Has your water bill gotten more expensive? Before you blame your teen for taking too-long showers, consider another reason for the sudden spike in water usage. You might have a plumbing problem that requires slab leak detection at your Jacksonville home.
What Is a Slab Leak?
Hot and cold water pipes usually run underneath your home’s foundation. When leaks develop in these pipes, plumbers call them slab leaks. Often, slab leaks go undetected for a long time because you don’t notice them like you notice a leaky faucet. A higher-than-normal water bill is often the first sign that a hidden leak exists.
Plumbers use various methods for detecting underground leaks. Some of the most common detection methods include:
- Acoustic amplifiers
- Ground microphones
- Infrared leak detection
- Video inspection tools
What Causes Slab Leaks?
Slab leaks might seem like they happen suddenly, but most of the time, they happen over a long period. Common reasons for underground water pipe damage include corrosion, high water pressure, clogs and old, worn-out pipes. The older the pipes, the more likely it is for pinhole leaks to develop.
Leak detection services help plumbers pinpoint the exact location of the leak. Once this information’s known, the plumbers can make a plan to repair the pipe and stop the leak.
Why You Must Repair a Slab Leak
Higher water bills aren’t the only problem that a slab leak causes. Allowing this type of leak to exist puts your home at risk of structural damage. A slow leak in the pipe under the slab can cause soil erosion and foundation damage. After a while, the foundation weakens and cracks. Foundation repairs don’t come cheap, so it’s important to detect slab leaks as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more damage you have to repair.
Are you worried about high water bills? Do you suspect you have a plumbing leak? Call HRI Plumbing to schedule leak detection services for your home today.
