{"id":3593,"date":"2016-02-19T21:15:48","date_gmt":"2016-02-19T21:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/server.trenchlessmarketing.com\/~inhouseplumbingc\/?p=3593"},"modified":"2016-02-19T21:15:48","modified_gmt":"2016-02-19T21:15:48","slug":"identify-slab-leaks-within-your-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bigwesttemp.com\/inhouseplumbing\/identify-slab-leaks-within-your-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"Identify Slab Leaks Within Your Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here at In-House Plumbing, we get a number of calls everyday from homeowners worried they might have slab leaks in their foundation.<\/p>\n

With all the incorrect information online, it\u2019s easy to understand why it\u2019s hard to determine what is going on when you find something like a wet spot on your floor\u2014or worse. So we\u2019d like to help you figure out what might be happening.<\/p>\n

One misconception we\u2019d like to clear up first, though, is there are no pipes\u00a0IN<\/strong>\u00a0the concrete slab. And this means there can\u2019t be a leak within the foundation.<\/p>\n

In most cases, the pipes are under the slab. So you if you\u00a0do<\/em>\u00a0have a leak, it is under the foundation. While there are exception to this (a home built with fresh water pipes in the walls), it is highly unlikely any pipes\u2014fresh water or sewer\u2014are in the actual slab.<\/p>\n

Depending on the symptom, you could have a\u00a0sewer leak<\/a>\u00a0or leaks, or\u00a0fresh water leaks<\/a>. And in some cases, you might not even have a leak at all but a sewer stoppage problem.<\/p>\n

Below are some of the most common signs and symptoms of the different types of plumbing problems you might be experiencing.<\/p>\n

Signs of Sewer Problems<\/h2>\n

An important thing to note is the only time there is water in your sewer lines is when you run water or flush the toilet. Your sewer system is designed to run on gravity meaning the pipes are installed at a slight decline.<\/p>\n

Anytime you run water in your house or flush the toilet, the water drains with gravity\u2019s help down through the system, out to the main sewer line, and eventually to the city lines.<\/p>\n

Sewer Clog or Blockage<\/h3>\n

Backups or Overflows<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If water backs up or overflows when you flush the toilet or turn on and run water, it\u2019s most likely you have a clog somewhere in in your sewer system. Because a sewer system is designed to run on gravity, if there is something blocking or\u00a0clogging a sewer pipe<\/a>, there\u2019s nowhere for the water to go but back up and overflow out of your drain or toilet.<\/p>\n

Slow Drains<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If a sink, tub, or shower is slow to drain, you might have a partial clog which, if not addressed, could turn into a full stoppage or clog.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sewer Leaks<\/h3>\n

Cracks in Walls and Foundation<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If you have a sewer leak or a\u00a0broken sewer pipe<\/a>, whenever water runs through the pipe, some of it escapes into the soil surrounding the pipes and under your foundation. Because the soil in North Texas expands as it gets wet and contracts as it dries, water soaks into the soil like a sponge.<\/p>\n

As a result, the expanding soil can cause your foundation\u2019s slab to heave or push up. However, if the leak is severe enough and present for long enough, it is possible the soil could erode very slowly by leaching back into the broken sewer line causing the slab to drop.<\/p>\n

Either of these can cause foundation issues\/problems resulting in cracks in your walls or foundation. It could also show up as any of the following:<\/p>\n