Want to avoid your home resembling a construction zone? Need to fix a slab leak without jackhammering your foundation? We hear you! The idea of jackhammering your precious foundation can be enough to make any homeowner cringe. But fear not! We’re here to share some ingenious methods to fix a slab leak without jackhammering. Yes, you read that right! In this blog, we’ll guide you through some creative solutions that will save your foundation from the wrath of a jackhammer while still addressing that pesky slab leak

3 Methods to Fix Slab Leak Without Jackhammering: How to Fix a Slab Leak When You Don’t Want to Tear Up Your Foundation

  • Re-Routing

Re-piping or re-routing is an effective method to fix a slab leak when only a small number of pipes need replacement. Then, the plumber will install new pipes to create a leak-free system. However, if the lines are under your floors or inside your walls, it will require demolition, which means you might have to leave your home while the work is completed.

Fixing a slab leak without jackhammering may take several days to complete, depending on the efficiency of the contractor and the extent of the work needed. But it’s a great option for those who want a reliable and long-lasting solution to their slab leak problem.

More: How Common Are Slab Leaks? For Arizonans, It Doesn’t Look Good

  • Tunneling

Tunneling is a popular option for homeowners who want to preserve their expensive flooring. The repair crew will dig tunnels underneath your home to access the broken pipe. They will ensure the structural integrity of your house is not affected during the process. Once the necessary repairs are done, they will return the removed soil.

One of the best things about tunneling is that you can stay home during the repair process. This method is also less messy than other methods, and it’s an excellent option for those who want a non-invasive approach to fixing their slab leak.

  • Trenchless Slab Leak Repair

If you’re looking for the most non-destructive method to fix a slab leak, trenchless plumbing repair is the way to go. The contractor will only need to create access holes to perform the repair, and it’s not as costly as the traditional methods.

The slab repair specialists will seal the broken pipe with epoxy pipe liners. First, they will do a camera inspection to determine the extent of the damage. Then, if trenchless repair is viable, they will clean the pipe, place the epoxy pipe liner, inflate it, and then let it cure. This entire process can be completed in just a few hours.

In addition to epoxy pipe liners, they can use pipe splitting to replace badly damaged water lines. This method involves inserting new pipes slightly larger than the existing ones.

Contact Custom Plumbing of Arizona Today to Get Started

Fixing a slab leak without jackhammering is a challenging task, but it can be done with the right approach and expertise. That’s why you need to contact Custom Plumbing of Arizona as soon as possible. We’re a trusted 24-hour plumbing company in Arizona, specializing in fixing slab leaks without resorting to the dreaded jackhammer. In addition, we’re always available to provide emergency services, ensuring that your slab leak gets fixed quickly and efficiently.

We understand the importance of keeping your building safe and reliable for the people and communities that rely on it. With over fifteen years of experience under our belts, you can count on us to handle your slab leak with expertise and care. So, if you’re dealing with a slab leak and want to avoid the hassle of jackhammering your foundation, don’t wait another minute. Give us a call at 602-866-2665 before it’s too late.

Posted on Categories Slab leakTags , Leave a comment on How to Fix Slab Leak Without Jackhammering Your Foundation

Ah, home sweet home. The place where you can kick off your shoes, relax, and forget about the outside world. But what happens if you ignore a slab leak? Well, let’s just say it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Picture this: a tiny drip somewhere beneath your concrete foundation that you choose to ignore, thinking it’s just a minor nuisance. But that unassuming little leak can quickly transform into a costly disaster, wreaking havoc on your beloved abode. 

 

In this blog, we will delve into the five expensive outcomes that can arise from neglecting a slab leak, so you can avoid the headache and financial woes that come with turning a blind eye to plumbing problems.

What Happens If You Ignore A Slab Leak?

A slab leak is a term used to describe a leak in the water pipes that are located beneath the concrete slab foundation of your home. These leaks can occur for a number of reasons, such as damage to the pipes, soil shifting, or even poor installation. Regardless of the cause, ignoring a slab leak can lead to some serious damage.

Slab Leak Damage: 5 Ways a Slab Leak Can Ruin Your Home

Foundation Damage

Your home’s foundation is like the rock-solid backbone that holds everything together. Ignoring a slab leak can spell disaster for this crucial structure. As water seeps into the ground beneath your foundation, it causes the soil to shift and erode, compromising the stability of your home. Over time, this can lead to cracks in the foundation, uneven floors, and even structural collapse. Repairing foundation damage is a daunting and expensive task, so it’s essential to address slab leaks promptly to avoid such costly consequences.

