One of the worst home fixes to face as an Oklahoma homeowner is problems related to your foundation. With Oklahoma houses often built on concrete slabs, any water-related issues can bring to mind nightmare scenarios of cracked foundations, water leaks, and expensive repairs.
Concrete slab leaks are a leading cause of many water-related damage issues in a home. An even bigger problem? Ignoring the signs and symptoms of a slab leak. Read below to learn more about slab leaks in homes, and how a local Oklahoma plumber can help take care of the problem quickly!
What Is A Slab?
Many Oklahoma homes are designed to be built on a slab foundation. So what exactly does it mean that your house has a slab foundation?
A slab is just that — a large slab of concrete at the base of the home that creates the solid foundation. A slab can range from 4 to 6 inches in thickness, with the center of the slab often being the thickest part of the concrete. To give slabs their shape and strength, concrete is poured in one setting and is fortified with steel rebar and post-tension cables. This helps ensure that the concrete sets evenly throughout the slab, and has extra durability to withstand the weight of the structure on top.
Here’s a fun fact about slab foundation homes: they don’t have crawl spaces or basements! In fact, directly below the concrete slab is the ground that the slab was laid on. This makes it essential that the soil has been graded properly prior to pouring and setting the slab foundation. To help with moisture and drainage, a layer of sand will often be set just below the concrete slab. This sand also acts as a bit of cushion for the slab, giving it a little wiggle room should the ground shift and settle.
While the slab is being poured, piping will often be run under and through the slab to allow for the installation of plumbing. Unfortunately, this piping can unexpectedly spring a leak that isn’t noticed since the plumbing is under the slab. Left untreated, slab leaks can lead to costly damage to your home, slab, and bank account.
Signs You Have A Slab Leak
Unless you have x-ray vision, you won’t likely notice when your plumbing has sprung a leak under your concrete slab. Fortunately, by learning the signs of a slab leak, you can take action to have your concrete slab repaired with the help of a skilled plumbing expert.
Read below for five signs that you have a slab leak:
1. A Sudden Rise In Your Water Bill
One of the fastest ways to notice that something is off with your plumbing is a sudden, unexpected rise in your water bill. As the leak continues unabated below the slab, water will continue to flow — pushing your water bills higher and higher. If you notice your utility bill is skyrocketing and can’t find any reason to explain the rise, you may need to check for a slab leak.
2. An Unexpected Loss Of Water Pressure
Have you noticed that your faucets and showerheads aren’t flowing as powerful as they once did? The problem may have to do with a slab leak. As the leak continues to flow, the water pressure will decrease across other parts of your home. If no other faucets are flowing and the pressure is still low, you may have a slab leak hidden below the surface.
3. An Unexplained Mildew Smell In Your Home
When a slab leak occurs, moisture will begin working its way up through the microscopic pores present in the concrete slab. Over time, this moisture can build up and allow mold and mildew to grow at the foundation of your house. If you begin to notice that your home is taking on an unexplained odor, you may be dealing with a slab leak mildew mess!
4. Damp & Damaged Flooring
Not only can a mildew odor be a sign of a slab leak, but damp spots on your flooring can give a hint. If you begin to notice that the flooring set just above the concrete slab continues to feel damp, it may be time to take a look for potential water damage. If you can’t find a space near the walls where water may be coming in and down, then a slab leak may be forcing water up and in — and damaging your flooring.
5. Water Pooling Inside & Outside Your Home
A final sign of potential slab leaks is any water pooling inside or outside your home. Obviously, the presence of water pooling in your house is a bad sign of potential problems. However, the sneakier issue comes with water pooling just outside the home — an issue that can disguise itself as weather-related.
Most concrete slab foundations are poured just a bit further than the home’s length. If you begin to see water pooling around the sides of your home, and rain or yard watering isn’t the culprit, you may be seeing water collecting as it leaks out and up from the slab.
Let The Team At BL3 Plumbing Handle Your Slab Leak Repairs
Ignoring slab leaks can lead to severe damage to your home and foundation. The moment you begin to notice the presence of one or several of the above symptoms of a slab leak, time is of the essence.
A skilled plumbing company such as BL3 Plumbing can come and address any potential slab leaks that may be present at your home. Not only will they take a look at your foundation with a trained and experienced eye, but they can also provide guidance on the steps you should take to fix any slab leaks and repair them quickly.
A slab leak can be a stressful experience for the entire family. BL3 Plumbing will work closely with you to ensure that any slab leaks are found and fixed as quickly as possible — with as little interruption to your daily life as possible. With the latest equipment and leak repair methods, you can rest easy knowing that your slab leak repair services are professional and will last. Give our team a call at (405) 237-1414 for more information about Oklahoma slab leak repair services in your area.
