Pipe leaks that occur within walls are bad enough "you have to cut open walls or ceilings to repair the pipe(s) and the water damage theyve caused. But when your leaking pipe is inside or underneath the concrete of your floor or foundation, you face a much more time-consuming and expensive repair. While one solution is to re-route water around the affected area with new above-ground pipes, epoxy pipe lining often eliminates the need to tear or dig up your concrete floor or foundation by restoring your pipes while they are still inside or below the concrete.
The obvious signs of a slab leak are damp, moist or wet spots on the carpeting or floor. Another sign is low water pressure or an increase in your water bill. Maybe youve noticed low water pressure, or it may be a noticeable (even dramatic) increase in your water bill.
Slab leaks may occur in your houses incoming water pipes or in your outgoing sanitary sewer line. Both of which may have been laid in or under the foundation of the house. Leaks in both lines can cause extensive damage to the foundation. Each has its own set of causes, some are shared. Slab leaks involving the incoming water line can be potentially more destructive because the supply water is under pressure (its coming from the citys water main). It runs through or under the concrete slab, then to the water heater where copper pipes split off and deliver water to all the hot and cold water fixtures in your house.
There are four main causes of slab leaks in a houses incoming water lines. Chemistry is the first, either the chemical interaction between copper water pipes or the water running though them (copper pipe is very susceptible to pinhole leaks caused by the chemical composition of your water), or electrolysis from the copper pipe coming into contact with soil. The second is that due to the foundation shifting (because of poor design or installation, or a change in the moisture of the ground) and pull your pipes apart. The third is water pressure that is too high (the diameter of the pipes installed may be too small) will corrode copper pipe. Leaks will also form at points where the pipes bend or change direction. The fourth cause may just be poor craftsmanship or workmanship: inferior plumbing supplies or materials (e.g. pipes, soldering) or a plumber that rushes or isnt experienced. It could also be a kinked line (a piece of pipe with an imperfection) or nicked by another (non-plumbing) workman, such as those that pour the concrete.
Dissimilar, to those in incoming water lines which will constantly leak since they are under continuous flow and pressure, slab leaks in sanitary sewer pipes only leak when a latrine is flushed, someone takes a shower or bath, or faucet is turned on. There are four main causes of slab leaks in sewer lines. The first is a fracture or break in the cast iron, galvanized steel, or PVC sewer pipes, caused by shifting of the foundation. The second is, in the case of cast iron or galvanized steel pipes, parts of the pipe may be exposed to soil, sand, or gravel which are porous to water -this can lead to corrosion. The third cause is the chemicals, solvents, and cleaning solutions that are poured down the drain which interact and corrode the metal pipes. The fourth cause is poor workmanship or craftsmanship, inferior plumbing supplies or materials, or a second-fiddle plumber.
If you think have a slab leak, you should get a free estimate from a qualified epoxy pipe lining company. Rather than go through the time-consuming (days or even weeks) and expensive process of either re-routing the affected plumbing altogether, or digging/breaking up your concrete floor or foundation, destroying the flooring you may have covered it with, and buying new replacement pipes, you may be able to save time and money by restoring the pipes you have, right where they are (by connecting epoxy lining equipment to your existing fixtures and valves). A conventional repair will solve your problem right now, but epoxy pipe lining can protect your plumbing system from future slab leaks. - 15431
The obvious signs of a slab leak are damp, moist or wet spots on the carpeting or floor. Another sign is low water pressure or an increase in your water bill. Maybe youve noticed low water pressure, or it may be a noticeable (even dramatic) increase in your water bill.
Slab leaks may occur in your houses incoming water pipes or in your outgoing sanitary sewer line. Both of which may have been laid in or under the foundation of the house. Leaks in both lines can cause extensive damage to the foundation. Each has its own set of causes, some are shared. Slab leaks involving the incoming water line can be potentially more destructive because the supply water is under pressure (its coming from the citys water main). It runs through or under the concrete slab, then to the water heater where copper pipes split off and deliver water to all the hot and cold water fixtures in your house.
There are four main causes of slab leaks in a houses incoming water lines. Chemistry is the first, either the chemical interaction between copper water pipes or the water running though them (copper pipe is very susceptible to pinhole leaks caused by the chemical composition of your water), or electrolysis from the copper pipe coming into contact with soil. The second is that due to the foundation shifting (because of poor design or installation, or a change in the moisture of the ground) and pull your pipes apart. The third is water pressure that is too high (the diameter of the pipes installed may be too small) will corrode copper pipe. Leaks will also form at points where the pipes bend or change direction. The fourth cause may just be poor craftsmanship or workmanship: inferior plumbing supplies or materials (e.g. pipes, soldering) or a plumber that rushes or isnt experienced. It could also be a kinked line (a piece of pipe with an imperfection) or nicked by another (non-plumbing) workman, such as those that pour the concrete.
Dissimilar, to those in incoming water lines which will constantly leak since they are under continuous flow and pressure, slab leaks in sanitary sewer pipes only leak when a latrine is flushed, someone takes a shower or bath, or faucet is turned on. There are four main causes of slab leaks in sewer lines. The first is a fracture or break in the cast iron, galvanized steel, or PVC sewer pipes, caused by shifting of the foundation. The second is, in the case of cast iron or galvanized steel pipes, parts of the pipe may be exposed to soil, sand, or gravel which are porous to water -this can lead to corrosion. The third cause is the chemicals, solvents, and cleaning solutions that are poured down the drain which interact and corrode the metal pipes. The fourth cause is poor workmanship or craftsmanship, inferior plumbing supplies or materials, or a second-fiddle plumber.
If you think have a slab leak, you should get a free estimate from a qualified epoxy pipe lining company. Rather than go through the time-consuming (days or even weeks) and expensive process of either re-routing the affected plumbing altogether, or digging/breaking up your concrete floor or foundation, destroying the flooring you may have covered it with, and buying new replacement pipes, you may be able to save time and money by restoring the pipes you have, right where they are (by connecting epoxy lining equipment to your existing fixtures and valves). A conventional repair will solve your problem right now, but epoxy pipe lining can protect your plumbing system from future slab leaks. - 15431
About the Author:
Mr. LeMaire has served as President of Curaflo since September 2006. CuraFlo is a leader in solving low water Pressure. Brain is an industry leader in solving problems created by pinhole leaks Tuberculation You can contact Brian about slab leak detection and repair through CuraFlo.
