Leak Star Leak Detection Blog - Leak Star

12 Ways on How to Check for Slab Leaks

5/2/2017

Slab leak detection is sometimes difficult however it would show you signs before you spend a fortune on slab leak repair Carlsbad. The key is to detect the issue in your home's slab foundation early.

Here are 12 tips that would help you determine that you have a slab leak:

Hot Water. If you feel that one area of your floor is warm, that means water is leaking from your slab. Slab leak detection is done sooner with hot water leaks because you can feel it.
Hot Water Heater. If your hot water heater is working nonstop, there's a good chance that you have a leak.

Water Damage Signs. Water from a leak will not go anywhere but up. It will look for a way to escape. Look out for moisture or mildew in your carpets, cracks in your tile floors, warping on your hard floor, or bubbles in your linoleum floors.

Water Bill. Because the water is allowed to run 24/7, you would expect to see a spike in your water bill if your slab foundation is leaking, unless of course if you have house guests. Remember that even a pinhole-sized damage can leak over 10, 000 gallons of water in a month.

Mold or Mildew. Another visible damage a slab leak can do is to cause some water to get absorbed by your drywall, causing mold formation. Mold and mildew may also grow under your carpets soon after the water makes its way to it.

Smell. Growing molds under your carpet will definitely smell musty.

Sound. If you listen carefully, you might also hear the hissing or splashing of running water.

Water Pressure. Because water is escaping on leaks, you would notice that there is less water coming out of your faucets and other water fixtures.

Responsible Water Use and Leak Detection Can Gain a Nudge from the Plumbing Pros

4/17/2017

Locating Leaks and Repairing Them ASAP: How Plumbing Experts Can Help

When it comes to home insurance matters, water damage caused by water line leaks is a top culprit. In fact, surveys have found that plumbing woes like leaking, cracked, and burst pipes account for nearly half of all non-weather water damage claims. To ensure the integrity of your home and the safety of all its occupants, early leak detection should be a priority.

If too much water is lost due to busted pipes, you end up paying for it dearly. In addition, extremely wet areas within your home can be a breeding ground for pest-like molds, termites, and more. By finding the sources of the leak in your home, making the repairs, whether it is slab leak repair or in wall repairs with possible mold and water remediation should be done ASAP. Any damage caused by mold should be immediately contained and removed.

Pinhole Leaks in Ladera Ranch

4/12/2017

Hundreds of homes in Ladera Ranch are part of a class action suit. The problem is pinhole size plumbing leaks appearing in copper pipes. It is believed that chemicals in the water are causing copper pipes to errode from the inside causing tiny almost invisible tiny leaks. At first the leak may go undetected, but over time these leaks will continue to grow and turn into a heavy spray. If you are not home at the time, a spray can cause significant damage to the walls, ceiling and even running down to the floors destroying beautiful flooring and carpeting.

When the leak is still small damage can be just as serious. A small drop will slowly permeate drywall, running down the inside of your walls. It may not be so obvious, but no less damaging. These damp or slightly wet conditions are the ideal environment for mold growth. By the time you become aware of this tiny leak, mold has already begun to invade your home in just hours.
There are signs that you can watch for. If you do suspect a water leak in your Ladera Ranch home, give Leak Star a call at: 949-429-9884. We specialize in leak detection & water line repair in Orange County. We are also equipped and qualified to begin the cleanup immediately to prevent further damage

Click the link to see an ABC Channel 7 News Report on the class action suit and the experience of a family in Ladera Ranch who exerienced multiple pinhole water leaks.

Infrared Tech Brings Leak Detection to a New Level for Your Trusted Plumber Around Carlsbad

3/27/2017

How Infrared Can Help Your Plumber Locate Slab Leaks

For decades, infrared technology has proven its value in the home construction industry. The fruits of its evolution are utilized by contractors, building inspectors, and energy analysts to determine if a home is structurally sound and safe for its occupants. It shouldn't come as a surprise, therefore, that the most experienced leak detection specialist in Carlsbad and nearby areas would include such high-tech gadgetry in his arsenal.

A Carlsbad Area Plumber Performs a Leak Detection May Prevent Cultures for Home Mold Infestations

2/13/2017

An Experienced Plumber Can Perform a Leak Detection and Repair Hidden Water Line Leaks

Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that can hurt you the most. Such is the case with mold, which can infest your home when leaking water or sewer pipes go undetected. If you’ve been feeling under the weather recently, but can’t quite pinpoint the reason, it’s worth checking to see if your home harbors a mold infestation.

What is Mold?

Before going further, it is important to know what mold is. They are a type of fungi that live both indoors and outdoors. There are thousands of mold species on the planet, and they tend to thrive in damp, humid conditions—just the type of environment a hidden water heater, slab leak or toilet leak fosters. To reproduce and spread, it releases spores that can unleash a variety of harmful symptoms.

