the displaced water runs outside of your pipes.

Slab leaks can cause any number of plumbing issues and these can indicate other possible problems with your plumbing system. The only way to be certain is to contact NCT Plumbing! Our hardworking engineers are professionally qualified and properly equipped to detect a slab leak and repair it.

To find out more about our options for slab leak repairs, check out the Slab Leak page.

Reach out to us today to arrange your consultation!