Is your water bill on the rise and you can put no reason to it? You might hear what sounds like running water even with all the faucets in the house shut off. Or perhaps there is an inexplicably warm place on your floor.
These are things to be aware of, for they could indicate a slab leak. The sort of issue we at Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical are accustomed to putting right for our clients in San Diego. For a quick answer, call (619) 439-0246.
What one has in a slab leak is a water line under the home’s concrete foundation that has begun to leak. Being as the pipe is beneath the slab, any damage will go unobserved until it is a serious matter. Heed the warning signs and you can spare yourself some stress and a few thousand dollars.
What Is a Slab Leak?
You will find that the majority of homes in San Diego have a concrete slab for a foundation with their drain and water lines passing through or below it. Constant pressure will corrode or wear a pipe down over the years, and if it gives way, water will make its way out from under your home.
There is usually some indication before a full blown emergency, you only have to be on the lookout for it.
The Most Common Warning Signs
They may be elusive but slab leaks do not often leave you in the dark. A homeowner in San Diego would be wise to look for:
- No change in usage yet a sharp increase in the water bill
- Dripping or running water when the fixtures are off
- Hot spots on the floor, which can point to a hot water line
- New cracks in the foundation, floors or walls
- Water pressure that is slowly deteriorating
- Flooring that is buckling, damp or has taken on a different color
- Mold or a musty odour by the baseboards
Taken in isolation there may be another cause for any of these. Put two or more together however and a slab leak is very likely.
Why San Diego Homes Are at Risk
Hard water minerals, the soil shifting and the age of the plumbing in many of our older neighborhoods put undue strain on the lines under your foundation. This is a reality for homes in La Mesa, Carlsbad, Escondido, Chula Vista and throughout San Diego. An older house in particular is at risk; piping from decades past is only going to last so long.
Do Not Overlook the Signs
Some homeowners are content to wait and see if it resolves itself. It is not going to. Left to its own devices a minor slab leak will be wasting water in droves and damaging your foundation and flooring while promoting mold.
It is better to act fast to safeguard your wallet and your home. What was once a simple repair can turn into a costly restoration if you let a leak run its course.
Suspect a Slab Leak?
Start by checking the water meter, then put off using water for an hour and check back. See if there are any warm areas on the floor in the morning or unexplained hikes in your monthly bill. Make note of any fresh cracks. And have a professional come in to confirm and locate the leak.
You are not going to want to take on opening up your foundation as a weekend project. We have the experience and equipment to get to the source of a slab leak.
A Name of Trust in San Diego Since 1969
We have been in business in San Diego County since 1969. As a family firm of three generations, Mauzy Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical can put forward more than 5,000 five star reviews from our homeowners. We are here round the clock, seven days a week.
We provide free estimates and financing as well as a Smart Membership plan for your convenience.
Should you have seen any of the above, do not allow a concealed slab leak to have its way with your home. Let us put your mind at ease and protect your floors and foundation. Call the team at Mauzy on (619) 439-0246.