Is Your Gilbert Home Hiding a Slab Leak? 5 Warning Signs Every Arizonan Should Know
If you’ve lived in the East Valley for more than a few summers, you know our ground doesn't stay still. The expansive clay soil in Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler swells during monsoon season and shrinks during dry spells.
As AZ natives, Joe and Daryl (owners of No Worries Rooter) know exactly what that shifting soil does to your home: it wreaks havoc on the plumbing buried underneath your foundation.
A "slab leak"—a pinhole leak or crack in the water lines beneath your concrete floor—is one of the most stressful plumbing problems an Arizona homeowner can face. The key to avoiding major structural damage and expensive water cleanup is catching it early.
Here is what you need to know to keep your home safe.
What exactly is a slab leak?
Put simply, a slab leak is a leak occurring in the copper piping that runs underneath the concrete foundation of your home. Because these pipes are encased in concrete or buried in soil below the house, these leaks are invisible to the naked eye and often go undetected for months.
Why are slab leaks so common in the East Valley?
It usually comes down to two factors: hard water and shifting soil. Arizona’s hard water corrodes copper pipes from the inside out over time. Simultaneously, the constant pressure from the ground shifting up and down eventually causes older, weakened pipes to snap or develop pinhole leaks.
What are the 5 most common signs of a slab leak in Arizona?
If you notice any of these symptoms, do not ignore them. They are clear indicators that water is running where it shouldn't be.
A sudden spike in your water bill: If your usage hasn't changed but your bill has doubled, water is escaping somewhere constantly.
Hot spots on the floor: If a hot water line is leaking, you may feel a distinct warm area on your tile, carpet, or wood flooring that wasn't there before.
The sound of running water: Do you hear hissing or splashing even when every faucet and appliance in the house is turned off?
Cracks in walls or flooring: As water erodes the soil beneath your foundation, the house settles unevenly, causing new cracks in drywall or baseboards.
Mildew smells or damp carpet: If water is seeping up through the slab, you will eventually smell musty odors or notice unexplained dampness.
What should I do if I suspect a leak under my foundation?
Don't panic, and definitely don't start breaking up your floor yourself. You need professional, non-invasive leak detection.
At No Worries Rooter, we use state-of-the-art acoustic and thermal equipment to pinpoint the exact location of the leak without turning your home into a construction site.
We believe in a Cleaner, Better, Faster approach to solving even the biggest plumbing emergencies.
If you spot these signs, call your New Friends In The Plumbing Business today. Let us handle the leak and any necessary water cleanup so you can get back to having no worries.
