Leak Star Leak Detection Blog

Slab Leak Detection Carlsbad: Is Your Handyman Up To The Job?

5/16/2018

If you suspect that your home has a slab leak, odds are that you want to call someone for help now. You may wonder what a slab leak detection Carlsbad professional has to offer that differs from any other plumber, or even that bargain-priced handyman you’ve seen in the neighborhood. Does it really make a difference which one you call? We, of course, think that it does, but not everybody has our background or experience. Here’s the reasons we think that it’s worth it to hire a specialist.

Scope Of The Problem

It’s good to understand exactly what a slab leak is and why it can have such a negative impact on your home: a slab leak occurs when a pipe located under your home’s slab foundation breaks and allows water to be released. An unfortunate feature of water is that it has to go somewhere. Often, people realize that there is a slab leak when the water exits and causes a puddle or damp spot on their floor; other times, they notice a sinkhole outside or a huge spike in their water bill. Slab leaks can be especially damaging, because if not caught and repaired promptly they can cause problems ranging from cracked or shifted foundations to sizeable mold infestations.

Why Hire A Slab Leak Detection Professional?

Because the broken pipe is located beneath the concrete slab, it can be very difficult for a layperson or an inexperienced plumber to find the leak. Without knowing exactly where the leak is, it’s impossible to know why it occurred, and whether the correct option is to repair the pipe or whether repiping service would be a better choice. Plumbers who have experience with slab leaks have specialized equipment and training that allows them to diagnose and find slab leaks quickly. Handymen or random finds from the yellow pages may or may not know what they’re looking for.

What Can Happen If Mistakes Are Made?

If your handyman makes a wrong guess about where the leak is, of course, the consequence could be that more guesses have to be made while the leak continues, necessitating more repairs and more expense. Even if you do fix the leak, slab leaks are sometimes caused by corrosion, in which case the entire plumbing system under your slab is at risk. (This, incidentally, is when repiping would be the better option. We are always careful to weigh with our customers whether repair or repiping is a more financially savvy choice.)

How Can I Know I’m Hiring An Expert?

We recommend you look for a plumber who has several years of experience detecting and repairing slab leaks. We’ve been in this business for three decades, and we can promise that we bring all our expertise to bear for every one of our clients.

If you’re wondering whether you’ve got a slab leak, please let us help. We’ll find, diagnose, and fix your leak as quickly as possible, so you can get your life back to normal.

Additional information on Slab Leak Detection

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Before We Talk Slab Leak Repair, Let’s Discuss Warning Signs

4/19/2018

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As a homeowner, you should know that your piping runs through the foundation of your house. This is the best way to get water to the places in your home through which you access it. A slab leak can take place when pinhole leaks form in those pipes. Corrosion is the most likely culprit. But before we have to think about slab leak repair Encinitas let’s talk about signs to watch out for. Here are three big ones.

Under Pressure?

If your water pressure is way lower than it usually is when you turn on the kitchen faucet or when you take a shower, it could mean you’re dealing with a slab leak. Water flows from outside your home into your house’s main water line, and if there’s even a small leak in that water line, it’s going to be noticeable. If you’re seeing or feeling any significant drop in pressure, don’t delay. Call a plumber, and have them check for a slab leak.

Your Sudden Above Ground Pool

A leak inside should be evident because water is going to be visible and pool somewhere, be it in the basement or another part of the house. But what if you see puddles forming outside, and there hasn’t been any significant rainfall recently? If you have a hose nearby or anything else that might produce water, you might discount a slab leak as the cause, but if there’s no visible source, that option is on the table. It’s even more likely if you see it in conjunction with the reduced water pressure we already mentioned.

The Hot Floor Game

As a kid, did you ever try the game where the floor is lava, and you weren’t allowed to touch it? If that’s happening in your home for real, you might have a slab leak; this is the most common sign. It’s something that you mainly want to watch out for if one part of your floor is hot, and other parts are cold. What’s happening is that the hot water is heating up the concrete in your foundation, and that in turn is heating up your floors. If this is happening, go down to the basement or anywhere you have access to the foundation, and take a look around. If any doubt remains, call a plumber.

Although slab leaks are fairly common plumbing problems, they’re no cause for panic. If you’ve caught them early enough, you shouldn’t break the bank fixing them, either. Just be sure that you contact a plumbing company that you trust, and always be vigilant.

More innformation on slab leak repair.

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Don't Ignore Your Toilet

4/17/2018

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No question about it, everyone has heard that annoying sound of the toilet running continuously. There can be a couple of reasons for a toilet needing to fill the tank over and over. The first is an easy fix, the flapper. The second is the reason we highly recommend, don't ignore your toilet.

