Archive for Plumbing Leak – Page 5

You Have a Slab Leak, Now What?

Maybe you’ve noticed a ridiculously high water bill or heard water running that you can’t find, maybe you’ve noticed warmth on a particular part of the flooring; when it comes to unusual predicaments like these, you need to know whether or not you’re dealing with a slab leak. What to do if you might have a slab leak?

  1. Call your reputable Plano plumber
  2. Ascertain the approximate location of leak

Don’t worry, we won’t just start busting! Our men are trained to locate the leak first.

  1. Is it outside – a yard line?
  2. Is it inside?

These are some of the easy things we do to find out where your leak is:

  • Turn shut off valve in box by house. Check your meter. Is it still running? Your leak is outside.
  • Turn shut off valve in box by house. Check your meter. Did it stop? Your leak is inside the house

Is it on the hot or cold water side?

  • Turn off water to water heater.
  • Turn valve for yard back on.

Did the meter stop? If it did, you have a hot water slab leak.

There may be more detective work involved:

  • Any hot spots on the floor when you are walking barefoot in the house?

We hook a signal generator on the water pipe and follow it with our pipe locating device. Once we know where the pipe is we take our infrared heat sensor and find the hot spots along that line.

Then we must determine the depth of the leak with our pipe locating device. We use our geodesic headset and listen for the leak. If it is difficult to hear we will pressurize the system as the harder flow of water will make the leak easier to hear.

Not until this point will we break your floor and repair. We silver solder all joints below floor.  We backfill with sand and pour back floor after testing. We do not put back finished flooring.

I hope this takes some of the anxiety out of your slab leak problem. Things never really are as bad as they seem. Hire the right plumber and you’ll be put at ease through the whole thing.

Less Chance of a Plumbing Leak with a Quality Faucet

The right faucet and the right installation have a lot to do with the amount of service that will be needed on your fixture in the future. Not that price should be the sole determining factor, but higher quality usually costs more. You get what you pay for. If you purchase a cheap (though pretty) faucet from a home improvement store, or for that matter, even from a wholesaler – you may end up with a plumbing leak you didn’t count on.  Read More→

Water leak detection: Stop That Plumbing Leak

Some leaks are obvious and show themselves readily, other plumbing leaks aren’t apparent unless you know what to look for. The leaks that are harder to find can do far more damage than those that are easily noticed. Many homeowners don’t realize that many of the faucets and handles available today consist of plastic parts that easily crack under frequent use, and replacement washers aren’t helpful in the newer washerless designs. When that is the case, water leaks can end up puddling in an area that may not be readily visible, and you’re going to have to look a little harder to see if damage is evident.

Look for:Leaking faucet fixture.

  • Bulging drywall
  • Peeling paint
  • Mineral deposits
  • Sagging wood beneath the sink or the wall behind
  • Mold or mildew, especially in an area that should be entirely dry
  • Buckling or loose floor tiles or
  • New insect populations

Sometimes those leaks aren’t originating from the sink faucets or drains, sometimes they are due to old shut-off valves that are located under and behind the sink. Those need to be repaired, usually replaced, as soon as possible because they are often problematic behind the wall for some time before a leak is evident. What could have been a simple repair can then become more costly.

Protecting your home or property from a significant plumbing leak will save you money. It’s better to take care of those types of problems before they get out of control. If you notice rust around your drain, fixtures, or valves, that is also a clue that moisture is going where it shouldn’t be going.

Take a closer look around your home for plumbing leaks in the laundry room behind or under the washer, under the kitchen sink, below the dishwasher, around all your bathroom fixtures, and outside at your hose bib. Remember to call us at 972-424-6479 to get on the schedule as soon as possible if those repairs involve more than you feel confident doing yourself.

Don’t be embarrassed if you end up over your head in a do-it-yourself repair! We understand, and we can help. If you have a story about a plumbing leak that got out of control, leave us a comment and tell us about it, and let us know how you handled the repair. We love to hear from you.