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Slab Leak Repair Options

If you suspect a slab leak in your home, it needs attention right away. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, household water leaks can amass up to 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide when needing slab leak repair. To avoid adding to this equation, it’s important to know the signs of a slab leak and what to do if you suspect you have one. 

 

If left to continue leaking, you may end up with mold, mildew, and flooding. This is in addition to the extensive damage to your plumbing system.

 

A slab leak occurs when water supply pipes or drain pipes that run under the concrete slab foundation below your home crack, break, or burst. Pipe corrosion, friction, erosion, improper installation, and high water pressure are among the most common reasons for slab leaks.

 

These leaks can do more than just increase your water bill. They can cause serious damage to your home and possessions, possibly leading to foundation damage. When left unattended for an extended period of time, the resulting erosion can cause major structural damage to your home, which is far more expensive to remedy than repairing leaky pipes.

 

Nearly all metal corrodes over time, and even if you have copper pipes in your home, there is still the issue of pinholes. If your home is 25 years old or older, you’re at an increased risk of a slab leak, even if you’ve been diligent about your inspections and upkeep. Slab leaks can be difficult to spot because they are hidden under your flooring and a few inches of concrete. If you notice hot spots or warm areas on your floor that otherwise can’t be explained, you may be dealing with a leak in a hot water line. 

 

Some other key warning signs of a slab leak include:

  • Hearing running water when no water faucet is on

  • Spinning water meter when no water is in use

  • Noticeable moisture or mildew on flooring

  • Unusually high water bills

  • Lower water pressure

If you have low water pressure or a sudden drop in pressure, this may indicate a major slab leak. If you see wet spots on the floor or hear running water or hissing and cannot determine the source, it’s best to call an emergency plumbing service. The longer the leak is allowed to run, the more damage (and more expensive) the repair. If you notice a slab leak at your home or business, you have a few different options for repair.

Different Slab Leak Repair Methods

Spot Repair

If the leak is minor and the pipe is in good condition, you can replace the leaking section of the pipe and use new fittings. This method, though quick, isn’t very convenient because it requires destroying the concrete and repairing the floor afterward to match the rest of the flooring.

Pipe Rerouting

This method uses new pipes placed above ground. A plumber reroutes everything to the new pipes. Depending on the extent of the damage, it may or may not be available. It involves a new series of pipes routed above the ground through your house or around the outside of the home, which means a lot of holes made in your home or an exposed pipe running outside along the side of your home. 

Repiping

This approach completely replaces the pipes and is used when there are multiple water leaks or a customer prefers not to jackhammer their floor and replace their flooring. It’s a major undertaking while repairs are made. Like rerouting, a complete repipe requires a very invasive process of opening holes in the walls, ceilings, and floors and the need to remediate those invasive openings. 

Pipe Coating

Pipe coating is a pipe restoration option that uses epoxy to create a new pipe within the broken one, fixing pipes “in-place.” It covers pinholes and seals leaks. There’s little to no need to open walls or use a jackhammer to break the concrete foundation of your home.

 

Unless you’ve ignored the symptoms of a leak, your homeowner’s insurance policy should cover slab leak detection and water damage restoration. However, they may not cover the actual slab leak repair. Knowing which repair method to use is the result of a thorough home inspection.

Slab Leak Spot Repair

If you can isolate the problem to an area that’s relatively easy to access and know only a small amount of pipes needs to be replaced, then spot repair can be a good option for your slab leak repair—at least for commercial buildings

 

For homes, however, it’s often not practical because of the disruption and destruction involved. Jackhammers break the concrete to provide pipe access and the flooring has to be replaced.

 

If the leak originates in an area that’s difficult to access or is found to be more extensive than originally anticipated, you may find other leak repair solutions to be a better option.

If the water lines are not in good condition, a spot repair will likely only provide temporary relief until the next leak begins. Because of this, many insurance companies require epoxy coating or repiping before they will continue to provide coverage.

Pros of Spot Repair

  • Good for small pipe leaks

  • Ideal for commercial buildings with minor issues

Cons of Spot Repair

  • Jackhammers are noisy and disruptive

  • Costly to deal with floor replacement after the repair

  • Not suited for major leaks or buildings with multiple leaks

  • May only provide a temporary fix

Slab Leak Pipe Rerouting

This solution provided for a slab leak repair is often the one many homeowners choose. Rerouting pipes leaves the old plumbing in place and installs new pipes. The new pipes are then rerouted around the edge of the concrete slab, or through the attic. This method requires more plumbing work but is often more affordable than jackhammering through concrete and repairing the flooring after the repair. 