Investigate the reason why your toilet has the need to refill the tank continuously. It is leaking somewhere and you need to do the leak detection. If it is the rubber flapper than it's pretty simple to fix. Just about any homeowner could do it, if not call a handy man. It shouldn't cost much.

It's important to rule out that easy fix. If that doesn't stop the toilet from running, you need to investigate further. The water is leaking out somewhere and you must figure that out. Water damage can be an expensive fix and if your insurance company finds you negligent, they will not cover the water damage clean up.

A True Story

This is the unfortunate experience of a customer who heard the toilet filling over and over. They noticed there was some water on the floor next to the toilet, assumed it was leaking under the toilet, so caulked very heavily around the toilet.

It was slow at first, but soon they began noticing water in the carpet of the room next door. Then water squishing up from the wood floor. They finally gave us a call to come and do a leak detection for them. What we found was far worse

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Here Are Some Tips For Slab Leak Detection

4/11/2018

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There are all sorts of plumbing problems that can seem to spring up out of nowhere. One particularly unpleasant one is a slab leak. Luckily, there are a few methods of slab leak detection. Keep these tips in mind, and you won’t be caught unawares.

What’s That Sound?

Slab leaks most often occur when one of two things happens: there’s a burst pipe, or the pipes in your foundation have become corroded. One of the most effective remedies before the situation becomes truly dire is to keep your ears open. If a slab leak occurs, water will be running beneath the surface of your home’s foundation, and it makes a noise. If you suspect that a slab leak might be taking place, what you want to do is listen for plumbing noises that are out of the ordinary. You know what the pipes should sound like in your home, and this will be something different, both persistent and unusual. If you suspect a slab leak, shut off your plumbing appliances, and then listen again. If you still hear water running, and if you see water pooling in your basement or elsewhere, contact a plumber immediately.

Why Is My Water Bill So High?

If your water bill is way higher than average, a slab leak might be to blame. This is especially likely if the increase happens suddenly. An abrupt spike in your heating bill can also indicate a slab leak. The reason is that your water heater is working overtime to try and heat the excess water that is coming into your house. If that happens, it likely means that you caught the problem before it got too bad. Again, if this happens, contact a professional.

Cracks In The Floor

Cracks appearing in your floor means that the problem had progressed to the point that it has become severe; it has been happening for a while. If this happens, it has most likely gone well past the point where you can fix it on your own. A competent plumber should be able to locate where the problem has occurred, and they’ll surely be able to offer a solution, but at this juncture, it’s likely to be more expensive than if you caught it early.

Slab leaks are an insidious menace, so remain alert to them. If you see anything like we've mentioned in this article, contact a plumber sooner rather than later, as it’s never in your favor to delay. Get it fixed before it becomes worse, and your master bedroom turns into a swimming pool.

Additional information for homeowners on slab leak detection.

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How To Tell If You Need Slab Leak Repair

3/26/2018

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Plumbing can be intimidating and confusing. When you find water on the floor, the last thing you want to do is play detective. But you do need to figure out whether you need a slab leak detection Encinitas professional, or whether the problem is something simple that you can DIY (or hire a handyman for). Here’s a few quick ways to tell whether you have a slab leak & need slab leak repair or not.

1. Where Is The Water?

In general, if you find a puddle, it’s usually fairly easy to follow the water back to its source. For example, most people know that if they open up the cupboard under their sink and find that everything is damp, it’s likely the sink pipes that are the problem. So one clue that what you’re dealing with is a slab leak and not a more normal sort of leak is a puddle of water appearing where you can’t explain it. Call for slab leak detection if you notice:

Water welling up between the floorboards
“Wet spots” in your yard, especially close to the foundation
Damp carpet or warm places on your floor that can’t be explained

2. Are You Suddenly A Water Hog?

It pays to know where your water meter is and, if possible, to learn how to read it. Many meters have a “leak indicator” that can give you notice that large amounts of water are being used before you get a sky-high water bill. Keep in mind that to use your water meter to check for leaks, you must first ensure that all water-using appliances in your house. (toilets, showers, washing machines, etc.) are shut off. If you’re sure that no water is running in your house but your meter is still running, you can be confident that you’ve got a leak somewhere, and it’s best to call for help.

3. Have You Had A Slab Leak Before?

Unfortunately, in some cases slab leaks are simply a result of the chemical reaction of the pipes with the surrounding soil or with the water that flows through them. If you’ve had a slab leak in the past and merely replaced or rerouted around the old pipe, then it’s possible that down the line another slab leak will occur, since all of your pipes are generally under the same kinds of chemical strain. If you’ve had a prior slab leak and now are having symptoms of another, you should call a professional right away. (You also may want to consider repiping this time, as it can actually be more cost-efficient than continuing to fix multiple leaks.)

