I know of some of my fellow plumbing colleagues like to infuse the seriousness of a water leak under slab with their sales pitch. However, the leak, sometimes referred to as a slab leak, is extremely serious. A slab leak occurs underneath your home’s foundation where pipes are located. The pipes transfer water into and/ or out of you home. Minor or major cracks or holes in any of the pipes can cause serious water damage to your property.

Damage occurs inside and outside of your property and even cause you to incur bills. Thus, a slab leak is not something you can ignore or fix yourself.

When clients call me about a possible slab leak, I know I must provide full disclosure about the amount the seriousness of the problem before discussing price or repair options. Often, clients often feel the pain of the leak financially even before they know it’s a problem. For example, high water or electric bills are the first indication.

There are other common and serious problems with a water leak under slab. Inside your property, you may notice:

·         Waterlogged carpet or ruined floors. As water seeps into your home, it has nowhere to go but up. A slab leak saturates floors, crack tile and seep into carpet causing you to see waterlogged flooring.

·         Odor. The leak can make your home smell moldy or musty. However, if there is a leak in the sewer line pipes than your property may begin smelling like raw sewage.

·         Growing mold. A water leak under slab moves from the floors into drywall which soaks the water up like a sponge. Once you have wet drywall, mold quickly grows inside the walls. Mold can cause health problems for you and your family.  

Outside your home, a slab leak can cause serious damage. You could see:

·         Foundation destruction. The foundation, which is comprised of steel supports and concrete, provides the structure for you home. A slab leak can eventually cause the foundation to move, rise in different areas of the house or crack.

·         Damaged yard. If the leak comes from the pipes under your yard, water can ruin your landscaping or grass. It may even flood your yard. If you have a pool, a water leak under slab can structurally damage it too.

A slab leak is something to take seriously. It can damage your home.
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