How to Detect a Slab Leak and What to Do About It

If you’ve built a home on a concrete slab, there may be a hazard lurking underneath. Whether it be improper installation, shifting ground or another physical damage, your home could be harboring trouble. If you notice mold under your carpet or water collecting from an unknown source, your home might have a slab leak.

Sometimes, as might happen in the Portland area, the ground might be moving imperceptibly. With plumbing running underground, all it would take is a slight shift in the ground for a fitting or joint to free up or break, resulting in a leak. Caught early, you can greatly minimize damage to your home.

But how do you detect a slab leak? Some common signs include:

• Hearing water running even though you’re sure the water is turned off.
• Feeling a warm spot in the middle of the floor.
• Though not conclusive, if you see a crack in the floor.
• If your water bills seem unusually high. A leak can be costly before you even find the source.

What should you do if you think you detect a slab leak? First, don’t go digging up your concrete floor. You’ll likely be doubling your problems and tripling your costs. Reputable plumbing companies have sophisticated detection equipment and can find the problem quickly and rapidly devise a workable plan of recovery.

If you let this problem go on without repair or mitigation, you run the risk of having mold issues that can cause serious respiratory problems. In the severest of cases, a leak can cause structural support problems to your home.

If you notice any of these issues, contact Roth Home & Cooling, and get the pros in there quickly to make a determination of your problem and put your mind at ease.