Although finding a puddle of water where it shouldn’t be is never a great experience, knowing how slab leaks differ from more common plumbing problems can help you feel empowered. If you do need a slab leak repaired, we are always at your service and ready to help. Just give us a call, and we’ll get to work to get your home back to normal.

Sources:
What Are Symptoms Of A Slab Leak? - www.answers.com
Slab Leak - http://lancemaxwellplumbing.com/our-services/slab-leaks/

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Is It Really Important To Have A Specialist For Slab Leak Repair?

2/26/2018

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Many people, when they first realize they have a slab leak, find the situation to be frightening. Because it’s also time-sensitive, they may be tempted to call the first plumber they turn up on an internet search or in the phone book. However, there are good reasons to use a slab leak repair Ladera Ranch specialist. Here’s our take on why you shouldn’t settle for less.

It’s Important To Detect The Slab Leak Accurately

Did you know that it takes both experience and specialized equipment to find where your slab leak is located? In the past, many plumbers searched for the leak by looking for where the water was puddling on the floor, or (if it’s a hot water leak) by feeling for warm spots. However, these methods of finding the leak are not as precise as would be ideal, and modern tools allow a slab leak repair professional to find the location of the leak quickly, minimizing damage to your home. Unless they deal with slab leaks regularly, not all plumbers regularly carry the specialized tools necessary to get the job done right.

It’s Important To Understand Why The Leak Happened

It might seem like a slab leak, while unpleasant, is a fairly simple situation: you find where the leak is, you fix it, and then you move on with your life. While that’s the way it would happen in an ideal world, the unhappy truth is that unless you know why the leak happened in the first place, you may find yourself dealing with more slab leaks at a later date! Leaks can be caused for a number of reasons, including:

Pipe corrosion because of soil chemicals or a reaction between the water and the metal of the pipes.
Ground shifting or pressure problems.
Improper construction.

All of these can be ongoing problems. That’s why it’s important to use a qualified professional who can assess the circumstances around the leak and advise you whether a repair is adequate, or whether repiping service is necessary. Remember: as disruptive as the current leak is, do you really want to go through all that disruption again in the future?

It’s Important To Know Your Plumber Has Done This Before

You’re probably already starting to get the idea that proper slab leak repair can be somewhat counterintuitive. As with most jobs, the person who has the most experience will know how to keep the process streamlined, low-stress, and as non-invasive as possible. As an additional bonus, a local specialist will be able to offer you relevant local expertise. If you have a slab leak, odds are that a slab leak repair professional with experience in your area will have see leaks similar to yours in other homes nearby, and will have insight on your leak’s probable cause.

Although slab leaks require swift action, you should never feel pressured into using a plumber whose qualifications you’re not entirely comfortable with. With three decades of experience, we’re proud to say that we can offer slab leak expertise combined with excellent service and knowledge of your locale. If you’ve got a leak, give us a call and let us help you get your life back to normal as soon as possible.

Sources:
Slab Leaks - www.plumberman.com
How To Fix A Slab Leak - www.angieslist.com

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Slab Leak Detection and Repair: Should You DIY?

12/20/2017

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You’ve got a hot spot or a wet spot on your floor, or your water bill is astronomical. Maybe you’re handy and have done some home repair projects before, or maybe you’re just balking at the prices you’re seeing online for professional slab leak detection and repair jobs, and you’re wondering if you can just fix the problem yourself. Before you go running off to rent a jackhammer or a concrete saw, wait! Here’s a few reasons you may want to re-think the DIY route.

1. Cutting Into The Floor?

You may assume that in order to get to a leak under your floor that you have to pull up carpet or wood flooring, remove subfloor, and cut through the concrete slab. This seems logical enough, but did you know that’s not the recommended method of repair in California? Professional slab repair companies like Leakstar are usually able to repair your leak by simply rerouting your water lines around it. This necessitates only very small holes, usually in drywall. All of our plumbing professionals are trained to minimize the mess and hassle to you, and we complete most single line reroute in a day. You can trust our expertise and training, and keep your floors intact.

2. Repiping?

With certain leaks, repiping service is the method of choice. If you have a slab leak because of old, corroding pipes--or if you’ve had more than one slab leak--it can actually save you money and time to simply abandon the old plumbing and install an entirely new system, overhead and in the walls. Are you confident that you’d be able to determine the cause of your slab leak, and make a choice about whether to repair or reroute your system? We can help you make an educated decision, and do the repiping job.

