Slab Leak Detection in Carlsbad and Slab Leak Repair in Carlsbad are the two major concerns for the people of Carlsbad, California. Slab Leak is a problem that arises in situations where the soil of the land is unstable. Houses are built on slabs made of concrete since there is a risk of basements cracking or breaking due to the shifting of soil underneath. Plumbing lines usually run beneath the slabs, where sometimes disaster may ensue. Sometimes, the plumbing pipes or lines may break due to poor quality material which gets corroded quite easily or they may crack from the pressure of construction over which they are built. When plumbing pipes burst or crack, it does not take long for slabs to show signs of leakage. Since there is a flow of water below the houses, the soil upon which the house is built gets eroded over time. Due to its erosion, the soil keeps shifting, or rather reducing from underneath the construction which is also called as instability of the soil. Slab leak is not an uncommon problem these days as most houses experience slab leakage due to which there is inflow of water in the house. Depending on the amount of this water coming in, there are a lot of potential damages that can be done to a house. Appliances, furniture and flooring may also have to be completely replaced.

Why does one require a Slab leak specialist?

This workload is too much for a single individual who has no previous exposure to such kinds of situations and knowledge about plumbing or leakage. Therefore, efficient services of slab leak repair in Carlsbad are required. Fixing a slab leak is majorly under the purview of a plumber who is familiar with the piping system that runs along the house. The failure may be caused by corroded water lines which are caused by chemical reactions of pipes with the water that it is continually exposed to, soil shifting as earlier discussed or just simply inefficient or faulty installation of a plumbing system.

How do plumbers detect slab leaks?

Plumbers have a wide array of knowledge about pipelines, the impacts of shifting soil as well as the detection and remedial measures for leakages. They consider a lot of things to arrive at a conclusion for causation behind a slab leak.

The first consideration is the material of the pipes. Without preventive measures, iron pipes which are installed underneath houses may be subject to corrosion more quickly than anything. Even galvanized steel pipes are susceptible to corrosion.
Apart from corrosion, there is also the issue of clogging. At the end of the day, what are pipes doing in houses if not carrying waste material and potable water to and from the house in a perpetual cycle. This entails that some sewage would undoubtedly pass through these pipes. Under certain circumstances, these materials may get clogged in pipes leading to blockage or congestion in the pipe which eventually leads to bursting of the pipe.
Copper pipes which are flexible remain a popular choice today too because of its anti-corrosive properties and the durability that it offers for carrying both hot and cold water from the house and to the house. Copper pipe comes in different wall thicknesses.
Plastic pipes on the contrary are the deal today, since they are capturing the market quite rapidly. Not only are they corrosion-resistant, they can also be used above or below the ground. Plastic is being chosen by many since it has the prerogative of resisting corrosion and being relatively easy to work with. Most common types include:
PVC (polyvinyl chloride pipe) – this is the pipe that is used more frequently and commonly by plumbers with the motive of fixing a slab leak and for plumbing in general. It comes in a variety of colors which indicate the informative properties like intended usage. It makes use of pipes which include white for drain lines and irrigation, blue for potable water, green for sewer water, purple for reclaimed water, gray for electrical conduit.
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) – this is a kind of pipe that is the newest in its kind. PEX is an alternative that has come up recently to copper etc. It is quite easy to bend around, can be cut easily into whatever shape is required etc which makes this kind of material of pipe relatively simpler to install. However, it comes with its set of drawbacks as well. The installation and set up of these pipes require trained professionals and skill sets because making connections between pipes which are secure demands skills and knowledge. The flexibility of these pipes can also pose major problems.

More to know about soil shifts and how to detect a slab leak:

A slow slab leak manages to fill the ground beneath a house with more and more water which takes the form of a slow and quiet process and comes into sight only when the damages are done. They create even more soil expansion that ultimately can lead to substantial damage. The pressure that is created in the upward direction can eventually make the slab crack and burst. In some cases, wet spots develop in hardwood floors and carpeting; in the worst cases, the floor erupts like a geyser, flooding the home. Below are certain signs which may help you recognize that slab leakage repair is required.

Higher water bills without increased personal usage
Sounds of running water when no taps are open
Foundation develops a crack
Discolored or damp floor coverings
Warm or damp places on floors
Bad smell from floors or walls
Uneven growth in lawn or foundation plants
Visible shift in the soil around the structure

Two most famous methods of remedy to fixing a slab leak are given below which can prove to be great references for people who are looking for slab leak specialist. Pipe Rerouting/Repiping sometimes makes sense to avoid the lengthy process of digging, which takes up quite a chunk of time in our schedules and resort to rerouting the plumbing system above the ground instead. In cases where it is observed that the plumbing lines of a house cannot be reached without destruction of the slab, it is considered best to repipe the whole house. It is the job of the slab leak specialist to know where and how the new pipes can be installed, such as in walls, through the attic, closets, and other structures that may conceal and protect it. Another method which one may resort to is tunneling beneath the slab which apparently offers a number of benefits for homeowners like staying inside the house while the repairing or repiping work is still underway in the house, the inconvenience caused to the residents is minimal since it takes place outside the house and is generally inexpensive. Most homeowners prefer this kind of solution because of the aforementioned advantages this method entails.

To figure your way around slab leak detection in Carlsbad as well as slab leak repair in Carlsbad one has to make some serious decisions about the age, materials, and condition of a home’s plumbing system. These factors will prove to be helpful in indicating whether there is requirement of slab leakage repair or the replacement of an entire section of the plumbing system. Under extreme circumstances, there is also a need for complete re-arrangement or re-piping of the entire plumbing system of a house if the damages are done to a great degree.