Furthermore, certain mold species are also known to produce powerful substances called mycotoxins. According to scientists, common molds are known to produce about 200 different types of mycotoxins.

Slab Leak Detection & Repair in Ladera Ranch

7/27/2016

Slab Leak Detection Ladera Ranch

The incidence of slab leaks in Ladera Ranch have grown astronomically. Not only slab leaks, but leaks in the walls and coming from the ceiling as well. The damage done to a home or business that has succumbed to a copper pipe water line leak can be tremendous not only to health but to the structure of the building if not dealt with immediately.

So what should you do if you are so unlucky? First of all, call a qualified leak detection specialist like Leak Star. We have decades of experience behind us. We are not only qualified to find your slab leak or water line leak, but we are qualified to make the slab leak repair in Ladera Ranch as well.

You probably have a lot of questions. Leak Star is always happy to educate you as much as you need. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to make an informed decision on the course you should take. The first thing you will need to decide is whether or not to have us do a single line reroute or do a complete repipe in your Ladera Ranch home. You aren't the only one who has had to make this choice.

First let me explain briefly the situation afflicting the Ladera Ranch area. Copper pipe leaks are extremely common due to the addtives in our water supply interacting with the inside of the copper water pipes usually calling what are called pinhole leaks. On occasion full cracks develop. These chemical interactions literally causes the pipe to pit and erode from the inside out until you have a slab leak or copper pipe leak in any other part of your home. This is such a serious problem than homeowners have banded together in a class action suit.

Now for your decision as how to handle this. Most homes in the Ladera Ranch area experience multiple copper pipe leaks which can happen in completely different areas or close in the same length of copper pipe. Sorry to tell you, but the chances that you will experience another slab leak or another leak anywhere elsewhere in your copper line is highly likely, so I will explain to you the difference in a reroute or a repipe.

Cutting out a few inches where the leak has occured would be the least expensive route, but is never our first suggestion. Why? Because as was stated earlier there are without a doubt other errosion problems occuring elsewhere in the copper lines. Often all it takes is for your plumber to be working on the one leak which would including turning off and on the water under pressure and some giggling and shaking of the pipe which can easily dislodge waterever corrosion or sedimate was preventing the pipe from springing a leak in another area as can be seen in the images above.

This was a copper pipe leak reroute pictured which required dryout equipment. Then just a few days later, before we even picked up the dryout equipment anothe leak was spotted in a completely different nearby length of copper pipe. The amount of corrosion can clearly be seen in the second image. This is going on all throughout the copper piping of Ladera Ranch homes and businesses.

We always recommend a reroute around the entire length of copper pipe. Simply put, abandon the leaking run of pipe altogether and reroute a single line from point A to point B. That lenth of pipe should not leak again for possibly decades.

What then of the other copper pipes in the building? Yes, it's true, all of the copper pipes are experiencing this same type of errosion. We see it all the time. We do one reroute and are called back sometimes even within a day for a new leak elsewhere. That is why depending on where you live, like in Ladera Ranch a complete repipe is adviced. More expensive, true, but is absolutely more cost effective. A repipe is basicly done the same way as the reroute, only all of the copper pipe lines are abandoned and rerouted one at a time.

A complete reroute will give you the most long term satisfaction. No more waiting for the next shoe to drop. No more worrying that if you go on vacation you willl come home to find your home flooded. It's done and you can forget about it.

For slab leak detection and slab repair in Ladera Ranch call us at 949-429-9884.
For slab leak detection and slab leak repair in Carlsbad call us at 760-519-8466.

San Diego is Plagued By Pinhole Plumbing Leaks

5/28/2016

A few years ago we had friends who were unfortunate enough to experience a significant plumbing leak in their home. The leak and damage was repaired and everything seemed to return to normal.....or did it? Just 2 short weeks later a copper pipe in their home sprung another plumbing leak. They were told a copper repiping of their Carlsbad home was the only answer. The ordeal that followed was so stressful that they ended up in a hotel for nearly 2 weeks.

How is that possible? We perform slab leak detection services daily and believe it or not, this is not that uncommon. In fact in Orange County just to the north of San Diego there are over a dozen law suits pending with multiple copper pipe pinhole leaks as the reason. There are several class action suits filed by the residents of the Ladera Ranch area, all telling a similar story. Multiple pinhole pinhole plumbing leaks in their copper pipes.

You are likely thinking how in the world does water corrode the inside of a copper pipe? Well, if you think about it, that idea isn't really that far fetched when you think about how water has shaped the surface of our earth. But is that what's really going on in the case of these copper water pipes leaking? Copper pipe has been used for decades without these kinds of issues.

