Slab Leaks And Leak Detection in Dallas Metro Area
Every Dallas area homeowner’s nightmare is to discover they may have a slab leak. Typically, a slab leak does not have to be as bad as the other accounts you have heard. Harvey West Plumbing Company, is capable of performing leak detection and making this situation less destructive and less expensive than what comes to mind.
There are two types of slab leaks- fresh water and sewer water. Slab leaks are usually not discovered by the homeowner noticing leaking water, but more commonly discovered by our plumbers because of information given by homeowners regarding other problems developing.
Water slab leaks are normally discovered because of abnormally high water or gas utility bills, hearing water running without a source, hot spots on the floor, wet spots on the floor and occasionally foundations problems.
Sewer slab leaks are typically discovered due to foundation problems or constant sewer stoppages.
The process of sewer and water leak detection and repair may include multiple steps to complete. Harvey West Plumbing Company can professionally perform all steps as needed.
Slab leak determination Depending on your circumstances and because each situation varies, we may be able to perform the water test only, sewer test only but in some cases both tests are necessary.
Determining if there is a fresh water leak below the slab foundation
We will perform a water test on the plumbing system. A water leak test is simple and quick. This is as effortless as inspecting your water meter for movement and can easily rule out a slab leak if there is no water moving. If there is water moving through the meter, our licensed Dallas plumbers must determine where the water is going causing the water meter movement.
Determining if there is a sewer water leak below the slab foundation
A sewer leak test is extremely more difficult to perform than a fresh water leak test. Main sewer line cleanouts must be present to properly test the sewer system. We will fill the entire system with water and use a test ball to plug the sewer system. Our licensed plumbers will observe the sewer system to see if the level of water drops. Depending on the level of drop, it will determine if there is a leak present or not.
Fresh Water Leak Location or Sewer Leak isolation test
Fresh Water Leak Location- If our licensed plumber determines that there is a fresh water leak under the slab, he will the turn off the water at the meter. We will then pump air into the water lines and use a special listening device to listen for air escaping from the fresh water system, to pinpoint the location of the leak on your water system.
Sewer Leak isolation test - We will isolate the sewer leak(s) under the slab foundation by using different sized inflatable test balls and air hoses. We will test each section of the system with the test balls until the leak(s) is located. Many homeowners believe a sewer video camera will locate a sewer leak; however this will not properly locate most leaks. A camera may only show large separations in the pipe, but will not necessarily show a small crack. What may look like a leak on the camera may not actually be a leak, so using the camera to locate sewer leaks is not a correct location technique.
Access and Repair of Fresh Water Leak or Sewer Water Leak
There are two ways to access a leak under the concrete slab. One option is to jack hammer through the slab foundation and digging to the leak. Generally, access to a fresh water leak is easiest by jack hammering a small hole into the slab foundation with minimal damage and mess.
Tunneling under the foundation from the outside is the other way to access a leak. This may be the best way to access and repair sewer water leaks due to the size and possible length of pipe that may be damaged.
The access options will be discussed by our licensed plumbers to determine what may be best approach because each homeowner and each situation varies.
Summarization
We may have over simplified the steps for locating and repairing slab leaks; some leaks may be as easy to locate and repair as above and some leaks will be much more difficult but our licensed plumbers at Harvey West Plumbing Company can handle all situations.
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