Finding Slab Leaks and Stopping Them

Do you hear the sound of running water even when no water is running in your home? Has it been a very long time since a plumber looked at your property? Here at T-Top Plumbing, with our decades of experience and state-of-the-art detection technology, we can find any active leak, no matter where it might be. Some of the most insidious and damaging leaks are slab leaks. Why? Because you may not notice them until they’ve already done damage to your property. But, we can help.

Slab Leak Damage

What kind of damage can a slab leak do? Well, for one, they can greatly undermine your foundation, making it (and consequently, the rest of your property) that much weaker. Additionally, they can truly take a toll on any hardwood floors, baseboards, & drywall you might have. Unfortunately, all too often, the first sign a homeowner has of a slab leak is when their water and gas bills go through the roof, so to speak. Think of it as someone forgetting to shut the faucet off and leaving a stream of water coming out 24 hours a day seven days a week. Left unrepaired, over time, these leaks can lead to mold in your walls, floors, and elsewhere. That can cause a true health hazard for anyone in your home.

How to Tell if You Have Slab Leaks

Beyond everything mentioned previously, another clear sign of a slab leak is a spot on your floor that feels excessively warm or even hot. Do you have pets that love to sit on the same spot on the floor recently? They are attracted to the warmth. If there’s an area of your carpet that’s inexplicably wet, or your hardwood floor Is starting to buckle. You may notice your linoleum flooring discolored and odd looking. If you notice anything in this section or above in your home, it’s worth reaching out to us. If there’s a problem, we can find it and fix it pronto.

How a Slab Leak Can Occur

Over time, soil shifts. Maybe not in a day, maybe not in a month, but over a lengthy period of time, shifting soil below your home’s slab (as well as the day-in-day out wear and tear on your home’s pipes) exerts greater pressure on the concrete. In response, concrete shifts and, eventually, cracks. In practically every home, that concrete slab connects, in certain places, with your home’s underground plumbing system. So, as the concrete moves, it damages your plumbing, loosening fittings, forming cracks, and, eventually, leaking. There’s also friction caused by water turbulence inside the piping where it bends and turns. Over time this friction will wear away your pipe much as the ocean wears down rocks. Once the pipe is worn away enough, the pressure inside your pipe (anywhere between 65 psi and 100 psi) will cause a slab leak to occur. They usually start out as a small pinhole, but left unrepaired, they can grow quickly and flood your home.

Pros to Fix Your Slab Leak and More

We don’t write the above to scare you. Rather, it’s to make you aware and to let you know how these kinds of leaks can be a problem. That said, we can be there to fix them. We’re always glad to look at your property, to figure out if there is a problem and, should we find one, how we can help. You can always reach us, 24/7/365. That way, we can always be there, literally, for our customers. You can reach us any time at (805) 467-0665.

Leak Detection: Where, Why, and How to Stop It

Are you worried that there might be a leak in your home but you aren’t sure where it is? Does it seem as if there’s a leak somewhere yet no matter what you do you just can’t find it? We understand how frustrating that can be. If there’s a slab, sewer, or other kinds of the leak, you obviously want to get it fixed as quickly as possible. However, you can’t do that if you aren’t sure where the leak is or, alternatively, don’t know even if there is a leak. That’s where we come in. Here at T-Top Plumbing, we utilize the very best in leak detection technology, so that we can let you know definitively if there is a leak, where it is, and how we can fix it.

Where Leaks Might Be
Most folks are aware of the most common places leaks might be in their homes: in the toilet area, under the sink, around the plumbing, and so forth. However, it’s entirely possible that you could have leaks in the walls, ceilings & water leaks in the slab beneath your home. Leaks that are hidden behind walls and under slab concrete are very difficult to find. We use the latest thermal imaging camera to assist in finding leaks in walls and under floors. That’s just one of the reasons why, when we inspect your property, between our three decades of experience plus the most advanced detection equipment, we can find a leak no matter where it might be.

Signs You May Have a Leak and Don’t Realize It
You know to call a plumbing company if you see a leak on your property, obviously, or if the walls are discolored. However, there are less commonly understood signs of a leak that could necessitate reaching out to us. For example, your water heat kicking on at odd off-hours. If you notice it doing so when there’s no hot water usage, that could be a significant sign that there’s a leak in your home’s foundation. Is your gas bill suddenly higher? Is there a musty smell that you can’t get rid of in a closet or a bathroom? Another: if your water bills have gotten much higher in a short period of time. We can find the leaks and fix them pronto.