DIY Early Plumbing Leak Detection

3/17/2016

DIY Plumbing Leak Detection

We all want to save our hard earned dollars and avoid disasters. By using these DIY early plumbing & slab leak detection tips you could do both. Much of your plumbing water lines are deep underground or under the slab of your home. So the signs of a plumbing leak may not be obvious. Nevertheless a water leak usually will yield some clues.

Chances are one of the first things you notice that might be suspect is your water usage and an increasing water bill. 12,000 gallons of water per month is average for a family of 4. If you notice a consistent increase or even a significant jump in your water bill yet your usage has not changed, a plumbing leak is highly suspect. Your water bills should remain relatively consistent if your household stays the same.

If you notice a warm spot on your floor, it could becoming from under your concrete slab. It could possibly be a slab leak, even if you are not seeing water anywhere else. You may hear the sound of running water or a drip, all of these are clues you need a professional plumber to inspect your plumbing lines.

What Does A Hot Spot On The Floor Mean?

12/14/2015

Hot spot on the floor a slab leak

If you have found this article it propably is because you have noticed a warm spot on your floor and you are wondering, what does a hot spot on the floor mean? Does it automatically mean you have a slab leak? It could, but not always.

The best thing to know for sure is request a slab leak detection in Encinitas or Carlsbad from a reputable leak detection company. But for you call someone, give it a little thought.

Is the spot more hot than warm? A slab leak coming from a leaking hot water line will be fairly hot. If it feels more warm and you have a pet, could it be that they were laying there. Or does the sun shine there warming the floor. Or if it is near the refridgerator, is the motor warming the floor. These may sound like odd questions, but it does happen. We get called out and it turns out there is no leak.

After all of those scenarios have been ruled out, is this a new problem or have you noticed it for awhile? Has it grown in size? Do you hear sounds of water running, a hissing sound maybe? Has your water bill changed recently without an increase in obvious water usage? These will be questions that a qualified leak detection specialist will ask you over the phone.

Finally, when you do decide to ask for help, give Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection a call. We often know whether or not our client is dealing with a slab leak or not just by talking over the phone. If what you describe needs further investigation we have the expertise to locate the precise leaking pipe.

Slab leak repair entails, abandoning the leaking pipe and rerouting or repiping a brand new one line. We don't ever jackhammer floors and try to fix the leak. A copper line that has sprung a leak is likely to be plagued with additional leaks in the future. It's best to just put in a brand new line. A new water line reroute is far less difficult on occupants than breaking through the concrete.

If you suspect a slab leak, do your due diligence. Another thing you can do yourself is to check your water meter. Be sure all water is off and if the meter continues to go round and round, then you could very well have a problem. Ignoring a slab leak can cause you a serious headache down the road.

Give us a call, we'll help you decided what the next step should be. 855-220-0188

Slab Leak Repair in Ladera Ranch, What You Need to Know

11/27/2015

Are you someone who has been less than fortunate when it comes to slab leak repair in Ladera Ranch? Maybe you have been down this road more than once. A little consolation might be that you are not alone. I mean in a really big way. The need for slab leak repairs in Ladera Ranch is so great that there is a pending class action going on.

As a homeowner it is more than upsetting to say the least. The homes in Ladera Ranch aren't very old at all. You would never expect that your beautiful new home would spring a copper pipe leak or slab leak in just a few short years of taking ownership.

Even if you haven't experienced a slab leak yet, the numbers are not in your favor. These homes were built in mass. That means that the copper pipe used in your home is most certainly the same as the 7 families in your neighborhood who have already experienced at least 1 copper pipe rupture, pinhole leak or slab leak needing repair.

To put you at ease, it you have a slab leak which simply means that the copper pipe has begun leaking under your concrete foudation, it does not mean someone needs to come into your home with a jack-hammer and dig a hole through your beautiful wood floors. Just put that nightmare scenario out of your head.

To start with you need a qualifed slab leak detection service like Leak Star. There are multiple copper water lines running under your concrete foundation slab. It is important that the one doing your leak detection is knowledgable. While it's not rocket science it is important that the technician have a solid background in plumbing from the ground up. Leak Star is a family owned business going back decades with a stellar reputation throught Orange County and San Diego.

Once the slab leak is located and the offending copper pipe has been narrowed down, the slab leak repair can begin. In most cases it should take no longer than one day. Usually there is not even a need to leave your home. Leak Star uses equipment to contain dust as much as possible. If you have sustained water damage or possibly mold, barriers will be erected and powerful air purifers brought in.

The cost is always a homeowner's concern. The cost of slab leak detection varies between $150-250. The national average average for a single line slab leak repair is $2000. At Leak Star we charge $200 for your slab leak detection, but wait, if we do the slab leak repair (single line re-route), your leak detection is free. Your total cost will be $1750 which includes your free leak detection.

We have a stellar reputation in both San Diego and Orange Counties. Give us all call, we will not disappoint your expectations.

San Diego Co. 760-519-8466
Orange County 949-429-9884