Here you’ll find some of the most common reasons for slab leaks and how to find and fix them.
The first and most common reason for a slab leak is a kink in the copper water line. During installation of your water piping system it is possible and very common for a water line to have a small kink in the line that goes undetected. It is also possible during preparation for the foundation and or installation of the concrete, that your water line became kinked or dinged.
If a kink in your copper water line goes undetected, it is only a matter of time before it starts leaking. As the water flows through the water line the water starts to etch the copper and deplete the copper in the area of the kink. As time goes by the water will cause the line to deteriorate and leak outside the water line. Once the water line has been breached, the hole or crack in the line will get larger. Once this occurs the danger of foundation problems are eminent.
The second most common reason for a slab leak is electrolysis. Electrolysis is when you have two dissimilar metals touching, which will cause the weaker metal to deplete itself. Microscopic pieces of copper start to flake off until the copper is completely gone. You must locate and repair the leak. The ground is a great conductor of electrolysis, therefore it is recommended to protect your copper water lines with some cathodic protection.
For more information on slab leak locating and repair, please call A and J Plumbing at (214) 929-7012.