If your home is on a concrete slab, your water and sewage lines run below the slab, utilizing the soil or gravel underneath for insulation. This setup can have some issues for your Orlando-area home, but Rainaldi’s repiping services can be a cost-effective solution.
What is a Slab Leak?
A slab leak is a leak in one of the pipes below your home’s slab foundation. While they may appear to be a minor nuisance, slab leaks can threaten the structural integrity of your home because an increase in water under the slab can cause the foundation to shift, potentially sinking the structure into the saturated areas of the soil. This damage can consist of cracking in flooring and walls, along with other possible damage.
Slab leaks are due to expansion and contraction that occurs with temperature and pressure changes. (While Central Florida does not see much variance with our temperatures, there can be changes in the pressure system.) A poor setup and use of low-quality materials for the pipes leads to a weaker structure. Other causes of damaged pipes include continual high water pressure, improper pH balance, and contaminants in the water, which can lead to corroded pipes.
If you’ve noticed an increase in your water bill or reduced water pressure, this could mean water is being wasted beneath your slab. You may also see water pooling outside your home if leakage continues for a while.
What is Repiping?
Repiping is a solution for large, damaged pipes without a lot of breaking through the foundation. While it can be extensive, the investment placed in repiping is often the best option to fix and prevent leaks in the pipes.
Plumbers will disconnect old pipes from under the slab, route new pipes around the sides of the slab, through the walls, or the home’s attic. Rerouting eliminates the risk of a pipe leak damaging the foundation. It also removes the headache of jackhammers and heavy-duty equipment being used in your home to break through the concrete slab.
Other Reasons for Repiping
Slab leaks aren’t the only reason why you’d want to consider repiping your home. Because some pipe materials can rust over time, your water will turn brown or red, thus requiring repiping for the whole house. Also, homes older than 50 years may still have the original galvanized pipes. These older pipes are likely corroded and are at an increased risk of bursting.
If you’re concerned about the integrity of your Central Florida home’s pipes, call Rainaldi Plumbing at (407) 413-9795 to schedule a consultation and the possibility of repiping your home today.