Yard and Landscaping Damage

A beautiful yard can be the pride and joy of any homeowner, but a slab leak can turn that oasis into a soggy mess. As water continues to leak from the foundation, it saturates the soil, leading to the death of your carefully nurtured plants and the deterioration of your beloved landscaping. Moreover, the excess moisture can cause soil erosion, sinkholes, and the upheaval of pathways or driveways. Repairing these damages can take a significant toll on your wallet and your green thumb.

Foul Odors

If you’ve ever smelled a musty odor in a damp basement, you know how unpleasant it can be. A slab leak provides the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, releasing foul odors permeating your home. Not only is this smell nauseating, but it can also pose health risks to you and your family. Mold spores can trigger allergies and respiratory problems, making your living environment uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. In addition, ignoring a slab leak allows these unwelcome guests to multiply and thrive, leading to costly mold remediation expenses down the line.

Flooring Damage

The floors in your home are a significant investment, and they’re meant to be enjoyed, not ruined by a hidden leak. When water seeps through your slab, it can wreak havoc on various types of flooring. Hardwood floors can warp and become discolored, while carpets can become waterlogged and develop mold. Even tile and vinyl flooring aren’t immune to the damaging effects of prolonged exposure to moisture. Replacing damaged flooring is costly and can significantly dent your bank account.

Mold Growth

Mold is a persistent enemy that thrives in moist environments. If a slab leak goes unaddressed, it creates the perfect conditions for mold growth. Mold can spread quickly, invading not only your floors but also your walls, ceilings, and even your furniture. Removing mold and restoring your home’s air quality can be an expensive and time-consuming process. It’s far better to tackle the source of the problem head-on rather than deal with the consequences of mold infestation.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have A Slab Leak?

What happens if you ignore a slab leak? Don’t wait to find out the hard way. Don’t let your home turn into a soggy submarine! 

Our expert emergency plumbers are ready to dive in and rescue you from the depths of plumbing despair. Contact us by dialing 602-866-2665. We offer round-the-clock emergency services because we know that slab leaks don’t adhere to regular office hours.

Posted on Categories Slab leakTags , Leave a comment on What Happens If You Ignore a Slab Leak? 5 Expensive Outcomes

How much will slab leak repair cost you? To answer this critical question, we need to lay out a few variables that contribute to costs. Here’s what to know.

Deteriorating pipes underneath your home’s slab foundation can cause serious destruction if you don’t repair them quickly. Leaky pipes in your home can be expensive—not only do they raise your monthly water bill, but they can also cause permanent damage. When the leak is located below a concrete slab, your foundation could be at risk of failing.

The question that most homeowners ask when they hear they have this problem is, “how much will slab leak repair cost me?” According to HomeAdvisor, it can be quite expensive:

  • Detecting a leak beneath a slab can cost $150 to $600.
  • The average cost to repair a slab leak is $2,280.
  • Repairing your slab foundation after fixing the leak often costs over $2,000.

As these figures demonstrate, a few factors can contribute to overall costs. This article provides a general outline of what to expect.

What Factors into Concrete Slab Repair Cost?

Concrete slab leak repair cost can be expensive, in part because of the specialist work and labor involved. But there are a variety of factors that you can use to determine what price you’ll get quoted, which will make it easier for you to plan accordingly! In this section, we break down the different factors that contribute to the price of a slab leak repair so that you’re better prepared.

 

Slab Leak Reroute

Rerouting your plumbing is an option when you want to avoid extensive demolition costs. A plumber will find a new route through your home to save your floors from destruction and repair. Concrete slab leak repair cost for a reroute job will depend on the size of the affected area but can range from $300 to $1500 to complete.

 

Under-Slab Repair

An under-slab leak is one of the most common plumbing leaks. It may be caused by a variety of reasons, including heavy rain, excessive runoff, and a broken pipe. In many cases, the leak can be found at the joint connecting two pieces of piping. Under-slab repair requires the plumber to demolish a portion of the concrete slab to access the leak. Depending on the size of the job, this can cost anywhere from $500 to $4000.

 

Water Main Repair

Your home’s water main line is what allows you to have water in your home. If the water main is damaged, this can add to the cost of repairs as well. Water main repairs can cost between $500 and $3000, depending on the extent of the damage and the amount of piping that needs to be replaced.

