No one wants to deal with a foundation leak. It can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home if it goes undetected for a long period. Even if you catch the leak early enough it can still lead to costly repairs. Any type of leak should be taken seriously but a foundation leak needs to be dealt with immediately. Simply examining the foundation of your home a couple times per year can save you thousands of dollars in repairs. Let’s take a look at how you can find a foundation leak and what our plumbers can do to fix it in Mesquite, TX.
Conduct a Water Test
One of the best ways to find a leak in your foundation is by conducting a water test. This is done by using your garden hose to spray water along the foundation of your home outside. It can take a couple minutes for the water to saturate the ground and then seep into the concrete walls. This could very well take an hour or more to complete, especially if you do not find the leak right off the bat. Simply enter the basement and try to see where the water is coming in from so you can pinpoint the problem spot.
Look for Efflorescence
Another tip for finding a foundation leak is to look for efflorescence in the basement. Efflorescence is a white, powdery substance that appears on unfinished basement walls where there is water present. This substance grows when water evaporates, leaving the minerals and the salt behind on the walls. Efflorescence is harmless to your health but is a sign of a foundation leak or standing water problem.
Examine the Tack Strip
Is there carpet installed in your basement? If so, you can check for a foundation leak by examining the tack strip. This is done by choosing an innocuous area of the carpet, such as in a corner, and pulling up the carpet. Pull the carpet and the padding up far enough where you can see the floor beneath it and the tack strip.
If there is water damage you will notice discoloration on the underside of the padding and the tack strip will either look rotten or discolored. You might also find rust underneath the carpet. Performing this test might also tell you where the water is entering the home through the foundation.
Water Along the Perimeter
If you notice water along the perimeter of the concrete floor in the basement it is a sure sign of a foundation issue. This is not necessarily a leak as it is more likely water coming up through the floor. Since it is known as a perimeter leak the water will almost always be present where the floor and the wall meet. It is very hard to find the point of entry using a water test when you have a perimeter leak.
Presence of Mold or Mildew
Quite possibly the most common sign of a foundation leak is when you come across the presence of mold or mildew. Mold is not always the sign of a foundation leak. If the basement has a humidity problem that has not been controlled mold will develop. An undetected foundation leak will also lead to mold if left alone long enough. Mold can appear in tiny green or dark spots on the ceiling, drywall, or foundation.
Fixing the Foundation Leak
Depending on whether or not your basement is finished will go a long way in determining how to repair the foundation leak that has been discovered. If there are areas of the basement that are unfinished and you’ve found visible cracks, you can repair those cracks to prevent water from entering through them.
Make sure you clean the cracks using a brush and an air pump so that all of the dirt is removed. You can then fill the cracks with either concrete or epoxy resin. The material you use all depends on the size of the cracks. If the cracks are large, they will need to be filled with concrete. Epoxy resin can be used to fill small cracks.
Always Contact a Plumber
Any type of leak in your home should be dealt with as soon as possible. The same can be said for a foundation leak, even if it is affecting your unfinished basement. The presence of water can lead to mold. Call the experienced team at Metroplex Leak & Line Locators in Mesquite, TX today to schedule an appointment for service.
Shutting Off Water Service
It’s important to shut off the water service to the affected pipe so that no more water leaks into the yard where the plumber has to perform the repairs. Once the area dries from the latest leak the plumber will be able to begin the digging process.
Digging to Find the Source
The first thing the plumber will do is begin digging in your yard close to wear the water or sewage is pooling with the hopes that this is where the source of the leak is located. Heavy equipment might be needed for the digging if the pipes are buried deep enough in the ground. If not, a simple trench to uncover the pipes could be dug using a shovel.
Replacing the Broken Pipe
The pipe causing the leak in your yard might need to be replaced in a small section or entirely. It depends on how bad the damage is to the pipe. A tree root could have broken through the pipe, causing the leak. Or, there could be a clog in the pipe that has led to water backing up onto the yard.
Restoring the Yard
The final step in fixing a yard plumbing leak is to restore the yard. The plumber will refill the hole with the dirt dug out of it and some other dirt fill brought to your home. You can then put down either new grass seed or sod over the area.
Do you have water pooling in your yard and it’s not because of rain? You likely have a yard plumbing leak that should be repaired immediately. Call the experienced team at Metroplex Line & Leak Locators at 214-388-4525 to schedule an appointment for service today.