How Our Leak Detection Can Help
For one, our process is as non-invasive as can be. Our experienced pros will use the best tech in the business to find any potential leak without leaving any sign that we were there (other than, of course, fixing your leak). By that same token, we’re always clear and upfront with the pricing. Dealing with a leak is hard enough: you shouldn’t be ambushed by surprise fees, either. We give you an accurate quote upfront always.

Beyond Detecting Leaks: Fixing Them
No one ever wants to have to deal with a leak. But, own a home in Southern California long enough, and they’re going to happen. We can make the detection and repair process as easy as possible. You can call us at any time, day or night, 24/7, and we’ll be there to find and fix any potential leaks. You can reach us at (805) 467-0665.

What Is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

Did you know that one of the most typical and most inexpensive repairs for your home may also be one of the most common? You read that correctly; trenchless sewage repair is a solution to mend the damaged sewer line that is cost-effective and does not need you to dig up your yard. Trenchless sewage repair is a procedure that allows you to mend your broken sewer line without having to make a large hole in your yard by using machines instead of digging trenches. These machines can go through the pipes already in place and utilize specialized tools, such as hydrocolloids, to repair any fractures or leaks they find. Do you have issues with the pipe that leads to the sewer? If this is your situation, you may be considering whether or not trenchless sewer repair is the best course of action for you. The following are some of the advantages of using trenchless technology to repair sewers, which may help you make your decision:

Trenchless Sewer Repair Is More Affordable Than Traditional Repairs
The sewage lines in our homes and businesses seldom cause us any difficulties, but when they do, it’s a major annoyance and frequently a significant financial burden. Trenchless sewage repair is a time- and money-saving alternative to regular sewer repairs, which a qualified plumber may do. Although trenchless technology has been available for many decades, many people are still unaware of its existence, even though it has grown more widespread in the last decade or two. When a camera is inserted into the pipe, it may be used to assess what repairs are needed.

Trenchless technology may be used to repair an issue if a camera can reach it. In order to get access to the pipe, it is not necessary to dig up the roadway or sidewalk. Additional savings are made by avoiding the need to replace plumbing that is too old or broken to repair. This implies that you’re less likely to end up with a more outstanding issue in the future since trenchless technology can spot problems sooner and more quickly than traditional approaches.

Trenchless Repairs Are Less Invasive and Cause Less Damage to Your Property
Trenchless sewage repair is much more convenient than typical repairs since they don’t need you to dig a massive hole in the ground. Instead, they employ modest access points close to the issue. In this manner, there are just a few minor holes that you need to fix after the repair is done. Repairs that do not need digging trenches are less disruptive to your property and do less harm. Digging won’t have to be done in your yard, driveway, or the street if you have minor access points. If your septic tank and drain field are still in good functioning order, you may also be able to maintain them in their current locations. If your septic tank has to be changed, employing this approach might save you money since it does not entail having the old one dug up and transported away.

Trenchless Repairs Are Faster and Cause Less Disruption to Your Daily Life
Repairs performed without digging trenches take less time and are less disruptive to everyday life. Most of the time, these jobs may be completed without digging a ditch or even rerouting the sewage line, representing significant savings in both time and money for the homeowner. The vast majority of the time, there will only be two sets of holes dug: the first will be used to run a camera through to determine the issue, and the second will be used to put a repair device through. One of the most beneficial aspects of trenchless sewer repair is that it enables repairs to be completed in a matter of hours rather than days. Repairs made without digging trenches are better for the environment than conventional procedures.

Trenchless Repairs Are More Reliable and Last Longer Than Traditional Repairs.
Trenchless sewage repair should be considered for several reasons, the most important of which is that it is more dependable and has a longer lifespan than conventional sewer repair methods. In the long run, traditional repair methods cost a great deal more time, money, and effort to complete. If the drainpipe was improperly placed when it was first constructed, or if it was damaged during the building or demolition process, then repairing it will postpone the repairs until it is injured again. Through trenchless technology, we can completely sidestep the trouble spot and ensure that the pipe will continue to function at its highest capacity for many years to come. Negative impacts on nearby buildings are mitigated or eliminated due to this factor.

Trenchless Technology Is Constantly Improving, Making It a More Viable Option for Homeowners Every Day.
Although trenchless technology has been used to build municipal sewage systems for a significant amount of time, it has only very lately been available to private consumers. The collection and delivery of sewage to treatment facilities is the responsibility of a sewer system, which consists of a network of pipes. It consists of significant lines that extend over considerable distances and lateral lines that branch out from the main lines and link to individual residences and commercial establishments. It is essential to dig up the ground in front of your house to replace or repair the pipe to either install a new lateral line or improve an existing one. This is done to establish a new lateral line or revise a current lateral line.

