Typically, a builder constructs a foundation slab by layering concrete over a crushed gravel base. Before pouring the slab, the home’s sewer and drain lines are laid out and covered with compacted sand.
They’re an affordable alternative to crawl space or basement construction. They don’t flood, and that’s a big plus (especially here in Chicago). Slab foundations are usually low maintenance, but water under the slab can result in serious problems.
What should you do if you’ve got a slab leak? Quick action is critical.
Read on.
What Are the Warning Signs of a Water Leak Under the House?
It’s easy to spot a plumbing leak under the kitchen sink. It’s much harder to detect a slow drip seeping through the foundation. If you notice any of these signs of slab leak water damage, contact your plumber right away.
• Wet soil in the yard that stays soggy
• Signs of moisture or mold growth on exterior walls
• Interior wall cracks and warped baseboards
• The sound of water running between walls
• Buckling floors and moldy carpeting
• Unexplained hot spots and bad odors under floors
• Increase in water bills and energy costs
• Water meter gauge movement when no water is in use
• Mold grows in room corners and along baseboards
How Do You Clean Up a Water Leak Under the House?
When a pipe leaks under your home’s slab, DIY cleanup isn’t easy. It’s important to jump-start the drying process right away and contact certified professionals.
These 10 steps for cleaning up water leaks under the house cover repairs, mitigation, remediation and restoration.
1. Shut Off the Water
Slab leaks rarely flood a home, so turning off the water supply might seem like an inconvenience. However, it stops the flow, and that slows down the upward spread of water damage through floors and walls.
2. Contact Your Insurance Carrier
Let your insurance company know you’re facing slab issues, plumbing repair and water damage cleanup. Take pictures and videos to document the situation before the adjuster arrives.
3. Call a Certified Restoration Company
Call a certified restoration company like ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba if you’re in the Chicago area, and explain the problem. Their services cover all phases of water damage cleanup, and they can recommend an experienced plumbing professional.
4. Confirm the Leak Source
Plumbing technicians get started with moisture detection equipment that pinpoints the location of your home’s slab leak. They develop a repair strategy based on the leak’s location and size.
5. Repair Broken Pipes
There are three basic techniques for repairing pipes in a slab foundation. Once the plumbing pros determine the extent of the problem, they recommend one of these repair strategies.
- Replacement – Slab is excavated and new pipes installed.
- Re-Routing – New line is installed out from under slab.
- Relining – Pipes are relined with cured-in-place-pipe compounds.
6. Begin Water Mitigation
Once pipe repairs are completed, restoration professionals begin mitigating water damage to your home. This includes extraction, stabilization and initial cleanup.
7. Dry All Affected Areas
Next, restoration technicians take care of house-wide structural drying with specialized equipment, including high-volume axial air movers and heavy-duty dehumidifiers. The process can take several days or more.
8. Tear Out All Damp Materials
This step involves water damage remediation and restoration. Water-damaged floors, subfloors, baseboards and drywall are torn out and replaced. Remaining materials are cleaned, sanitized and deodorized.
9. Monitor Structural Drying
Throughout the remediation and restoration process, water damage technicians closely monitor air moving equipment and humidity levels to ensure complete structural drying. They also address mold removal and remediation.
10. File Your Water Damage Claim
Be sure to hold on to all invoices related to the water damage caused by your home’s slab leak. When you’re ready to file your homeowners insurance claim, your restoration company can help you navigate the paperwork.
How do Water Damage Restoration Experts Clean Up Slab Leak Water Damage?
Tackling water damage after a foundation slab leak isn’t a DIY project. You’re often dealing with damp floors, soggy carpets and moldy drywall. You can’t expect the plumber to take care of it either.
The job belongs in the hands of experienced water damage cleanup professionals. These are just a few examples of the advanced equipment, methods and services that restore your home to its original condition.
• Highly trained technicians use infrared cameras to zero in on hidden damp areas.
• Powerful water-extraction systems remove all moisture from floors and carpets.
• Heavy-duty axial fans, air movers and dehumidifiers quickly dry out affected areas.
• Restoration technicians tear out, replace and repair all materials including flooring, baseboards and drywall.
An industry-certified cleaning contractor also takes care of mold removal and remediation with techniques that ensure interior air quality and protect your health. Often, cleaning and restoration services are covered by your homeowners insurance policy.
What Causes a Water Leak Under the House?
Your home’s slab supports the weight of the house. It takes a major event, such as an earthquake or tornado, to compromise that structural integrity. How could plumbing pipes encased in concrete leak under the house?
Actually, it happens more often than you might expect.
These are a few of the most common reasons for pipe leaks in the foundation slab under your home.
- Plumbing in older homes becomes weak, deteriorates and ages out.
- Hard water causes corrosion buildup in older and newer plumbing systems.
- Concrete slab foundations develop cracks that impact pipes running under the house.
- Hard freezes and extended frigid temperatures can result in burst slab pipes.
- Soil expansion and contraction puts pressure on slabs and plumbing.
- Faulty slab construction or substandard plumbing installation cause pipe failure.
Is a Water Leak Under the House Covered by Insurance?
Homeowners insurance can cover structural issues, but most policies only apply this coverage to unexpected occurrences, such as tornadoes or earthquakes. General problems with a foundation’s condition aren’t usually covered.
In the event of a slab leak under the house, most homeowners policies don’t pay for the actual pipe repair. Your agent can explain the specifics of your current coverage and recommend policy modifications. However, you should be covered for water damage to floors, carpets, walls and affected belongings.
How Common are Slab Leaks?
Slab leak water damage happens more often than you might think. It’s hard to imagine a concrete foundation developing leaks, but many factors can result in water under your home’s slab.
In older houses, material age plays a big role. Pipes under the slab eventually corrode and leak. The foundation begins to crack, and that puts additional pressure on failing drain and sewer pipes.
Our Chicago winters are hard on slab foundations too. As soil freezes, contracts, thaws and expands, it can impact the slab causing pipe cracks and leaks. This type of damage affects both old and new homes.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leak Under the House Slab?
The cost of fixing a leak under a house slab averages between $2280 and $4400. It depends on the leak location and extent of slab and plumbing damages. If you have to replace the concrete slab, costs can run from $3600 to $7200.
There are other factors that impact the final cost of repairing a slab leak. These are just a few examples.
- Pre-existing foundation problems
- Type of leaking pipe repair needed
- Slab leaks involving sewer lines
- Slab and plumbing repairs in hard-to-reach areas
- Structural integrity of slab-supported floors and walls
Dealing with Slab Leak Water Damage in the Chicago Area? We Can Help!
We don’t repair slab leaks, but we do provide all the expert services you need to deal with the aftermath. We earn our reputation as the best water repair specialists in Chicago every day. Just give us a call here at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba. With headquarters in Skokie and Chicago, we’re always just around the corner.
Don’t let water damage sit. Call ServiceMaster by Zaba today: 773-647-1985