Signs You May Have a Slab Leak

Slab leaks occur when there is water leaking under the concrete slab on which your house rests. They pose potentially serious risks to your home in and of themselves and also spur additional problems.

Depending on the severity of the leak, it may be difficult to determine whether you have a slab leak or not. Certainly, identifying a leak underneath your concrete floor will never be as straightforward as noticing that a showerhead or under-sink pipe is leaking. But a slab leak often needs even more immediate attention that more easily identified leaks.

So, how can you tell if you have a slab leak? There are a number of warning signs that might indicate a problem.

• Cracks or bubbles in your floor may indicate water underneath, potentially seeping through the concrete or indicating damage already done to the slab itself.
• Unexplained dampness in an area of the carpet is a frequent indicator of a slab leak.
• Warm spots or cold spots on the floor can be caused by warm or cool water collecting from a slab leak.
• Mold or mildew growth, particularly on/under flooring or at the bottom of walls usually mean unwanted water has found its way on your floor and it may have come from below.
• If your water bill unexpectedly indicates dramatically increased consumption, much of that water might not be going into your house, but under it instead.
• Continual faint sound of running water, when all of your plumbing fixtures are turned off, could mean you have a hidden leak in the foundation slab or behind a wall.

If you suspect that you are experiencing a slab leak, you should shut off your water immediately and call PlumbSmart. We offer fast dispatch, FREE slab leak detection (what have you got to lose?), and a $250 discount off slab leak repairs.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!