Imagine coming home from a two-week vacation feeling rested and restored from your time away. You pull up to your Phoenix area home and everything looks fine. But when you open the door you notice a slightly musty smell. A moment later, as you step into the living room, your heart sinks. There’s an inch or two of water on the floor, and everything is completely soaked. There’s no gushing water from a broken pipe, no evidence of a what caused the flood. Unfortunately, you’ve just discovered the homeowner’s nightmare referred to as a slab leak. Undetected slab leaks that grow into major water damage incidents affect many homes in the greater Phoenix area.
Slab Leak Causes
New homes are built on large concrete pads referred to as “slabs.” In the past, many Phoenix area home builders made the choice to install plumbing pipes under the slabs of new homes for a variety of reasons. In terms of design, there were some perceived advantages, but also, over time, unintended negative consequences. Under certain circumstances, water pipes beneath a slab can become damaged or develop leaks, and that’s when serious water damage can occur. Soil conditions, shifting soil or improper installation can affect the outside of the pipes while hard water, chemicals and mineral deposits can degrade the inside of pipes. Either of these conditions can result in leaking pipes beneath the concrete foundation of your home. A slab leak can degrade the foundation of your home, as well as cause significant damage to your carpeting, flooring, furniture and possessions.
Signs You May Have A Slab Leak
There are some early warning signals that indicate you may have pipes leaking beneath your concrete slab. Has your water bill increased for no apparent reason over the last few months? Do you notice moisture on the floor or unexplained wet spots in your carpeting? When it’s very quiet late at night, do you notice the faint sound of gurgling or running water even though there are no faucets turned on, no appliances running, such as your dishwasher or washing machine? These signs could point to a slab leak and should be checked by a professional.
What Should You Do If You Have A Slab Leak?
A slab leak is a serious problem which has the potential to cause severe damage to your home. It’s not a do it yourself weekend project and unfortunately, it won’t fix itself. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse. If you suspect water may be leaking under your foundation, call the professionals at Cool Blew for expert leak detection today.
For all your plumbing and HVAC needs, call the true blue, Cool Blew professionals today at 623-872-2900.