Pros of Pipe Rerouting

  • More affordable than breaking the concrete and replacing the floor

  • New pipes are easier to access for any future repairs

Cons of Pipe Rerouting

  • More extensive plumbing work required

  • More invasive work to the interior of one’s home

Slab Leak Epoxy Pipe Coating

Slab leak epoxy pipe coating is an increasingly popular repair method. Unlike traditional repair methods, there’s no need to remove existing flooring or jackhammer through the concrete. There’s little to no digging required, and the process is fast and quiet.

 

Slab leak epoxy coats the inside of your existing pipes with a non-toxic epoxy coating to prevent pinhole leaks. Pipes are coated in place and by use of warm compressed air. It cures in a couple of hours and functions like a brand new pipe. In most cases, the water is turned back on the same day, so you’re not inconvenienced for a long period of time while the repairs are made.

Pros of Epoxy Pipe Coating

  • Faster process; only takes a few hours to cure

  • Very little to no jackhammering or drilling

  • Cleaner; not much destruction or digging

  • Strong and durable

  • Residents can stay in their home

Cons of Epoxy Pipe Coating

  • May not be a suitable plumbing repair option for every situation

It’s easy to see why epoxy coating is becoming the chosen method for most slab leak repairs. It’s often the best way to get top-quality treatment, without paying top-dollar. 

 

The team at ePIPE has decades of experience dealing with residential and commercial water lines and plumbing issues. We’re available to help you 24/7, and even offer affordable finance options

 

To learn more about how we can help you, contact us right away. 

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Slab & Foundation Leak

Slab & Foundation Leak

If you have any questions regarding slab/ foundation leaks, please fill out the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

What is a Slab Leak?

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an average household leak can waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water every year. Ten percent of homes have active leaks. 

Many of today’s homes are built on concrete slab foundations. Damage to the slab and foundation can cause structural integrity issues for the entire house. Slab leaks occur when  plumbing leaks occur under the foundation. These kinds of leaks can go unnoticed for months. The ePIPE patented slab leak repair and protection process can stop and prevent leaks.

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Our Process

How the slab leak process works

Worry free is the way to be, especially when it comes to plumbing. That’s why it’s important for us not only to resolve plumbing problems but to make plumbing systems last much longer for all of our customers. ePIPE, the superior repipe alternative cuts costs, saves times, keeps leaks away, is engineered to last up to 60 years, holds over 40 US patents and numerous international patents! ePIPE exceeds US’s and International plumbing standards.

From the West to the East, ePIPE is trusted by hotels, HOA communities, universities, government buildings, NAVY ships, apartments, and homes at resolving and keeping away common plumbing problems as slab leaks, pinhole leaks, corrosion, low water flow, brown water, lead in water, copper in water. Another customer favorite benefit of ePIPE’s is the time savings compared to a repipe. A repipe can take days, weeks or even months. In most cases ePIPE installation can be finished the same day without opening or destroying walls, floors, ceilings and slabs. Our licensed plumbers, certified installers, and support staff are dedicated to providing excellent customer service with a personal touch all along the way. Call the plumbing team that will get you smiling again.

Whether your property is residential, commercial, HOA, hotel or government we have the successful expertise, project management experience to scale and handle any size plumbing project.

Our Services

Repiping a House built on a Slab

Repiping a House built on a Slab

When you repipe a house built on a slab, you replace all the supply line pipes in the home.

Repiping a House built on a Slab

When you repipe a house built on a slab, you replace all the supply line pipes in the home.
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copper pinhole leaks

Copper Pinhole Leaks

A copper pipe pinhole leak comes from various sources. “Pitted corrosion” - as the pipe corrodes from the outside.

Copper Pinhole Leaks

A copper pipe pinhole leak comes from various sources. “Pitted corrosion” - as the pipe corrodes from the outside.
Learn More

How can we help?

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Step 1

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AIR DRYING OF PIPES

First, we connect air hoses to the piping system. The system uses preheated, filtered air to drain and dry the pipes.

Step 2

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CORUNDUM CLEANING

Once the pipes are dry, we prepare them with an air and sand mixture to carefully sandblast the inside of the pipes.

Step 3

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EPOXY COATING APPLIED

In the last stage, the code approved epoxy coating is applied to the system. After the coating cures, the pipes are reassembled, flushed, and pressure tested. The approved ePIPE coating cures within two hours, and in most cases, water service is restored the same day, without displacing you or your occupants.

The protective coating we apply is an approved epoxy for use with both metallic and non-metallic pipes.

Slab leaks can develop for multiple reasons. It may be a result of ground shifts under the foundation,  from pipe corrosion or abrasion and even poor workmanship. 

