Leak Star Leak Detection Blog

Plumbing Whoas

12/30/2017

Being a homeowner is a pleasure, but it certainly can have some homewoner plumbing whoas. When plumbing is not functioning properly, your happy home can environment can vanish. It is imperative that your home have these simple basics. How water, clear drains, with water and sewer lines that are not leaking.

A slab leak can cause significant damage and really isn't that difficult to repair only I am sure your thoughts have you imagining a jackhammer in your livingroom, Simply not the case. In most cases repiping a home or rerouting a single line is all that is needed. Repiping is slightly different in that it generally refers to replacing all of the water pipes in the home. A reroute more implies a single water line that is replaced. Water line repair is not that difficult.

Nothing is worse than looking forward to a hot shower only to find your water is dead cold. If your water heater is over 8 years old and new water heater installation is usually recommended. A new water heater installation should cost you about $1500-$1700 that should include, your water heater replacement, the labor and to haul your old water heater away. Generally takes about 3 hours.

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More Common Signs of Slab Leaks

10/12/2017

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Leak detection is one of the most sought after and important services that plumbers offer to customers. Because the majority of the plumbing in a house is hidden, leaks are tricky to locate and repair. Worse, leaks can lead to structural damage, costly repairs, and high water bills if left undetected.

At Leak Star, we've seen some of the worst cases of water leaks, and chief among them is the slab leak. As noted in a previous post, a slab leak is a pipe leak that occurs in the concrete foundation of a home and can be found in the cold or hot water lines. Although pipes are buried for protection in thick concrete, they are not completely resilient to leaks caused by abrasion, corrosion, and ground-shifting. From slab leak Carlsbad down to San Diego, the signs are the same.

Slab Leak Detection

So how do you make an intelligent slab leak detection? Here are a few more things you should always be on the lookout for:

A higher-than-normal water bill
This easy-to-observe indicator deserves a second mention. Leaks would cause your water to run all day and night. So, if your bill is higher than expected and you're not sure why, a slab leak might be the culprit.

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This Old House, When the Pipes Begin to Fail

9/7/2017

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Your home is like you. As it ages, over time systems begin to breakdown. Your plumbing can be compared to a circulatory system. It is critical to maintain that system. Like our circulatory system, your homes plumbing pipes begin to errode and and there can be a mineral buildup narrowing the flow of water, reducing your water pressure.

You may chose to live with low water pressure. It's not particularly harmful if you don't mind showering in a trickle of water. But errosion of you copper water pipes and a forthcoming plumbing leak can be devastating. Repiping Encinitas homes and repiping Carlsbad homes is increasingly needed as the homes in our area age and the pipes begin to fail.

Repiping your home is not nearly as terrrifying as it sounds when you use a company like Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection. Timo of Leak Star has been plumbing the San Diego area since 1987. Having earned a reputation that had him plumbing some of San Diego's most exquiste estate homes. That requires a level of skill and precision not seen among most plumbers. The reason is Timo is maticulous.

Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection has repiping Carlsbad and Encinitas homes down to an art. They carefully route new pipes through your walls, ceilings and crawl spaces with the least amount of damage as possible. Repiping Encinitas homes will take about 3-5 days depending on the size of your home. When complete, you will simply have a few holes in the drywall that need to be repaired. You will not need to leave your home if you chose not too. Your water will remain on until the time when all of the final connections are made.

Repiping your home is really not as painful as you may have been lead to believe. For further information, please give Leak Star a call and ask to speak with Timo (Teemo) @ 855-220-0188.

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Repiping Your Home, Should You Do It?

8/10/2017

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Repiping your home, should you do it? Good question. You may have considered repiping in Carlsbad if your home is very old or you have had multiple plumbing leaks. Repiping in Encinitas is also a consideration for the very same reasons.

It is quite normal for older plumbing to start leaking. Pipes corrode over time and depending on the type of pipe that was used you might experience low water pressure due to build up narrowing pipes on the inside. Or simply joints become corroded and begin to fail.

In more recent years the problem has been copper pipes developing tiny pinhole leaks. The cause of this newer problem is believed by many to be the fault of corrosive additives in our water that corrode and pit the inside of copper pipes, eventually leading to these types of pinhole leaks.

In either case, repairs may be in your future. I specifically use the term "repairs", because in both these instances, this is not just a one time thing. Those problems whether due to age or chemical additives are happening all throughout your plumbing system.

A typical scenario goes like this. Plumbing leak is found, there may be water damage, it may be a slab leak under the concrete foundation. Drywall removal may be needed, repairs done, which could be a slab leak reroute of a single line. Then there will be drywall repair, possibly stucco & new paint at the least. Cabinets, flooring, furnishings could all be damaged. Those costs add up. Not to mention the distruption to your daily life.

Once repairs are made, believe it or not a few weeks later you experience yet another slab leak! This happens more often then you might want to imagine. So sad to see our customers have to go through the same experience that they did before. At this point you may chose to do another single repair or reroute to the single offending line.

