What is a Foundation Leak?

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

Foundation leaks are very serious to the overall health of your home and undiagnosed can lead to worse issues. There are certain steps you can take to minimize damage, but first let’s understand what a foundation leak is;

A foundation is a single concrete base also known as a slab which your home sits on.

 A slab leak is a term used to describe a leak that has developed in the copper water lines running below the concrete foundation of your home.

Why Does It Leak?

• Corrosion: your pipes are underground, therefore weather changes and influences from soil can cause your pipes to corrode over time
• Installment issues: it's possible that when your house was built there were mistakes or damage that did not create an ideal foundation – this can also be known as a construction defect
• Wear and Tear: pipes expand and contract with the weather and if a pipe freezes it can burst from the pressure. The pipes must also have room to contact and expand so if there is anything that it could come in contact with like concrete or gravel the pipes may rub against them and cause damage.

What Are the Signs?

• The floor has hot spots
• High water bill
• Wet floor or carpet
• Low water pressure
• Standing Water
• Visible mold growth or a musty smell

What Should You Do?

You should always call for professional help with a leak. Sometimes you may need a plumber or leak detection specialist to assess where the issue is coming from. SERVPRO of Lynnwood can provide water mitigation services to address standing water or mold. It is important to get to the root of the problem by hiring a foundation contractor who can stop the leak so further damage doesn’t occur.