If you are experiencing any signs of sewer backup in your home, contact the T-Top Plumbing Company, Inc. at (805) 467-0665 for more.

What Are the Plumbing Benefits of Installing a Water Softener?

If you are a homeowner, have you considered purchasing and installing a water softener? In such a case, you may be curious about the advantages of doing so. The water flow in your pipes will be enhanced, and there will be minor wear and tear on your pipes overall if you consider installing a water softener. Continue reading this article if you are curious about the advantages of water softeners and want to learn more about them. We’ll go through some of the most compelling arguments for why you should consider getting one for your house.

A Water Softener Will Help Protect Your Pipes from Corrosion and Scaling

Lime, rust, and other sediments can build up over time in your plumbing, which can eventually lead to your pipes becoming clogged and even breaking. Because of this, you must do routine cleanings using a plumbing snake. However, lime and rust may also build up on your faucets and other fixtures, which makes cleaning not just a time-consuming and tedious chore but also a source of potential discomfort. And if you live in an area with hard water, the issue will be considerably more severe.

This may be avoided by installing a water softener, which eliminates the minerals in the water responsible for the build-up in the first place. Ion exchange is how it accomplishes this goal; the “hard” minerals in the water are exchanged for sodium, which softens the water, while the “soft” minerals are allowed to remain in the water. The result is simpler to clean with water, gentler on the digestive system to consume, and safer for the plumbing system in your home.

Installing A Water Softener Will Reduce the Amount of Lime Scale Build-Up in Your Pipes, Appliances, And Fixtures

The softener is a water tank with two separate chambers. The brine, or salt water, is stored in the first chamber. A second chamber houses the resin used to soften hardened metals. A chemical reaction occurs when the polish and brine are mixed. The hardness is reduced when this bubbling water directly touches your home’s tap water. Softeners remove calcium and magnesium from your water supply, so you don’t have to deal with the issues associated with high levels of hardness in your drinking water, which is why they are so popular. Typical incoming water contains roughly 150 grains per gallon (GPG), which falls into the moderately complex water category. If you live in an older house, the situation may be worse; the incoming water pressure can be as high as 300 GPG, which is extremely difficult to handle and leaves a lot of scale on your home’s fixtures and appliances. Most homes benefit from a GPG range of 2-6 when using softened water.

A Water Softener Can Improve the Taste and Smell of Your Water by Removing Chlorine and Other Contaminants

The plumbing in our homes is something that most of us do not give much thought to. It’s easy to forget that the water we drink, the water we bathe in, and the water we use to clean our clothes and dishes have all been filtered and treated to make it safe for human consumption and usage. Even though our systems are pretty effective, they cannot eliminate all toxins. The government establishes guidelines for the acceptable levels of specific contaminants in drinking water; nevertheless, these contaminants tend to build up over time. The most frequent are chlorine and other chemicals used as disinfectants for water delivery systems. These may give your water an unpleasant taste and odor.

It Helps to Keep Your Laundry Looking Brighter and Softer for Longer

A water softener may be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of improving your laundry experience. Everyone can agree that they want their laundry to remain bright and silky. A water softener’s benefits to your plumbing system are less well-known. A water softener may help prevent mineral build-up in your pipes by lowering the quantity of lime and other minerals in your water. Having a plumber clean obstructions in your kitchen or bathroom drains may be very time-consuming and expensive. However, built-in filters in some of the newer dishwashers and washing machines may not always operate as well as they should. You won’t have to worry about spots or etching on your plates, glasses, or cups when you wash your dishes or clothing with a water softener, no matter what appliance you use.

You’ll Have Softer Skin and Hair from Using Less Harsh Chemicals in Your Bathing Water.
Because it is easier on the body, drinking water with a low mineral content is preferable for maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. It will take you less time to lather up with soap in the shower since you will be using less of it, and in the process, you will find that you are becoming cleaner. You’ll also find that you need to use less shampoo each time you wash your hair, which will save you money in the long run by lowering the amount of build-up that occurs on your scalp and, as a result, the amount of dandruff and other issues that are connected with dry skin and hair. If you soak in your home’s bathtub or swimming pool regularly, your skin will become more supple and less prone to irritation from chemicals such as chlorine.

With that being said, if you need to install a water softener, it’s always advisable to see a skilled plumber. For your circumstance, they’ll be able to examine it and advise you what kind of water conditioner is most suited to your demands and how much it will cost. In general, they’re the finest resource for everything having to do with water purification. T-Top Plumbing Company, Inc. may be reached at (805) 467-0665 if it seems like something you’d be interested in.