Do You Think You Have a Broken Drain Pipe Under Your Slab?
Broken drain pipes
Pipe problems can be a matter of ‘out of sight, out of mind’, particularly when it comes to pipes running under concrete slabs. These are completely inaccessible form the surface, which means that by the time a problem becomes obvious, a significant amount of damage has already been done.
For this reason, it’s worth knowing some of the early warning signs of a drain pipe broken under slab. One of the earliest signs of any drainage system problem is an unexplained spike in your water bill, which suggests a leak from a damaged or degraded pipe somewhere on your property. It’s a sign to look out for indicators of where the leak could be located.
A big warning sign is water pooling around the perimeter of the slab. You may also be able to hear the water running above the slab, even when all taps are turned off.
Finding a broken drain pipe
If you’re reasonably confident that you’ve got a leaking pipe under your concrete slab, the next step is to find out where. In these situations, locating the source of the problem can be a challenge. For this reason calling an expert is probably the best course of action. An experienced plumber will have the equipment needed to locate the problem from ground.
Fixing a broken pipe under slab
Once the location of the problem has been identified, it’s time to get it fixed. Thankfully, there are ways to repair a broken drain pipe under slab, but it’s important to know that this is a task best left to a qualified drainage technician. Access to this type of piping is extremely difficult without the right tools, equipment and expertise.
Depending on the specific situation, it may be possible to take a ‘no dig’ approach to pipe repair. Also known as pipe relining, this procedure essentially creates a new pipe inside the old one, without having to directly access it.
In cases where relining is not suitable, you may need a pipe replacement. This tends to be highly disruptive to your property as it means opening up the slab. If done well, though, it has the benefit of giving you a totally new pipe that should last a very long time.
In any case, it’s essential to have the problem assessed by a drainage specialist as soon as you notice a problem. Left unaddressed, it will almost certainly become worse over time and require even more costly repairs in the long term.
Call the pipe professionals
DrainPro’s qualified drainage technicians are fully equipped to diagnose broken pipes in hard-to-reach locations, including under concrete, and will fix the problem effectively. To speak to our team about pipe repair or replacement, call us on 1300 620 273 or use our online form.