According to a report by Home Advisors, insurance companies and homeowners in the US spend around $10 billion a year in water damage restoration and frozen pipes,
Out of the different types of plumbing issues homeowners face, slab repairs are amongst the worse because of the extent of damage they can cause.
Apart from making the floor and walls susceptible to mold and mildew, slab leaks allow moisture from the leaking pipes to seep into the foundation of your property and weaken its overall structure.
Unless slab leaks are handled effectively, they can cause the concrete foundation of your home to crack and shift.
So, what are your repair options?
Slab Leak Repair Options
Repair options for slab leaks are determined by the location of the leak and the condition of the property’s pipes. Slab repair experts can’t give you an estimate without inspecting your house and carrying out thermal imaging tests to understand how bad the damage is.
Depending on how bad the damage is, slab leak repairs can set homeowners back a few thousand dollars.
Here are 3 options for repairing slab leaks:
1. Spot Repair
A single leak is a lot easier to detect and repair. Experienced plumbers who have the expertise to repair slab leaks use specialized equipment such as thermal camera and pinless moisture meters to identify the source of the leak. This way the entire foundation doesn’t need to be dug up and plumbers can target specific sections of pipes.
If the plumber decides that the piping is too old, they will advise homeowners to invest in re-piping instead of trying to fix parts of the pipe.
Also, once a slab leak has taken place, insurance companies can refuse to provide coverage until the house has been re-piped.
2. Re-piping & Re-Routing
Re-piping is usually the go-to solution to repair slab leaks because it ensures that homeowners don’t have to experience slab leaks again.
In re-piping, plumbers install new pipes and re-route them through the attic or the outside part of the slab.
The plumbing work may look extensive, but it’s still a cheaper option than ripping the concrete foundation apart, fixing the pipes and re-flooring afterward. Usually new lines are easier to inspect in case plumbing issues happen again.
Compared to traditional galvanized iron or copper plumbing, flexible PEX pipes are much more cost-efficient.
3. Pipe Lining
Installing a thin non-toxic coating in your pipes can prevent minor leaks and reduce long-term costs. If you have a minor leak, pipe lining can help with concrete slab leaks.
Ask professional plumbers that are slab leak experts about which slab repair options are best for you.
Pro Serve Plumbing provides plumbing services and slab leak repair services in Fort Worth, TX. We also offer comprehensive plumbing services including garbage disposal repair, water heater repair, and installation, plumbing services and much more. Call +1-817-244-0614 to book an appointment with us.
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