3. Do You Have The Tools To Find The Leak?

Finding a wet spot or a hot spot and going straight down through the floor is an imprecise, old-fashioned way to find a slab leak (which is why we almost never do it). What if you cut through the floor and the concrete and find that the leak isn’t where you thought it was? Perhaps it’s inches or feet away, and now more floor must be destroyed. Additionally, if you cut into concrete, you may damage intact pipes and cause a worse leak. Why fuss with cutting into the floor at all? Slab leak repair professionals have modern, cutting-edge equipment that enable them to find the precise location of a slab leak and repair it quickly.

4. Keep Backup On Tap

If, despite the risks outlined above, you’re still determined to try to fix a slab leak yourself, it can pay to have a reliable slab leak repair professional picked out in advance. If you shut your water off and start your repair only to find out that the job is more difficult than you thought it would be, you don’t want to be stuck with no water and no idea what to do next. Keep your plumber’s number close at hand!

What’s the bottom line? A slab leak is a complex, significant plumbing problem. We just can’t recommend that most folks try to repair it themselves. There’s no replacement for the advanced equipment, extensive training, and experience that our slab leak repair professionals bring to the job. We can usually get your situation back to normal in a matter of days (i.e. one day for a single line reroute, 3-5 days for a slab leak or whole house repiping service), and our prices are very competitive. When calculating what a job will cost, remember to include the expense of renting equipment and spending vacation days doing plumbing. Why not let us put our experience and expertise to work for you? Before you try DIY, give us a call today.

Source:
Slab Leaks - www.plumberman.com

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Water Heater Has Given Up!

12/15/2017

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Alarm goes off, you roll out of bed and into the shower. You turn the water on and get nothing but tepid cool water. Your water heater has given up. Water heaters don't last forever unfortuneatly. 8-10 years is about average. Unless you are still under warranty, then you probably are looking at water heater replacement.

There is never a convenient time for your water to break, but unless you don't mind cold showers than this is kind of an emergency and you will want to call for a new water heater installation right away.

The actual water heater replacement doesn't take that long, about 3-4 hours and you should be back to business. Do hire a reputable plumber because there are safety standards that need to be complied with for your protection. Your new water heater installation should include earthquake strapping, a safety shut off and a safety overflow that runs off into an area where no one could accidentaly be burned if it overflows. You should have a pan installed underneath as well, in case your water heater ever springs a leak. You should also expect to have your old water heater hauled away.

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When Is It Time To Consider Repiping Your Home

12/5/2017

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We hear this question often, when is it time to consider repiping your home. It's really not that difficult of a decision is you consider the cost options. You may be considering repiping Carlsbad homes, or repiping Encinitas homes. You probably came to this consideration because you have already experienced at least one water line leak, however you are likely on your 3rd of 4th water leak.

Let's consider the cost of repairing a single line water leak under the slab also known as a slab leak. If you use Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection repiping service, a single line reroute will cost you $1750 flat rate. That would include the cost of your leak detection. What often happens is that one line is abandoned and rerouted and another separate copper water line springs a leak. It could for instance be the hot water that was fixed the first time, now it's the cold water line either right next to the hot water or in an entirely different location of the house. It could be in the wall or it could be another slab leak.

Once copper pipes start springing leaks it's genreally just a matter of time before more leaks appear. Copper pipes can corrode over time or as is very often the problem in our area, the additives in our municipal water meant to protect us, corrode the inside of the copper pipes. There is nothing that we can really control.

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Is Finding Your Slab Leak Becoming a Headache?

11/23/2017

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If you don't find a qualified slab leak detection specialist who can properly locate your slab leak the first time, you can end up with a real landlord or homeowners headache. There are countless water lines running under the concrete slab and narrowing down the specific pipe that is leaking takes skill.

We hear nightmare stories of slab leak detection in Encinitas and slab leak detection in Carlsbad where the home owners floors were demolished when the leak detection company they chose used a jackhammer to locate the leak and then fix it. Please stop them right now if this is what you have been told is necessary in order to repair your slab leak. Talk about a headache. Imagine the sound of a jackhammer pounding away at the concrete foundation in the middle of your kitchen or living room.

At Leak Star Advanced Leak Detection we never jack hammer floors because there is absolutely no need to do so. Whether you are looking for slab leak detection in San Marcos, Encintias or Carlsbad our leak detection routine is the same. We use highly sensitive sound equipment, infrared cameras and years of knowledge to locate your slab leak without even touching your beautiful floors.

Once your under concrete slab leak has been located, we simply abandon and bypass the defective water line, rerouting through either your attic or through some carefully cut smaller sections of drywall which are easily repaired. The repipe is usually completed in one day and there really is no reason to leave your home unless you are unsually sensitive to a small amount of dust.

If you still have questions, please feel free to give us a call. We would be happy to set your mind at ease. 760-519-8466

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