What is a slab leak and why worry about it?

The slab foundation is the concrete foundation beneath your home. Incoming water pipes and outgoing sewer lines run underneath the slab foundation, and cracks or holes in underlying pipes cause water to leak under the foundation. This is called a slab leak, and it has the potential to cause extensive damage to the structure. To protect your home from serious water damage, it is essential to recognize warning signs that indicate the presence of a slab leak.

Why do slab leaks occur?

Homeowners face several repair jobs in the house, generally due to normal wear of building materials, but sometimes resulting from design flaws or poor execution of construction. Slab leaks can be caused by a number of factors. Sometimes a slab leak occurs because of slight nicks on pipes created in the building phase that then wear out and become cracks allowing water leakage. Hot water pipes are especially susceptible to slab leaks, since the pipes contract and expand with normal cooling and heating. The chemical content of water can also cause pipes to wear out prematurely; the harder the water the more likely a slab leak will occur, and the pH of the water is also an important factor. The foundation of the house can occasionally shift, pulling pipes apart and creating a slab leak. Another reason for slab leaks is the use of bad quality plumbing materials and poor craftsmanship during construction.

How to detect a slab leak?

Every homeowner should be aware of the signs that point to a possible slab leak in the foundation, and make sure proper action is taken to repair the slab leak. The following check list is a good tool for detecting slab leaks:

• Significant increase in your water or electricity bill: if you notice that your water or electricity bill suddenly jumps, it may be due to a slab leak.
• Visible wet or damp stains on carpet or flooring: a slab leak can sometimes reach the flooring, creating noticeable spots or stains.
• Reduced water pressure: if you notice a decrease in water pressure, it may be caused by a slab leak.
• Settling of the foundation: when an actual shifting of the home’s foundation is felt, a slab leak may have occurred.

How are slab leaks fixed?

Repairing a slab leak is a multi-step process and in most cases requires a skilled slab leak repair professional to successfully complete the task. The first step is to locate the exact spot of the slab leak underneath the foundation. Next, flooring or carpeting, including all furniture and fixtures need to be removed to allow access to the concrete foundation covering the slab leak. The concrete foundation, usually around 4 inches thick, is then drilled to expose the slab leak in the pipe. Once the slab leak is visible, the damaged pipes are fixed and the hole is again filled with concrete, after which all flooring or carpeting is replaced.

Why choose a full service company to repair a slab leak?

As explained above, slab leaks are not one of the simplest plumbing jobs because the process of fixing a slab leak requires making a hole to the concrete foundation before the slab leak can be repaired. Furthermore, selecting a reputable company to reliably finish the job is essential to ensure that the slab leak repair is completed with accuracy and professionalism to prevent future slab leaks.

Because of the complexity of slab leak issues, most companies only offer to fix the damaged piping causing the slab leak, forcing the homeowner to contact another service company to make a hole in the concrete, and subsequently close the hole. 1800 AnyTyme is a full service company that handles slab leak repairs from start to finish, down to the thorough clean-up of the site after the slab leak is repaired and the foundation is intact. This is to ensure that the homeowner receives the most efficient and least disruptive service and the damage caused by the slab leak is diminished.

If you have more than one clog in your house then it is time to clean the main drain. A backed up main line often causes a sink clog, at the same time as a bathtub or toilet clog.

To fix the main line you will need:

• wrench
• waste bucket
• plumber’s snake
• garden hose

1. Go to your basement or crawl space and locate the vertical large drain pipes. These are the main line pipes. Some people find their main lines in the pantry closet, or garage. Find the plugs on the pipes which are sometimes located outside along the foundation of your house.

2. Use your wrench to loosen the square fitted caps on the plugs. Make sure to have your waste bucket handy for any immediate release.

3. Insert the your plumber’s snake in both directions of pipe to break up any blockage. If you have a tough obstruction, a high pressure water blast from your garden hose might help loosen the debris.

4. Finish by tightly screwing the square cap back on the main drain.

What Is a Tankless Water Heater?

Tankless water heaters, also called demand or instantaneous water heaters, heat water as needed without storing it in a traditional, bulky hot water tank. In an old-fashioned water heating system, hot water is stored in a tank, and a large quantity of water is constantly being heated to supply hot water to all faucets and appliances in the home. A tankless water heater on the other hand heats the water whenever a faucet or shower is turned on, eliminating the need for hot water tanks that waste energy by heating the water even when no one is using it. Having “on tap” hot water eliminates system operation in little or non-use periods such as night time or when you’re at work. Installing a tankless water heater will bring in energy savings and a tax credit of up to $1,500 is available to home owners who increase their home’s efficiency with one of these systems.

How Do Tankless Water Heaters Work?

The technology behind tankless water heaters is not all that complex. Homeowners who are used to the idea of traditional water heaters might initially question whether a tankless system can supply enough hot water at the right temperature when needed, but in fact a tankless system creates an endless supply of hot water. A tankless water heater is installed either at the point of use, for instance underneath the sink, or like a traditional water heater anywhere in the house. A built-in computer inside the tankless water heater unit detects when a hot water tap is turned on and burners inside the unit instantly turn on, heating the water as it flows through the tankless water heater, supplying the home with virtually endless supply of hot water. When the faucet is turned off, the burners inside the tankless water heater automatically turn off and the system sets itself to a stand-by mode.

Why Switch to a Tankless Water Heater?

There are several benefits to replacing your old hot water tank with an energy-efficient tankless water heater:

1. Save money and protect the environment

   Because there is no need to constantly heat water stored in a large tank, tankless water heaters save money on your energy bill. A large chunk of a home owner’s energy bill is comprised of the cost of heating water, up to 30% of the entire energy usage of a household. This cost can be significantly reduced by replacing a hot water tank with a tankless water heating system. In addition to monetary savings, just by switching to a modern tankless water heating system you are reducing your daily energy consumption and benefiting the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. The government also provides a tax credit of up to $1,500 for switching to a tankless water heater, details for which can be found below.

2. Endless hot water supply

   Tankless water heaters come in all sizes to fit your unique water heating requirements that depend on household size and the number of appliances that use hot water, for instance a dishwasher and washer. When you choose a tankless water heater system optimized for your hot water needs, you will not run out of hot water because it is heated on demand, instead of being supplied from a storage tank that can run out of hot water when it is most needed.

3. Save much needed space

   By definition, tankless water heaters do not have a storage tank, and the units are much smaller in size and can fit underneath the sink or in a closet.

$1,500 Tax Credit for Installing a Tankless Water Heater

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed last February by President Obama, significantly increased the amount of tax credits available to consumers who switch from high energy consumption systems to energy efficient systems, such as gas tankless water heaters. The tax incentive covers 30% of the cost of the tankless water heating system, including installation costs, for a maximum amount of $1,500. Most gas, oil and propane powered tankless water heaters installed by the end of 2010 qualify for the tax credit, giving you a great reason for going tankless now.

Getting Started on Tankless Water Heater Installation

The first step when going tankless is to find out which model perfectly fits your needs and research reliable companies for professional installation service. Replacing your old water heater may seem like a formidable task, but experienced professionals with the expertise and top notch tools handle tankless water heater installations and clean-up efficiently without a hassle.