Many homes have slab foundations, especially newer builds. Made of poured concrete, these types of foundations are durable, cost-effective, and work well in temperate climates like ours.
However, one downside to slab foundations is how they conceal plumbing beneath concrete, making leaks harder to detect. If left untreated, slab leaks can cause significant damage to your plumbing and your home’s foundation.
Tom Drexler Plumbing, Air & Electric provides top-rated plumbing repairs for slab leaks in Louisville and Southern Indiana. With over 40 years of expertise, we deliver expert plumbing services backed by award-winning customer care.
Does your home need a slab leak repair? Schedule an emergency plumbing service with Tom Drexler today.
What Is a Slab Foundation?
A slab foundation is a concrete base, typically several inches thick, poured at grade level or over shallow bedrock. It’s supported by footings and often includes an additional layer of sand and gravel beneath to improve airflow and drainage. Slab foundations are commonly used in homes where basements or crawl spaces are impractical.
Since all plumbing runs beneath the slab, pipe or water line leaks can be difficult to detect. It’s crucial to address leaks early to avoid costly damage.
Signs You May Have a Slab Leak
Before you spot the obvious red flags or encounter a catastrophic leak, look out for these common signs:
- Mold or mildew smells: Trapped moisture encourages mold growth.
- Hot or cold spots on your floor: If a slab leak happens in a hot water line, areas of a floor can feel warm or hot to the touch.
- Damaged flooring: Damp spots on carpets or darkening patches of wood should never be ignored.
- Flooding outside your home: Wet, eroding soil or collected pools of water around your property could be due to a leaking pipe.
- Running water sounds: Depending on the severity of a leak, you may hear unexplained dripping or rushing water sounds in your home.
- Higher water bills: Sharp spikes in water bills may point to a hidden leak.
How Tom Drexler Finds & Repairs Slab Leaks
Tom Drexler has the necessary tools, training, and resources to locate and fix slab leaks. After assessing the scale of a leak, we may use one of these methods to repair or replace leaking pipes:
- Trenchless slab leak repair: We would use an epoxy pipe liner inside the broken pipe.
- Repiping: We would re-route a new pipe with minimal invasion.
- Tunneling under the slab: We would dig under your home to keep the flooring intact.
Our cutting-edge leak detection services aim to minimize the impact on your home’s structural integrity.
Call Tom Drexler for Slab Leak Repairs in Louisville & Southern IN
Don’t wait to address the warning signs of a slab leak — delaying repairs can lead to more complicated and expensive problems down the line.
If you need reliable slab leak repair or emergency leak detection, trust the highly trained plumbers at Tom Drexler Plumbing, Air & Electric.
As whole-home service providers, we create customers for life by ensuring that only the best of the best wear our uniform.
We repair slab leaks as quickly as possible. Contact us today for an emergency slab leak repair in Louisville or Southern Indiana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes slab leaks?
A slab leak happens when a water pipe leaks under a concrete slab foundation. Common causes include shifting soil, outdated pipe materials, and construction. Expanding tree roots and earthquakes can also penetrate slab foundations.
Does homeowners insurance cover slab leaks?
Since slab leaks usually cause gradual damage, they’re often considered a maintenance issue and may not be covered by insurance. However, sudden slab bursts due to catastrophic leaks or natural disasters may be covered under emergency damage provisions. It’s always best to consult your insurance company.
How do I prevent slab leaks?
Annual plumbing inspections will help prevent slab leaks, as will maintaining stable soil moisture around your foundation. Monitor water pressure — keeping it between 40 to 60 psi — and check your water line’s pH levels since high acidity can damage pipes.
