I will be the first to say it—slab leak repair can be expensive.
But do you know what else is expensive? Not repairing a slab leak under your home’s foundation.
Most plumbing problems can turn serious if left unaddressed, but slab leaks are a special case. If left unfixed—whether because they are undetected or just because the homeowner thinks it will cost too much to fix—a slab leak can not only cause damage that is next to impossible to repair: it can also lead to serious health risks for the residents who live in the home.
For most homeowners, that means loved ones.
If you want to keep your home and your family safe, here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Slab Leak?
First let’s answer a simple question: what is this type of leak?
A slab leak is a plumbing issue that happens when the pipes underneath a home with a certain concrete foundation. Some homes have a foundation that is composed of a solid layer of concrete, as opposed to a basement foundation or crawlspace foundation, to name a few. The plumbing that runs into a home with a this type of concrete foundation goes underneath the foundation.
When the pipes underneath this type of foundation are punctured or broken, a slab leak occurs.
How Slab Leak Repair Can Save You Thousands
A simple Google search reveals that to repair a slab leak could cost around $2,000. That’s expensive.
However, another simple Google search shows that a slab foundation repair can cost anywhere between $5,000 – $80,000.
The reason it costs so much more to repair a foundation than it does a leak often has to do with how much damage the foundation has undergone by the time of repair. A leak underneath the foundation can erode the soil underneath your home and cause extreme expansion and contraction, which can eventually cause the foundation to crumble and collapse.
Compared to that, a slab leak repair is a simple fix.
Why Your Health Is at Risk without Slab Leak Repair
But what is more important than saving money on essential repairs? How about your health and the health of your family?
Anyone who has dealt with any type of plumbing issues in the home knows that when water is involved, mold is always a possibility. The nature of slab leaks lends itself especially well to the growth of mold, too—because leaks often go undetected for a long time, the potential is much greater that you have been living in a mold infested house for months or even years.
Mold is known to cause respiratory problems that can grow worse over time. If you have a child with asthma, mold can trigger a serious attack.
Contact an Expert at Custom Plumbing of Arizona
Now that you know the stakes of completing your slab leak repair, get in touch with us. Let us help you stop problems now, so you don’t have to worry about worse things down the road.