 

Burst Pipe

Burst pipes are often the cause of slab leaks. These pipes have cracks or seams that allow water to leak out inside a building, causing structural damage and health hazards. Burst pipes usually break because of wear and tear or because they were installed too close to a heat source, like an oven or furnace. Depending on how accessible the broken potion of the pipe is, this can cost between $400 and $850.

 

New Concrete Slab

One of the main factors into the cost of a slab leak repair is the type of slab. If there is an older concrete slab, it will likely cost more to repair than if it was a newer concrete slab. The material used for the new concrete will also affect how much it costs to fix.

If damage is too extensive, the entire slab may need to be replaced. Because this is a big job, it costs a lot to complete. The total cost depends on the size of the slab and the thickness of the slab. These jobs range between $3600 and $7200 to finish.

5 Slab Leak Signs to Know

Finding a slab leak on your home is difficult, but there are warning signs that will point you in the right direction. Learning what these warning signs are and what to do if you notice them are important steps in securing your home against water damage and other costly repairs.

Do you know these slab leak signs?

Higher Water Bills

Is your water bill higher than normal? If there are no other indications of increased water use, such as additional guests in your home, then you might have a slab leak. Slab leaks allow your water to run constantly, which will drive up water usage in your home.

Poor Water Pressure

When the water pressure in your home starts to decrease without any obvious explanation, you could be looking at one of the top slab leak signs. If your plumbing typically has great water pressure, you should consider whether you need to have a professional diagnose the problem. At the very least, you will get peace of mind.

Damaged Flooring

In most cases, slab leaks happen in the hot water pipes. You might notice unusual warm spots on your floor when there is a leaking pipe due to uneven heating occurring from the top down. Additionally, the water can wreak havoc on carpeting and other household surfaces if fit seeps up through a crack in the slab.

The Sound of Running Water

You may hear a persistent sound in your plumbing despite having all your faucets turned off. To test whether you water is leaking under the slab, turn off all the water in your house and listen for the sound of running water.

Unpleasant Smells

Your home might start to collect a funny smell if you have a slab leak – even though you clean it daily. If water is streaming at a steady rate out of your home pipes, your floors or walls might have mildew and mold growing behind their surface that is giving off a funky scent. To fix the problem, you will need to contact a professional plumber.

 

Detecting the Slab Leak

Finding a leak beneath a slab foundation is more difficult than locating a leak in your home. Because the pipes are buried under the foundation, a leak detection specialist will need to use special equipment to find the exact location of the leak to minimize the damage to your foundation.

If you don’t know where the leak is located, hiring an expert who has the experience and equipment to do the job efficiently can save you hundreds, maybe even thousands, in slab leak repair costs.

Repairing the Leaky Pipe

A broken pipe can cost anywhere from $150 to nearly $400 to repair. The price tag goes up quite a bit on average if the pipe in question is your main water line. It may cost as little as $150, though the average cost is about $840, and some repairs cost as high as $3,000 to complete.

Keep in mind that costs are relative to the extent of the damage to your pipes.

Foundation Repairs

The majority of your slab leak repair cost will most likely come from foundation repair. Fixing a slab leak requires cutting through your foundation to access the pipes, and depending on how much of the foundation needs to be removed, it can get expensive.

On average, pouring a new foundation costs between $3,600 and $7,200, though you should be aware that this is for an average-sized home. If your home is large, the average cost can be much more of a burden. You may also want to consider rerouting your plumbing to save on costs.

How much will slab leak repair cost you? Get a free estimate today.

Have your water bills been higher than usual? Have you noticed the sound of running water when your taps are turned off? You might have a slab leak. If you suspect your home has this surprisingly common problem, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Custom Plumbing of Arizona. We are slab leak experts you can trust.

Posted on Categories Blog, Plumbing Service & Repair Phoenix AZ, Slab leakTags Leave a comment on How Much Does Slab Leak Repair Cost?

Looking for plumbers that handle slab leak detection in Phoenix? Custom Plumbing of Arizona specializes in this essential service. Here’s why we think you should hire a professional as soon as possible.

If you have ever experienced a slab leak, you know exactly how devastating it can be. If not, then you should know that not only can a slab leak under your home be financially devastating, but also it can be dangerous.

Not sure whether to hire someone to look for a potential slab leak in your home? Here’s why we think you should.

