The Nature of Foundation Leaks
Foundation leaks often go undetected by most homeowners. It isn’t until excess water usage, increased water bills and a failing plumbing system that homeowners decide to find out what’s happening. When they realize it’s a foundation leak, they’ve probably had it for a while. Foundation leaks occur when pipes the foundation get a pinhole leak, break, rust or corrode entirely. Most of these pipes are main water lines into and out of the home, so their health is crucial.
Bellow are some of the common signs of a foundation leak and advice on what one should do upon discovering it.
Sign 1: Wasting Water
All a leak means is water running out of a pipe when it shouldn’t be. When it comes to foundation leaks, many pipes start leaking through a “pinhole” - a small hole that occurred due to corrosion or rust. Even though this may sound like a small problem, pinholes only get bigger the longer they are ignored. The larger the hole, the more water will leak out. Cracks or breaks in a pipe can be devastating if not caught right away, as these will allow untold gallons to leak out.
Each leak will be slightly different and, because of that, homeowners will experience different spikes in their water bill and water usage. There could be a jump as high as 90 gallons of water per day! That adds up fast! And that doesn’t even touch the other issues the leak is creating...
Sign 2: Water Damage
Water damage is the most significant sign of a major leak somewhere in the foundation. The longer it remains unfixed, the more damage will occur.
Here are a few things to look for:
- Damp carpet or warped hardwood/vinyl flooring
- Mold or mildew on the baseboards of the floor
- Areas of the floor that are hot to the touch
- Water pooling where it shouldn’t be
- A sudden increase in water bills
- Significant decrease in water pressure
- Hot water heater constantly running
Any of these issues deserve a plumber right away! The faster the leak gets fixed, the less damage will be incurred by the home.
Necessary Foundation Leak Services
To fix foundation leaks, plumbers will go through several steps. First, they will locate the leak in the foundation. Next, they will open up the concrete slab to access the pipe that has the leak. They will then cut the area of pipe that is leaking, and replace it with brand new piping. Finally, once they’ve tested out their new installed piping and ensured there are no further leaks, they’ll reseal the pipe into freshly poured concrete and clean up.
Fixing a foundation leak can be complicated, but the faster it happens, the less expensive the overall repair costs will be.
Quality, Reputable Plumbing Services
Marc Francis Plumbing proudly serves Johnson City, TN, area residents for all their plumbing needs. They offer a wide selection of services including 24/7 emergency repair and slab leak repair. They pride themselves in offering customers fast turnarounds, on-time arrival, knowledgeable technicians, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all jobs.
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