A slab leak is a plumbing term that refers to leaking pipes in the foundation of a home. Technically, a slab leak could be any leak that occurs under a hard rock surface such as granite, but the most common are leaks in the hot and cold water lines beneath a house. About 80% happen in the hot water lines and 20% in the cold water lines.

Slab leaks are serious, since along with wasting large amounts of water they can cause flooding in the lower parts of your home and damage to the foundation. If you think your home has a slab leak, you must call for professionals to fix it as soon as possible.

But how can you tell you have slab leak in the first place? Here are some signs to watch for:

• Sound of running water in the basement: If you hear water running in the basement at times when there is no tap or water-using appliance turned on, it could mean that water is escape from under the foundation.
• The water heater turns on at strange times: Because most slab leaks occur in the hot water lines, they will place extra stress on the water heater. This will cause the water heater to turn on at points when it normally wouldn’t.
• Cracks in the basement flooring: The pressure from the water leaving a slab leak can cause cracks to begin to appear along the granite floor of the basement. Don’t hesitate to call for plumbers when you see this.
• Elevated water bills: When your water bills start to spike and you can’t account for it with increased usage, there is probably a hidden plumbing leak somewhere in your home—and a slab leak is a prime suspect.

Bud Matthews Services offers the plumbing work you need when you have a slab leak in Durham, NC.