Concrete Slab Leak Detection

If your water bill is unusually high, it might be time to do some slab leak detection. Sounds of running water, a hot or warm spot on your floor, cracks in the floors or walls, and mildew or moisture under carpets are also signs that you may have a slab leak. A leak under your concrete slab foundation can cause serious structural damage to your home if you do not catch it early. The first test to determine if you have a leak is a simple one. Locate your water meter, and note the number indicated on it. Without running water on your property, wait 30 minutes and re-check the meter. If the number has dropped, you may have a leak in your pressurized system. The best way to detect leaks is to contact a professional in your area who specializes in slab leak detection techniques. American Leak Detection (www.americanleakdetection.com) is a good place to start. It is good to test for leaks in a number of circumstances, including before foundation work, mud jacking, purchase of a home, after foundation repair work, or reoccurring sewer pipe stoppage problems.

The most basic way to detect a leak is called acoustic leak detection. Leaks make sounds. These sounds can be detected, with the use of simple listening equipment, to ascertain what kind of leak you have. Hissing denotes pipe vibration and orifice pressure reduction, splashing or brook-like sounds indicates water flowing around a pipe, thumping sounds of water hitting a soil "wall" or clinking of stones or pebbles hitting a pipe. Hissing also indicates water pressure over 30 psi. This is the most common and noticeable sign of a leak, with the loudness being directly proportional to the pressure of the leak. All these sounds are much more pronounced in metal pipes such as steel, copper or iron, as opposed to PVC or cement pipes, which transmit less sound. Larger pipes also transmit less sound, and at lower frequencies, making them harder to detect.

Other factors affect the resonance of the leak. The resonance of the material around the pipes has a large impact on how audible the sound is. Fortunately, cement slabs transmit the vibrations very well, much better than loose soil or sand. With a concrete slab, the leak can be heard over 10 feet away from the leak with acoustic detection equipment. The leak can then be followed and pinpointed, at which point it can be dealt with accordingly.

Other slab leak detection methods are best done through a soil engineer, who has various ways of determining factors such as moisture seepage through your concrete or using electromagnetic technology to locate and follow pipelines under your floor. If you determine that you have a leak under your slab, the best action to take is to contact a professional and discuss your options.