leaky pipes that occur inside walls are can cause anxiety with any property owner "you may have to open walls or ceilings to repair the pipes and the damage the water has inflicted. But when your leaky pipe is inside the concrete of your foundation or floor, you could face a much more expensive repair. While one fix is to re route water around the problem area with new above-ground pipes, epoxy pipe lining often eliminates the need to tear or dig up your concrete foundation or floor by restoring your pipes while they are still inside the concrete.
The obvious signs of a slab leak are damp, moist or wet spots on the carpeting or floor. Another sign is low water pressure or an increase in your water bill. Maybe youve noticed low water pressure, or it may be a noticeable (even dramatic) increase in your water bill.
Slab leaks occur in your houses incoming water line or in your outgoing sanitary sewer line --both of which may be embedded in or under the foundation of the house. Leaks in both lines can cause large amounts of damage to the foundation and each has its own list of probably causes, some are shared. Slab leaks in the incoming water line can potentially be much more destructive because the supply water is under pressure (its coming from the citys water main). It runs through or under the concrete slab, then to the water heater where copper pipes split off and carry water to all the hot and cold water fixtures in your house.
There are four main causes of slab leaks in a houses incoming water lines. Chemistry is the first, either the chemical interaction between copper water pipes or the water running though them (copper pipe is very susceptible to pinhole leaks caused by the chemical composition of your water), or electrolysis from the copper pipe coming into contact with soil. The second is that due to the foundation shifting (because of poor design or installation, or a change in the moisture of the ground) and pull your pipes apart. The third is water pressure that is too high (the diameter of the pipes installed may be too small) will corrode copper pipe. Leaks will also form at points where the pipes bend or change direction. The fourth cause may just be poor craftsmanship or workmanship: inferior plumbing supplies or materials (e.g. pipes, soldering) or a plumber that rushes or isnt experienced. It could also be a kinked line (a piece of pipe with an imperfection) or nicked by another (non-plumbing) workman, such as those that pour the concrete.
Sewer lines differ from potable water lines which will continuously leak because of the continuous flow and pressure, slab leaks in sanitary sewer lines only leak when a commode is flushed, someone takes a shower or bath, or tap is turned on. There are four main causes of slab leaks in sanitary sewer lines. The 1st is a crack or split in the cast iron, galvanized steel, or PVC sewer pipes, caused by shifting of the foundation. The 2nd is, in the case of cast iron or galvanized steel pipes, parts of the pipe may be exposed to soil, sand, or gravel which are porous to water -this can lead to oxidation. The 3rd cause is the chemicals, solvents, and cleaning solutions that are poured down the drain which interact and corrode the metal pipes. The 4th cause is poor craftsmanship or workmanship, inferior plumbing supplies or materials, or a plumber that rushes or isnt experienced.
If you have a slab leak, or think that you do, you should get a free estimate from a qualified epoxy pipe lining company. Rather than go through the time-consuming and expensive process of either re-routing the affected plumbing altogether, or digging/breaking up your concrete floor or foundation, destroying the flooring you may have covered it with, and buying new replacement pipes, you may be able to save time and money by restoring the pipes you have, right where they are (by connecting epoxy lining equipment to your existing fixtures and valves). A conventional repair (digging up and replacing pipe) will solve your problem right now, but epoxy pipe lining can protect your plumbing system from future slab leaks.
The obvious signs of a slab leak are damp, moist or wet spots on the carpeting or floor. Another sign is low water pressure or an increase in your water bill. Maybe youve noticed low water pressure, or it may be a noticeable (even dramatic) increase in your water bill.
Slab leaks occur in your houses incoming water line or in your outgoing sanitary sewer line --both of which may be embedded in or under the foundation of the house. Leaks in both lines can cause large amounts of damage to the foundation and each has its own list of probably causes, some are shared. Slab leaks in the incoming water line can potentially be much more destructive because the supply water is under pressure (its coming from the citys water main). It runs through or under the concrete slab, then to the water heater where copper pipes split off and carry water to all the hot and cold water fixtures in your house.
There are four main causes of slab leaks in a houses incoming water lines. Chemistry is the first, either the chemical interaction between copper water pipes or the water running though them (copper pipe is very susceptible to pinhole leaks caused by the chemical composition of your water), or electrolysis from the copper pipe coming into contact with soil. The second is that due to the foundation shifting (because of poor design or installation, or a change in the moisture of the ground) and pull your pipes apart. The third is water pressure that is too high (the diameter of the pipes installed may be too small) will corrode copper pipe. Leaks will also form at points where the pipes bend or change direction. The fourth cause may just be poor craftsmanship or workmanship: inferior plumbing supplies or materials (e.g. pipes, soldering) or a plumber that rushes or isnt experienced. It could also be a kinked line (a piece of pipe with an imperfection) or nicked by another (non-plumbing) workman, such as those that pour the concrete.
Sewer lines differ from potable water lines which will continuously leak because of the continuous flow and pressure, slab leaks in sanitary sewer lines only leak when a commode is flushed, someone takes a shower or bath, or tap is turned on. There are four main causes of slab leaks in sanitary sewer lines. The 1st is a crack or split in the cast iron, galvanized steel, or PVC sewer pipes, caused by shifting of the foundation. The 2nd is, in the case of cast iron or galvanized steel pipes, parts of the pipe may be exposed to soil, sand, or gravel which are porous to water -this can lead to oxidation. The 3rd cause is the chemicals, solvents, and cleaning solutions that are poured down the drain which interact and corrode the metal pipes. The 4th cause is poor craftsmanship or workmanship, inferior plumbing supplies or materials, or a plumber that rushes or isnt experienced.
If you have a slab leak, or think that you do, you should get a free estimate from a qualified epoxy pipe lining company. Rather than go through the time-consuming and expensive process of either re-routing the affected plumbing altogether, or digging/breaking up your concrete floor or foundation, destroying the flooring you may have covered it with, and buying new replacement pipes, you may be able to save time and money by restoring the pipes you have, right where they are (by connecting epoxy lining equipment to your existing fixtures and valves). A conventional repair (digging up and replacing pipe) will solve your problem right now, but epoxy pipe lining can protect your plumbing system from future slab leaks.
About the Author:
Mr. LeMaire has served as President of Curaflo since September 2006. CuraFlo is a leader in solving low water flow. Brain is an industry leader in solving problems created by pinhole leaks Tuberculation wich are both of concern when dealing with slab leaks.
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