The thing is, there are a minimum of 15-20 water lines running through even a small home. There are potential problems in any one of those lines. So at what point do you ask yourself, repiping my Carlsbad or Encintias home, should we just do it?

As leak detection and repiping specialists in Carlsbad and Encinitas, this is what we recommend to our customers. The first slab leak or water line leak, let's just fix it. If you have a second, still kind of up in the air. A third plumbing leak of this type, it's time to seriously consider repiping your Carlsbad or Encinitas home. It is no longer cost effective, nor does the time spent with your home in kaos make sense.

In the case of a smaller home after just 3 reroutes you will have surpassed the costs of completely repiping your home. We understand, the thought of repiping is daunting. Really it's not much worse than each single line reroute. It's going to take longer, but once complete, repairs to drywall made, than you can move on with your life. No need to worry when the next pipe will spring a leak. Just one less thing to worry about in your life.

Give us a call 760-519-8466. We will answer your questions, try to set your mind at ease.

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The Best Slab Leak Equipment Your Plumber Should Have

6/13/2017

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Slab leaks develop in piping beneath concrete, usually under a home’s foundation. This location makes slab leak detection somewhat problematic until the leak makes itself evident. Any kind of hidden plumbing leak whether in the wall or a slab leak require specialized tools to locate and then repair the leak.

Because slab leak repair Encinitas first requires locating the leaking copper pipes, precision equipment is necessary. A qualified plumber will always bring the best in slab leak detection equipment, including:

Infrared camera- This camera reads temperature variations and is the most valuable tool in slab leak detection. A skilled plumbing contractor will be able to locate slab leaks and water line plumbing leaks in walls and ceilings with this piece of specialized equipment.

Electronic amplification equipment- Also called the listening equipment, its sensitive sound sensors are designed to hear through layers of hardscape to locate the sound of spraying or dripping water. This conventional, standard device is also called the multi-sensor ground microphone.

Electromagnetic pipeline locators- Think radio antennae. These tools send out signals of electrons and allow the plumber to map out the pipe location under the slabs. They are extremely helpful when working with non-metallic pipes.

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Is The Answer Slab Leak Repair in Ladera Ranch

4/19/2017

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Plumbing Problems in Ladera Ranch

I suppose it goes without saying, Ladera Ranch has some serious plumbing issues in the community as a whole. So great is this problem that there is actually a class action suit. So, is the answer slab leak repair in Ladera Ranch? The problem is very tiny pinhole leaks in many homes copper pipe. There are those who would argue that it is faulty installation. I would argue, that this is not the case. These pipes generally develop these tiny leaks somewhere along a run of piping, not generally in the soldered joint.

Some would say it is inferior copper pipe. That may make the problem worse orcontribute, but we purchase from our plumbing supply houses supply. It still doesn't explain why certain areas are experiencing such catastrophic promblems. If it was inferior pipe only, than it seems like the problem would exist all over the country. Doesn't seem to be the case and it does seem to be a problem in many areas in Southern California. We see these types of leaks in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, needing slab leak repair Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside and nearly every city in Orange and San Diego Counties. Newer homes seem to have more than their fair share of problems and since Ladera Ranch is a newer community, they seem to be hit the hardest, per capita.

My best guess after having seen 100s of these types of leaks is that as many believe is due to the Chloramines & possibly ofther additives that are in our drinking water. A chemical reaction causes the copper to pit on the inside of the pipe, eventually erroding all the way through. It starts a slow weep and eventually turns into a full high pressure spray. These pinhole leaks can appear in any area of your home, where water pipes run. The ceiling, the walls and even under your concrete slab, known as a slab leak.

Slab Leak Repair in Ladera Ranch

Slab leaks make up a big chunk of all plumbing leaks. While repairing a slab leak sounds ominous, it is really no more difficult than an in wall water line leak. Believe it or not, a slab leak detection is fairly easy if the right equipment is used and that is why it is important to get a qualified leak detection company to perform the leak detection service.

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

4/17/2017

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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.

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Pinhole Leaks in Ladera Ranch

4/12/2017

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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.

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An Expert Plumber Points Out the Sure Signs that Your Plumbing is Bad

2/27/2017

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A Plumber Notes Common Problems Discovered when Moving into a Home

Plumbing is one of the top five components you need to check before moving into a new house. After all, no new homeowner wishes to experience costly plumbing issues shortly after buying a house.

While it is always wise to call a plumber to inspect the plumbing before moving into your new home, it’s useful to learn the basics of spotting potential plumbing problems you might be forced to confront sooner than you’d expect.

Get acquainted with your pipes

To help you become more adept at spotting potential plumbing issues, it pays to learn more about your plumbing first. Generally, there are two types of pipes in your plumbing system: supply pipes and drain lines.

Houses built around 1978 to 1995 used polybutylene pipes. If ever you notice such pipe in your plumbing, call an expert plumber to immediately replace it. These pipes are known rupture and a water leak can potentially cost you thousands of dollars in water damage, plus there is the potential of mold which can be dangerous to your health.

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

2/13/2017

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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.

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