An Emergency Plumber Can Handle All Of The Common Causes Of Slab Leaks | Timberlane, LA
Leaks are a major plumbing issue that wastes a lot of water. According to the EPA, they account for over 1 trillion gallons of water in the US every year. Locating and fixing leaks promptly is vital to saving money and water. The water lines that supply water to your Timberlane, LA home’s faucets, showers, toilets, and laundry machine might burst or crack, resulting in leakages that might require an emergency plumber to address them immediately.
A concrete slab leak isn’t a common issue, but it arises, meaning that you shouldn’t ignore it. It arises whenever the water pipes that run below or through the foundation of your house begin leaking. This problem might take a while to notice, resulting in significant water damages and an increase in the water utility bills. So, what are the causes of slab leaks?
Pipe Electrolysis
The other reason you might experience concrete slab leaks in your home is the electrolysis of the copper pipes. This is an issue that happens whenever an electrical current makes the copper plumbing pipes break down or disintegrate. A direct current passes through the grounding wire to the underlying water pipes below the slab or foundation.
Electrolysis of copper pipes results in a decomposition that leads to water gushing from the pipes. This is a catastrophic problem that requires the attention of an emergency plumber and a well-skilled electrician to resolve promptly. Resolving this issue also means that the ground faults cannot cause electrocution or shocks.
Old Pipes
Homeowners who don’t invest in repiping their homes’ water lines will likely have slab leakages. If your home is over 40 years old, it probably uses copper or galvanized steel pipes. These pipes are corrosion-prone. The rusting will result in wear and tear and cracks on the water pipes, causing slab leaks.
A professional plumber can fix the leakages if contacted for replacement or repair of the affected pipes in time. Hence, to remain safer, seek a plumbing service on house repiping if you live in an old home. The first step should be calling a plumber for a plumbing inspection. The professionals will replace the corrosion-prone pipes with PVC and CPVC pipes which are also durable and non-corrosive.
Poor Installation
Poor craftsmanship when the pipes and other fixtures were installed below your slab or foundation is among the leading causes of slab leaks at your Timberlane, LA home. If you enlist an unqualified or inexperienced emergency plumber to install the water lines in your home, that could be the biggest mistake.
If the handyman installs the pipes incorrectly, they might begin to bend or even develop dents after they are installed. These hollows might result in considerably sized dimples within your water lines, resulting in leaks. Slab leaks caused by dented and bent pipes might be mild and difficult to notice for a homeowner. By the time you realize them, they might have shown signs of water damage like mold growth on the walls or the floor. When you notice the mildew and mold growth, it is time to call in an emergency plumber to locate and diagnose the underlying issue and resolve it promptly.
Abrasion From Concrete
Scratching of the pipes is the other cause of slab leaks. The water lines that pass through the concrete slabs that an unskilled plumber improperly sleeves could get scratches. The persistent scraping by the concrete could erode copper plumbing pipes after some time, puncturing them and resulting in a leakage.
Water line abrasion is common in pipes that carry hot water from the water heater due to constant contraction and expansion when the hot and cold water flows through them. The persistent expansion, contraction, and scraping of these water lines result in holes in the pipes, causing slab leaks that make it necessary to promptly seek an emergency plumber’s assistance.
Pipe Materials
Is your home’s water line robust? How robust? Some homeowners don’t even know the condition of their plumbing systems, especially those that don’t value maintenance a lot. This can also be the case for those who purchased a new home in Timberlane, LA, but didn’t have a plumbing inspection. However, if you are such a homeowner, you should proactively call a plumber for plumbing inspection service and retain them for maintenance.
This lets you know what your plumbing system pipes are made from. Some pipes have a high corrosion rate, such as those made from cast iron, copper, brass, and galvanized steel. However, if not exposed to acidic soil and hard water, metallic pipes can last longer because they are less resistant to earth movements and other factors contributing to pipe damage.
The chemicals in the hard water flowing through your pipes can result in the corrosion of the water lines over some time. Wastewater can also allow corrosion to arise because of the various dissolved materials. The corrosion and rusting lead to cracks that can burst your pipes, resulting in water leaks.
It is helpful to enlist the assistance or services of an emergency plumber whenever you notice any slab leak for immediate repairs. This prevents the leaks from escalating into full-blown indoor floods that result in severe water damage.
Foundation Shifting
The other reason you might experience slab leakages at your home is that your foundation might be shifting. When the ground starts shifting because of floods, tornadoes, and ear quakes, the concrete slab also can begin moving. The soil might also shift due to expansive soils rich in minerals that absorb water and begin expanding.
How much the soil expands depends on the amount of water that percolates underground. They also shrink whenever the levels of water are low. Ensure that you seek the services of an emergency plumber whenever you notice damp spots on the floor of your house.
Plumbing emergencies will arise at any moment of the day. Hence, you better be prepared to address them, owing to the damage they may cause. Hence, it is recommended that you have a nearby emergency plumber on the dial to ensure that you can have the plumbing emergencies addressed promptly. Do you need to enlist a reliable emergency plumber? Call us at bluefrog Home Services of New Orleans today. We will be happy to help you with your plumbing needs.
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