Slab leaks are one of the most difficult of all plumbing problems to find. These leaks in the hot and cold water lines in your home occur down in the concrete foundation, making it tricky to notice that they are happening. They’re also hard to repair, and it takes expert plumbers with the best equipment to narrow down the location of the leak and the access the area to remedy it.

Since these leaks are tough to find, how will you know that you have one? We have some advice on ways you can tell:

• Strange behavior from the water heater: The majority of slab leaks (80%) happen in the hot water lines in the foundation. Because these lines lead from the water heater, they will place a drain on the system even when there’s no demand for hot water in the house. If the water heater starts to turn on at times when nobody is using it, it often means there’s a slab leak somewhere.
• Cracks in the basement: Should you notice cracking along the floor of your basement, it may be due to pressure from a slab leak.
• Higher than normal water bills: Check your monthly water bills carefully. If you notice a rise beyond the amount that your family normally uses, and you can’t account for it through an increase in usage, it is likely that a leak somewhere is at fault.
• Water meter test: When you have suspicions about a leak, there’s a simple test you can perform to be sure. Check on you water meter, then turn off all taps and water-using appliances in the home. If the water meter shows continuing use of water, then there’s a leak—possibly a slab leak—draining water someplace.

Once you think you have a slab leak, call plumbing professionals. They’ll use special detection equipment to determine the extent of the problem and where they need to work to solve it.

Bud Matthews Services has the plumbing repair you need in Durham, NC.