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Many homes in Fort Lauderdale, FL, sit on thick concrete slabs without basements. Slab construction is faster and less expensive than constructing basement walls. Other factors, such as local water tables and soil type, make many locations in Florida unsuitable for basements. Houses in these areas are frequently built on concrete slab foundations because the soil is unstable.
Rebar-reinforced concrete slabs are usually 4 to 6-feet thick. Plumbing lines run beneath, and sometimes through, these thick slabs. Slab leaks are difficult maintenance issues for homeowners because the underlying plumbing infrastructure is hard to access.
Risk Factors
Heavy rains and flooding increase risk of slab leaks. Water running underneath a home erodes and destabilizes soil. Loose, shifting soil reduces support for the foundation and may push the slab out of place. Slabs can end up sitting at an angle. Very slight angles may not be noticed by a home’s occupants, but even mild inclines put enormous strain on concrete foundations.
Plumbing infrastructure underneath the slab and pipes carrying water through the concrete can’t withstand such strain for long. Property owners may want to consider calling a plumbing professional after intense storms or flooding to evaluate the structural integrity of the slab and plumbing pipes.
Hairline cracks may appear within days of destabilization. Once cracks appear, they can grow quickly. Fixing the cracks themselves isn’t productive until the underlying cause is eliminated.
Fluctuating temperatures can be inconvenient and unnerving for us, and our homes don’t appreciate constantly shifting temperatures either. Fort Lauderdale, FL sometimes experiences weather changes from temperatures of nearly 100°F with the sun beating down to overcast, cold and rainy within a single day. Drastic temperature changes are very hard on plumbing, especially pipes located in the foundation and other areas outside of the house.
Slab leaks often occur when seasons change. Hot, dry summers merge into wet, cold autumn and winter weather. Soil shifts as temperature and moisture levels change, and these shifts can crack pipes and loosen or displace fittings.
Preventative Measures
Proactive maintenance can reduce the risk of a slab leak in certain circumstances. Consider replacing your plumbing infrastructure if your home is over 40 years old. Some homes built before 1960 have cast iron pipes. Underground iron pipes rust and deteriorate after decades of exposure to water and abrasive substances in soil.
Galvanized steel pipes, another common material during the same period, have a functional lifetime of approximately 50 years. Steel pipes are at risk of clogging and corrosion as the coating on their inner surfaces breaks down. Pay attention to the water when a faucet is first turned on. Water with a rusty tint means corrosion is present somewhere in your plumbing. Call a professional with appropriate equipment and experience to check your home’s plumbing and replace corroded pipes before a problem occurs.
Signs of a Slab Leak
Unfortunately, slab leaks aren’t always easy to detect. Puddles of water probably won’t be visible until the leak has caused a great deal of damage. More subtle signs of a slab leak include mildew or moisture underneath carpeting or tiles, cracked tiles, bubbles in linoleum, and unexplained warm spots on the floor. The warmth is caused by hot water leaking out of a pipe and heating the floor above it. Warm areas usually occur while hot water is running in the washing machine, dishwasher, or shower.
Low water pressure is a sign of a leak somewhere. Slab leaks cause low water pressure, but the leak could be anywhere in the home. It is important to address the problem immediately, regardless of location. Even small leaks can reduce water pressure and result in abnormally high water bills.
It may sound odd, but cracks in the walls may be caused by slab leaks. Leaks can lead to extensive cracks and shifting in the foundation. Any movement or lack of stability in the foundation affects the rest of the house as well. Cracks often develop around the baseboards first.
Fixing the Leak
Plumbing professionals can use specialized tools combined with years of experience to quickly locate the leak. Plumbers use electronic leak detection, such as a thermography ultrasound or endoscopic video, to find piping underneath the concrete slab and visualize a map of the unseen plumbing infrastructure.
A listening device lets plumbers find leaks without tearing up the floor or causing any damage. These technologies greatly reduce the time it takes to find and fix leaks and minimize disruption of daily life. Most people do not have these tools or the education and experience necessary to use them, so calling a professional is almost always the best option to deal with slab leaks.
Some minor slab leaks can be effectively repaired with pipe lining. Pipe lining is a minimally invasive repair technique. A new liner inserted into the damaged pipe applies epoxy to the interior surface of the original pipe. This technique actually repairs the pipe from the inside. Pipe lining only works if the damaged pipe is still mostly intact. It is not effective for severely damaged or weakened pipes.
In some situations, a new pipe can be installed in the compromised area without removing the flooring or creating a small hole in the slab through a process called re-routing. This technique is effective when a short length of pipe is replaced. The damaged pipe length is re-routed above ground to avoid running water through the compromised area. The effectiveness of relatively minor repairs depends on the leak location and extent of the damage.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Fort Lauderdale if you suspect a plumbing leak anywhere in your home. The professionals at bluefrog handle slab leaks and any other plumbing issues you may have.
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