The slab leak is one plumbing issue that has the potential to cause most of the damage. This finding is substantiated from the number of plumbing issues, and their severity reported annually by the homeowners of America. A slab leak is a problem that opens up a number of other issues, eventually causing nothing but lots of damage. 

Generally, a household looks to find a slab leak repair in Carlsbad only when the situation gets beyond the point of control. However, this is dangerous. If you ask why, hold on as we are going to discuss the side effects of a slab leak and how the entire plumbing system gets affected by it.    

Side Effects Of Slab Leak

A slab leak is a bigger than usual issue. If we say it is just another plumbing problem, it won’t be justifying the potential of damage that it carries. Here are some of the key damages that it can cause: 

• Foundation Of Home: The slab leak has a good potential to damage the very foundation of your home. You would say that we are kidding, right? No, not at all. The leak, apart from penetrating water, can cause pressure in walls and flooring that results in cracks and faults. Further, it can affect the steel and concrete that has been used in the house and on the back of which the structure stands. The houses that were made of concrete slabs and are a few decades old can face more problems than others in such cases.

• Health Effects: If you didn’t think that a slab leak can cause health issues, then here is a wake-up call for you. Yes, your health and your family’s health can be affected as a side effect of the slab leak problem. Excessive leakage of water can cause the accumulation of water in your home, which can result in the breeding of molds and mosquitoes. Not only these the damp walls and ceilings caused by the leakage can also cause breathing and respiratory diseases as well.

• Debt Burden: Yes, you read it right! The debt burden is another side effect of the leaking slabs. Let us explain to you. Water damage due to slab leaks is not covered even if you have insurance for the home. What this means is that you have to spend out of pocket for the damage caused. However, this heavy expenditure that you need to undertake will put you in a situation of debt if you do not have savings at your end.

How It Affects Plumbing? 

The plumbing system is affected in more than one way with the slab leak. Some of the major effects are:

• Clogging: Internal water leakage in the slab can lead to the accumulation of water around the area. This would further cause damping of the area leading to venting out of the water.

• Cracks And Faults: The leakage can trigger cracks and faults and this, in turn, causes the water to sweep inside and affect the walls and flooring of the house. The entrance of water in flooring can damage the floor structure internally, making it weak enough to break down.

• Bursts: It has been seen that slab leakage can trigger the bursting of pipes as well. This is generally caused due to the increase in the water leaked around the pipes. This water puts pressure on the pipe’s wall. This along with the internal water flow pressure can result in cracks and vents in pipes triggering a burst in them.

• Short Circuit: If the leak happens around the floor, ceiling, or sidewalls, then it affects the foundation of the entire system. We know that pipes of plumbing systems and the wiring of electric systems run behind our walls and floors. A slab leak that causes damage to the plumbing system can extend that damage to the electric system and can give birth to a large-scale short circuit. Such a deadly incident is good enough to shake the whole foundation of the house.

Fixing The Issue

Now, the question comes how to fix it. Since we have seen the magnitude of the effect and damage, it’s obvious you would like to avoid that. Here what we would advise is to detect and repair the leakage of the slab early. General signs like water leakage, increased water bill, wet spots, etc., can provide you with insights into the issue. If you catch these signs, you can check the leakage well in time, preventing the damage. 

In case you think the detection is beyond your capacity, then call a plumber and get a plumbing tune-up. You can always check this site if you need slab leak repair in Carlsbad or any other related help about plumbing issues. However, even if you are able to detect the problem of a slab leak, it is advised to call a professional. The reason is simple: they can provide you a clear assessment of the extent of the damage. Further, they can provide a quick fix solution that your home remedy can’t offer.

Guest Contributor: Laura