Precautions to Take to Prevent Slab Leaks

Preventing slab leaks really comes down to understanding what may cause them in the first place. A slab is essentially a large piece of cement that your Tacoma home sits on and if there are leaks, you could be in for some real trouble.

However, it is important to note that slab leaks develop over time and are most commonly a result of negligence from the homeowner, or a simple lack of education when it comes to preventing leaks.

Here are some things you can do that will most likely prevent your house from developing slab leaks.

Chemicals in the Slab Leaks

Slab leaks develop when a pipe breaks or ends up getting a leak, meaning that the problem starts from within the piping system.

One of the most common reasons for problem pipes is when a Tacoma homeowner has put harmful chemicals down the drain.

It may seem to make sense to put chemicals that you find at the hardware store down the drain, which state on the bottle that they will clear your drains out easily and quite cheaply as well.

However, these products are absolutely horrible for your drains and can lead to erosion, damage, and leakage after you use them. Instead of using harmful chemicals, calling a plumbing company when you have a clog will help you in the long run.

Water Pressure Needs to be Maintained

Maintaining a water pressure that your pipes can handle is always the way that you should approach using water in your home. If you have pipes that are fairly small, but you have a lot of water pressure that is capable of shooting water out at a rapid rate, you may be tempted to turn the water on full blast.

Older homes that have older piping systems have this problem more frequently than newer homes, but when you run water pressure far higher than your pipes were built to handle, you may run into problems. This can cause a major leak or a full pipe breakage under your slab, which may end up costing an arm and a leg to fix.

Hard and Soft Water

The water that is coming through your pipes to your showers and faucets needs to be at an appropriate pH level. Many people are aware of the term soft and hard water, as this relates to the amount of minerals that are contained in the water.

When the water that is coming through your pipes is too high or too low, it can end up causing problems to your pipes that develop into a slab leak. Having a professional check your pH every now and then will avoid this potential disaster.

Don't let a slab leak destroy your Tacoma, WA home! Call All Purpose Plumbing at (253) 473-5100 to get it fixed.