If you suspect a slab leak, contact us as soon as possible. With the patented ePIPe process there’s no need to break open the foundation. We are able to detect and repair slab leaks, in-place. Using a variety of leak detection tools like acoustic systems that pick up sounds of a leaky pipe, tracing equipment and pressure testing also help leaks to be located. With larger pipes the use of video pipe inspection equipment may also be used to assess the condition of the slab and plumbing.

Depending on the extent of the leak and the condition of your plumbing system, there are several repair options: 

  1. Repair the damaged section:  A conventional plumbing repair can be used that focuses solely on accessing and fixing the section of damaged pipe to stop the water leak. 
  2. Reroute the pipe: This process involves changing the path also referred to as, re-routing the pipes.
  3. Repipe the entire structure: When the majority of pipes in a structure are in bad shape, it may make more sense to completely replace or restore all the pipes in the building. 

Restore pipes in-place – using the patented ePIPE process, pipes are restored in-place. The process provides the placement of a code approved protective epoxy barrier coating to the inside of the pipe. This process avoids the mess, hassle and expense often associated with a repipe. 

Here at Pipe Restoration Inc., we have a patented three-step solution, known as ePIPE, to protect your home or business facility’s piping system from leaks and contaminants while fixing your pipes in-place. With our trenchless methods, we don’t need to extensively dig, cut into the slab or tear into walls to make the repairs.

Can a Slab Leak Cause Permanent Damage?

Slab leaks that aren’t repaired quickly can lead to a number of problems including moldy carpet and warped hardwood flooring. The longer the leak continues, the more likely you are to experience erosion around the concrete slab, potentially leading to major structural damage.

Water damage caused by a slab leak may also lead to cracks in your walls or flooring. If there’s a foundation leak that goes untreated, it could mean spending money on foundation repair in addition to repairing the leaky pipes.

Homeowner’s insurance will generally cover the cost of leak detection and water damage restoration, provided you have proof you’ve not been neglecting issues in the home. That said, it may not cover the cost of the repair to the pipe. You should contact us or your insurance provider for more details.

6 Signs of a Slab Leak

If you experience one or more of these warning signs, act sooner rather than later, to avoid further damage and higher repair costs.

Puddles

If you find a puddle or  wet spot around your home that doesn’t have a clear origin like a leaky faucet, they could be the signs of leaking water coming through your slab or foundation These wet spots could  be the result of a slab leak.

 

It’s also possible to find puddles, wet spots, coming out from under your cabinets, between tiles, or even from the bottom of a wall. They are likely to occur near fixtures or pipes in the kitchen or bathrooms. 

Abnormally Increased Water Usage

If you notice your water bills increasing, but cannot locate the source of the leak it could be a sign of a slab leak or another pipe leak, such as your water service line. If you see a high water bill, it is worth reaching out to a plumber for help with leak detection.

If you can, locate your water meter, look at it when all your taps and water-consuming appliances are off. If the meter is still spinning, that would suggest there is constant water use, which is increasing your bill and a sign of a leak. If the leak happens to be in a hot water line, the water heater will run more than it has to, running up your energy bill as well as shortening the life of your hot water tank.

Mold or Mildew

Moisture promotes mold and mildew growth. If you find mold underneath your carpets, a slab leak could be the moisture feeding its growth.

Sounds of Running Water

If you can hear the sound of water running under your floor, behind walls or cabinets when you do not have any taps or appliances operating that’s a good indication of you have a pipe leak. 

Heat on the Floor

If the floor feels hot or warm in an unusual location, there could be a leak in the hot water line. If you’re not sure, try walking barefoot on the floor can help make it easier to identify hot spots.

Low Water Pressure

If you suddenly experience a major drop in pressure, this could indicate a major slab leak.

Difference Between Slab Leak & a Pinhole Leak

A slab leak is an issue with leaky pipes that are located underneath the concrete foundation of a home. A pinhole leak maybe the source of the slab leak. A pinhole leak, as the name suggests is a small hole, usually the size of a pinhead, in a pipe. 

You may find that while a pinhole leak can occur as a single leak, they often occur in clusters along a pipe. Where you find one, there’s a high likelihood you’ll have many others along the length of the water pipe.

 

Whether you  want to stay proactive and update your plumbing, or you require emergency service, we can help. We are independently ranked in the top 1% of more than 300,000 licensed contractors in the state of California. We offer 24-hour support,  and have financing options to ensure you can get the quality service you need and deserve at affordable rates.

Call ePIPE now at 800-359-6369 to find out how we can help you repair your slab leaks and protect your pipes from lead leaching

Also, our estimates are Free