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My Floor is Wet, is That a Slab Leak?

Posted On Friday, 10 November 2023 11:14
My Floor is Wet, is That a Slab Leak?

Figuring what and where a leak is coming from in a home can be challenging, especially when the source of the leak is hidden. That can be the case with a slab leak. These kinds of issues, ironically, happen more in newer homes than older ones, especially the newer ones built on a cement foundation. And, unlike a leak in a wall or behind a fixture, which can be accessed with a bit of effort, a slab leak is going to take a lot more work if it is indeed confirmed. This is why slab leak detection is so important before any work begins.

What is a Slab Leak, and Why Does it Happen?

With homes built after 1970, a good amount of them were constructed on cement foundations. Prior to that point, many homes were built on a framework of timber and cement feet. This allowed a crawlspace underneath the house which allowed air to flow as well as for plumbing and wiring to be installed easily. Many homes would just apply sidewalls to from the bottom of the house to the dirt level to block the view, or obscure the gap with bushes, but essentially these older homes were elevated.

Today’s homes are built with a preformed slab with many of the plumbing connections from the water main and to the drainage embedded in the cement before it cures. Then, once the foundation is hardened, the house is built on top of that slap, connected and attached with framing, straps, bolts, and similar. Finally, the walls are shored up, externally and internally, hiding most of the same plumbing that runs to the lines underneath and inside the slab. While one would think all the plumbing inside the concrete would be protected, that’s not always the case.

Embedded plumbing can start to leak for a number of reasons. The most dramatic involves shifting. This is where part of the house moves because the earth underneath wasn’t compacted enough. Enough movement, and the plumbing can be stretched, cracked, or bent, causing a leak or break. Alternatively, friction can create a small leak that grows bigger. This happens when there are variations in water pressure, causing the pipe to move. The movement rubs against the hard cement causing friction points that eventually weaken. Finally, poor quality construction in installation can trigger a joint failure and leak as well in a slab.

How is a Repair Made?

The first step with a potential break or leak is to confirm it with a detection examination. Once confirmed, the professional slab leak repair team then goes about accessing the part of the house floor where the leak is located. This will involve removing the flooring down to the cement, breaking through to the plumbing line, and repairing it. The job and work can be isolated to a specific, small area if located accurately. Alternatively, the old pipe can be removed, and a new one inserted with sufficient drilling access. That method takes a bit more work and skill. Both will resolve the leak and restore reliable plumbing. Then the flooring has to be restored.

In many cases, the home is older than 10 years, which usually negates any warranty coverage for the work if it was bought new. However, homeowners should check with their homeowners' insurance to determine if negligent construction or shifting in the slab is covered as this can help address the repair cost considerably. Licensed plumbers are also preferred in these situations as their documentation and evaluation is considered an expert evaluation for insurers. And as a homeowner that can go miles in avoiding an out-of-pocket hit for a slab leak.

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