Main Lines & Slab Leaks When Your Plumbing Shuts Down

Dealing with Main Lines & Slab Leaks When Your Plumbing Shuts Down

Most homes in Irvine/Huntington, CA, have slab foundations. Sometimes, the copper water line running underneath the slab foundation is susceptible to leaks due to thermal expansion and high-water pressure. Other causes of these slab leaks include abrasion and corrosion of copper water lines. You can find these slab leaks on the drainage and the pressure side of your foundation. Unlike slab leaks, mainline leaks are easily identifiable because of the sound of running water or congestion in the pipes. This review focuses on the causes of main lines and slab leaks and how you can solve them.

Causes of slab and main lines leaks

Most times, slab leaks are because of a faulty plumbing system. This faulty system might be because of weakened water lines, chemical reactions of the copper metal in the plumbing system and metals in the soil, and weakened water lines. However, the building material of the pipes is the primary cause of slab leaks. The major causes of mainline leaks include damaged seals, aged pipes, blocked drains, and underground movements.

Signs of Slab Leaks and Main Line Leaks

The significant signs of mainline leaks are the sound of congestion in the pipes and running water. The leak sends vibrations to the pipes, giving off a signal that there is a plumbing issue. The main signs of slab leaks in the foundation is mold under the carpets, hot floors, cracks in the foundation, walls, and noise from the water running under the floor.

How to Repair Plumbing Leaks

When you contact a plumbing company in Irvine/Huntington, CA, to fix your main lines and slab leaks, there are certain things you can expect from them. First, the technicians will use sonic equipment such as acoustic and ground mics to detect underground vibrations caused by water when exiting a leaky pipe. The video pipe inspection equipment and the sonic location systems will help detect slab leaks in your home. Your technician will then give you several repair options. The repair options will depend on how severe the leak is, the pipe condition, and the plumbing system’s integrity. There are three major repair options.

• Pipe re-routing/ re-piping

Sometimes, it is better to re-route the plumbing above the ground rather than digging through the slabs or piping system. Re-routing works best when the leak is affecting a small section of the pipe, and it is one of the least disruptive and quickest ways to repair leaks. The plumber will decide to re-pipe your whole home if concrete encases the entire house, making it impossible to reach these plumbing lines without destroying the slab. The plumber will install new pipes in closets, walls, attics, and other areas to conceal the pipes.

• Creating a tunnel beneath the slab

Tunneling is one of the most efficient options compared to breaking through slabs. Sometimes, plumbers will dig tunnels, or they can appoint engineers who dig these tunnels for them. Plumbers and engineers will need to replace the dirt they removed when tunneling. However, they need to test the new plumbing system before they refill the tunnel with soil.

• Pipe lining and pipe bursting

This repair method works best for corroded pipes or pipes with holes and cracks. Pipelining, also known as cured in place, is a standard repair option in most areas because there is no trenching or digging involved. The plumber will line the inside of a broken pipe with an epoxy coating that will dry and harden to form a new pipe. The plumber will insert a new pipe with a bursting head, which will destroy the old pipe as it pushes and pulls it.