Archive for the ‘plumbing’ Category

Symptoms of a slab leak

Monday, November 9th, 2009

The sound of running water, when no water should be running, could indicate a slab leak.

If you hear running water in your home when all should be quiet, means there is flowing water somewhere.

Your home’s plumbing is pressurized and static when all appliances and faucets are in the off position. The sound of running water is created by the vibration of the flow of water against the piping system. It means an outlet from the system is allowing flow. You will need to check all  faucets, toilets, sprinklers, as well as water connected appliances like refrigerators, clothes washers, dish washers, or water purification systems.

If you don’t find visual clues to the source of the sound of water, it could mean you have a hidden leak in the wall or under the slab.

A hot spot on the floor could indicate a hot water line leak in your slab.

Hot water lines are usually insulated and don’t heat the floor unless it was built as a radiant heating system.

If you have pets, you may notice they gravitate to a certain spot on the floor. Check to see if it feels warmer than usual.

Cracks in walls or floors could be damage from a slab leak.

There are several possible factors in the appearance of cracks in walls and floors. If you live in a seismically unstable area, it could instead have to do with shifting ground due to earthquakes.

Even if ground shifting is due to unstable ground, it could also mean the area under your property has been compromised by  water flow from a leak under your slab. If untreated, a water leak could create a massive void under the foundation. This void can put stress on the foundation, and increased stress on the foundation can cause cracks in the floors and walls.

Mildew or excessive moisture under carpets could indicate your slab is cracked and the pipes inside are leaking.

Cracks in a slab due to a leak allow moisture into the flooring. Drywall will wick the moisture up, and create an ideal environment for mold to grow behind the wall. Mold is an environmental hazard and you need to make sure that proper clean up and restoration of the property is performed. Before the restoration is performed, the mold needs to be removed. Then, the location of the source of moisture that feeds the mold can be identified and repaired.

High water bills could indicate a leak. Although a high water bill could indicate a water leak behind the wall or in your pool, plumbing under the slab is also suspect.

Unusually high water bills could occur for several reasons. Sometimes the meter is not working properly and needs to be replaced. You will need to contact your water authority for this kind of issue.

If your meter is working properly, then it comes down to usage.

Conduct the meter test to see if your toilets are leaking or if you have a hidden water leak.

The wrong way:

Bad slab leak detection

The right way:

accurate slab leak detection

Does a ‘humming’ noise from under the sink indicate a leak?

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Usually yes. A ‘humming’ sound coming from a water pipe is often a good indication of water loss occurring somewhere along the piping system. This can occur in two ways: Loss through a fixture or outlet (i.e. faucet or leaky toilet) or loss through an actual leakage point along the line.

It is pretty easy to understand the way a running fixture makes noise on pipes. Water flows at a rapid rate through the line and causes the pipe to vibrate as the water leaves the outlet. Also, friction created by the water flow against the inside of the pipe sends vibrations that can be detected by the human ear.

The sound created by a leak in the pipe itself is a little more complex to understand. Essentially, the humming sound created by a leak in the pipe is driven by a pressure difference between the water inside the pipe and the ambient atmospheric pressure around the pipe.

When a leak develops in a pipe, a pressure loss occurs in the pipe at the leak site as the pressure in the pipe tries to equalize with the pressure outside the pipe. This pressure loss creates pressure waves that travel in both directions down the pipe and away from the leak. We call this ‘leak energy.’

In most cases, the human ear alone cannot hear this leak energy. It takes electronic leak detection tools that amplify selected sounds. If you can hear the leak energy without equipment, there is a good chance the leak is close by or has developed in size enough to be quite loud.

If the humming sound you hear is not from flow or a leak in the pipe, a contact point between the pipe and a vibrating appliance or machine such as a refrigerator or air conditioning unit could also cause it.

In any of the cases mentioned above, you can save some time and money by taking a look around your home for some obvious clues. Double-check all of your interior faucets and toilets. Check outside hose bibs and valves, too. If you don’t find anything, you may need to call a leak detection specialist to perform further investigation with specialized electronic equipment and professional experience.

How should I choose a leak detection specialist?

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Technology that allows an experienced leak specialist to isolate the area of a leak can save an average consumer hundreds of dollars in needless hit and miss digging. Unfortunately, many consumers still have to bear costs associated with search and destroy methods when they call service men that have no modern leak detection equipment or no modern leak detection skills. To avoid needless damage to your property and other unnecessary costs, here are some things you should look for when choosing a leak detection company:

  • Experience and Resources. We suggest that you determine what kind of experience the firm has in leak detection. How many years have they been in business as a leak detection company? Are they associated with any organization that provides continuing research and development regarding leak detection technology and techniques? What is the ‘depth’ of the organization-what if the guy you are talking to can’t find your leak, is there another level to go to for a ‘troubleshooter’? Is there a real ‘business operation’ or is the company one guy with an answering machine and a cellular phone who may or may not choose to call you back if there’s a problem?
  • Guarantee. What if they cannot find the leak? What if they mark the leak in the wrong place? Will they stand by their work and come back? In the business where leaks are mostly concealed, a guarantee is truly comforting.
  • Flat Rate Pricing. An efficient leak detection firm will provide a flat rate price for most residential jobs. This means that whether it takes one hour or five hours or even multiple trips to find your leak, they will charge the same rate. Conversely, an hourly rate scenario with an inexperienced technician can set you up for a very large invoice.
  • Licensed-Bonded-Insured. Check with your County Contractors Licensing Bureau to confirm that the company is licensed to work in your County. Consider whether they have a Contractors license or just an occupational license. Have you confirmed that the company is bonded? Can they provide you with a certificate of insurance for both workers compensation and liability insurance and are the dollar limits adequate to protect you and your assets?
  • Equipment. Make sure the company you choose uses modern electronic leak detection instruments. Simply placing an ear or stethoscope to the floor just does not cut it today.
  • Referral. Be sure to contact your insurance company if you believe you have a leak in your home. Many insurance companies have a leak detection specialist they trust and have relied on for many of their claims. Also, there is a chance your insurance company will pay for the leak detection charges. Another good source of information for an experienced specialist is your property management company.

In the unfortunate event that you experience a leak problem, it can be critical to both your pocketbook and your long-term property value that you take the right steps to solve your problem. No one wants to pay excessive fees or incur the property damage that results from having the wrong people on the job.

Plumbing Contractors Facing Tough Times

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Check out this article from Plumbing and Mechanical Magazine:

The first step is admitting you need help.

Since we first published this list last year, the U.S. and global economies have gotten worse. And no one knows exactly when it will rebound, although some experts say we have finally hit bottom.

Some of your competitors may have hit bottom, too, and are no longer your competitors. This type of business climate can really weed out the underperformers — just look at all the out-of-business signs you see everywhere.

Some of these business owners may have just decided they wanted out and didn’t have any formal exit strategy, so they just shut the business down. Others may have not had the business knowledge they needed to prosper, so they had to close up shop or declare bankruptcy.

For contractors in the plumbing and heating industry, you have better options that will keep your employees working and your communities viable and flourishing. The first step is admitting you need help. The second is to decide if you want to stay working on the business or get out. The third step is to examine the different franchise and affinity groups listed here. The next step is to decide on a group or franchise that best fits your business philosophy.

The final step? Take action! If not, one of those out-of-business signs could be in your window.


Read the full article here.

Check out the American Leak Detection franchise opportunities.