3 Reasons to Hire a Pro for Slab Leak Detection in Phoenix

Slab Leaks Need to Be Fixed ASAP

If your home has a slab leak, it needs to be fixed as quickly as possible. The longer you wait to address the problem, the more damage it can do to your foundation. The first step is detecting the leak, and that usually requires a professional plumber.

Professional Plumbers Have Access to Special Equipment

It is possible to determine whether you have a slab leak under your home, but most of the time, you are going to need some special tools to help with detection. Plumbers use special technologies like sonar and infrared to locate slab leaks. When you hire a plumber, you are not only getting their skills and experience—you also get access to equipment that helps make detection more accurate.

Professional Plumbers Can Tell You Why the Slab Leak Occurred

Perhaps the most important reason that you should hire a plumber to find your slab leak is that they can give you an accurate report on the underlying cause of the damage to your plumbing system. There is no single cause of slab leaks. Some are the result of settling soil underneath the house, which can put pressure on the pipes under the concrete slab. Others happen because of corrosive materials in the soil. Sometimes it comes down to faulty installation.

Whatever the cause of your slab leak, you need to understand exactly what caused it in the first place or it could happen again. Reinstalling metal pipes in corrosive soil is not a solution. Repairing pipes when the soil is still settling is not a solution. If you don’t know the underlying cause, you could be doomed to repeat a really expensive mistake.

Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: Have You Contacted a Professional Yet?

Do not wait another second to talk to a plumbing expert if you think that your home has a slab leak. The damage that could occur—and may have occurred already—could be extensive enough to make your home unsafe. At the very least, it could lead to the need for extensive foundation repairs.

Get in touch with the experts at Custom Plumbing of Arizona now if you have any questions. We are happy to answer them and guide you in the repair process.

Posted on Categories Residential Plumbing Services, Commercial Plumbing Service, Leak Detection and Leak Locating, Slab leakLeave a comment on Slab Leak Detection Phoenix: 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional

As a homeowner, you have probably asked the question, “What is a slab leak?” This article answers the question and lays out how you might be able to prevent one.

If your home is built on a slab foundation, you are at risk of experiencing a slab leak. For those who have never heard of such a thing, this should be a wake-up call.

Before you can prevent a slab leak from happening to your home, you need to know what it is, what can cause it, and what the signs are.

What Is a Slab Leak?

To put it plainly, a slab leak is a rupture in one of the pipes running below your home’s foundation. These leaks are often the result of corrosion of the copper pipes that feed water into your home and take water out.

Slab leaks can cause serious damage to your home, so it is important to find them as quickly as possible after they form. In some cases, they can even lead to the collapse of your foundation.

Here is some more information about how these leaks can form.

What Causes a Slab Leak to Form?

There are generally four ways that the plumbing underneath your home can be damaged—poor installation, foundation shifts, abrasion from expansion and contraction, and corrosion.

If the pipes were damaged or improperly installed when your home was built, it could lead to a leak under your foundation. Whether the pipes were banged up during building or the joints weren’t properly sealed, the damage could accumulate.

It is just a fact of homeownership that foundations shift. The ground surrounding your home may be unstable, which can result in shifting soil and increased pressure on your pipes. Too much pressure and they may rupture.

As the seasons change, the water temperature inside your pipes rises and falls. These shifts lead to expansion and contraction in your home’s pipes. For the pipes under your foundations, it could also mean that they are rubbing against rocks and concrete, which could wear a hole through the metal.

Exposure to substances in the soil and in the water can also lead to a slab leak. Corrosion happens when the pipes react to substances that are touching them, both inside and out.

Signs of a Problem

Slab leak damage can be prevented if you know the signs. If you notice any of these signs, it could mean your home has a slab leak. You should contact a plumber as soon as you can to prevent significant damage from taking place:

  • A moving water meter dial when you are not using water.
  • The carpeting on your foundation is moist or has mildew.
  • Your floors or walls are damp.
  • Your water pressure is unusually low.
  • You have mold.
  • Your home has standing water around its perimeter.
  • Your water bill is higher than usual.

Still wondering, “What is a slab leak?” Get in touch with a professional. Don’t wait to address these problems. It could be another plumbing issue that is causing these things, but you should rule out a slab leak first.

Contact Custom Plumbing of Arizona to speak to a professional.

 

Posted on Categories Residential Plumbing Services, Slab leak