A slab leak jeopardizes your home’s integrity, value and health. It can cause significant damage to structures like the foundation, walls and floors. Fixing this major issue requires specialized skills and tools. These 10 reasons demonstrate why a slab leak requires a skilled plumber to repair it.
1. Local Codes
Many cities require homeowners to hire licensed plumbers to fix slab leaks. Attempting to repair a slab leak on your own could violate your city’s local codes. Code inspectors could issue you an expensive fine.
Rather than risk a code violation, you can hire a skilled plumber to fix your property’s slab leak. The plumber will fix the leak according to the local codes where you live.
2. Promptness
Prompt repair for a leak under a paved surface protects the value and appearance of your home and property. A local plumber may give you the fast response you need when you suspect you have one of these leaks.
Depending on the leak’s extent, the plumber may finish repairing it in a matter of days, if not faster. The prompt response spares your home and foundation from water damage and protects structures like your home’s floors and walls.
3. Leak Location
When you develop this kind of leak on your property, you do not want to waste time locating it. As a property owner, however, you may have no idea of where the leak is. You may also not know how extensive it is or how much damage it causes.
A plumber with experience repairing slab leaks can typically find yours quickly. This plumbing contractor will first inspect the property and visible signs of the leak. Your plumber will then pinpoint its location and determine the best way to repair it.
4. Effective Repairs
As a homeowner, you may find it easier to trust plans for fixing the leak when you hire an experienced local plumber. A plumber with years of experience fixing this type of plumbing damage can determine whether or not to replace the leaky pipe under the slab. They can alternatively decide if fixing the pipe’s crack or hole would offer a better solution to the problem.
You benefit from knowing the plumber’s plan should provide you with reasonable results that equal the money and time you put them. You can also get peace of mind as a homeowner that your home will not sustain any more damage than it already has from the leak.
5. Less Water Use
A slab leak wastes water. As a property owner, you may want to minimize the amount of water that you and your household waste every month. A broken or leaky pipe under a slab can cause dozens of gallons of water or more to go to waste.
Preventing water from going to waste calls for you to hire a competent plumber to fix the leak. The plumber can stop the leak quickly and prevent your property from wasting additional gallons of water. You can also restore your property’s water efficiency by hiring a plumber for this issue.
6. High Water Bill Prevention
High water use translates into higher water bills for your household that you may find challenging to afford. The longer you allow the leak to persist, the more money you will have to pay for higher water expenses. Reducing these expenses begins with contacting a plumber in your area to fix the broken or leaking pipe.
7. Appearance
A slab leak can damage not only your home and the structures in it. It can also ruin the appearance of your property. Water can pool up in your yard or on paved surfaces, creating a swampy mess and attracting pests like mosquitoes and flies.
You can restore your property’s appearance when you use the services of a skilled plumbing repair professional. The plumber can stop water from leaking from the damaged pipe. This repair prevents more water from pooling on your property, allowing it to dry up and become less attractive to pests. Your property may go back to its normal appearance in a matter of days after the plumber fixes the leak.
8. Foundation Protection
The foundation provides your home with structural integrity and keeps water out of your basement or crawlspace. When you develop a slab leak, you could compromise the function and integrity of your foundation if you fail to get the leak repaired.
A heavily damaged foundation can take time and a significant amount of money to repair. Rather than risk ruining your home’s foundation, you can rely on a licensed and knowledgeable plumber to fix the slab leak. You can also keep water out of your basement and crawlspace when you hire a plumber for this type of leak repair.
9. Prevention
A plumber with years of experience fixing this type of water leak can give you tips on how to minimize the chances of developing another slab leak. These tips can include:
- Reducing the hardness of your water
- Getting regular plumbing inspections for your home and property
- Controlling the pH level of your water
- Insulating your pipes
- Avoiding excessive water pressure
You can also find it if you should install a device like a water leak detector with a smart shutoff to prevent future slab leaks. The tips your plumber provides can spare your budget, protect your home and help maintain your property’s water efficiency.
10. Tools and Equipment
Finally, a skilled plumber has access to the best equipment and tools for finding and fixing slab leaks. This gear can include electronic amplification equipment and electromagnetic pipeline locators for locating the leak quickly. It can also include equipment that tests the pressure in the pipes running under paved surfaces like your driveway or sidewalk.
Other tools include scopes to get a visual picture inside your pipes, as well as jackhammers to dig into paved surfaces. This equipment not only lets plumbers find where leaks are quickly. It also minimizes the disruption to your property. A skilled plumber uses these types of tools to leave as much of your property intact while locating and fixing the slab leak.
How We Can Help
At J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing, we understand the urgency of finding and repairing slab leaks. We have more than 50 years’ worth of experience with repairing these kinds of plumbing leaks and focus on making sure your repair experience is second to none.
As a locally, veteran-owned plumbing business, our team offers a comprehensive array of services, such as plumbing repairs, installations and maintenance. We strive to provide you with an efficient and affordable solution whenever you suspect you have a slab leak on your property.
Our plumbing technicians all maintain industry licensing, certification, bonding and insurance for your peace of mind. They put your safety first and can provide you with a free estimate before they start their work. You can also set up a time for your property’s plumbing repairs using the online contact form on our website or by giving us at J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing a call.
At J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing, we offer the skilled plumbing repairs you need when you have a slab leak on your property. Contact us today to learn more about our pipe repair and installation services!
