Water Damage From a Slab Leak?

With the onset of Summer comes seasonal temperature swings that can cause rapid contraction and expansion of plumbing pipes, leading to potentially devastating water damage from a slab leak.

Depending on the type of flooring in your home, slab leaks can often go unnoticed for some time, allowing water damage to spread and affect more than just the floor itself – oftentimes saturating walls and damaging cabinetry. This slow-developing type of water damage can cause thousands of dollars in damage if left unchecked and not mitigated immediately by a professional flood restoration or water damage professional.

As is the case in any type of water damage, early detection and quick response are the keys to limiting damage to your home. Slab leaks may manifest themselves in different ways. A hot-water slab leak will create pockets of temperature change that may be noticeable to the touch. If you are experiencing a drop in water pressure at your faucets, take a barefoot stroll around your home and take note of any warm spots in the floor.

Hot flooring is a sure indicator that a hot water supply pipe may have cracked in your slab and is leaking moisture. Other signs to monitor include sagging or raised floorboards, mysterious staining, dark lines along floorboard joints, soggy carpet, cracked or loose tiles, or pooling water. If you suspect you may have a slab leak, the first step is to call a plumbing company that specializes in leak detection to perform a pressure test and locate the source and location of the leak.

Your next call immediately after should be to a Flood Restoration or Water Damage Company that specializes in mitigating the harmful effects of water damage. While your first thought may be to dig up your insurance agent’s number, it is generally in your best interests to wait until the source of loss and extent of damage is determined by a plumber and a flood restoration specialist.

Immediately filing an insurance claim when the damage may be minimal and monetarily less than your deductible amount results in an insurance claim being permanently added to your insurance record. Much like your credit score, having an insurance record with too many claims can be detrimental and puts you at risk of being dropped by your carrier.

Allow a plumber to confirm the source of the leak, and a water damage technician to assess the damage. This way, a specialized flood professional is there to help you determine if the damage is extensive and if it is in your best interests to file a claim. Now you have someone experienced in the ways of the insurance industry to help guide you through the insurance process and coach you in speaking with a claims representative to ensure your losses are covered by insurance.

Regardless of the size of the damaged area, immediate mitigation techniques should be deployed to at least cease the spread of damage and prevent mold from growing. Gold Coast Flood Restorations is a San Diego local family-owned and operated water damage and mold remediation company which has been assisting San Diegans with their water damage problems for more than 25 years. Our friendly and experienced technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you assess water damage to your home and help you on your way to a quick, thorough, and efficient restoration process.

Whether the damage is minor or severe, we are there for you every step of the way, and can work directly with your insurance carrier on your behalf, while keeping your best interests in mind – something the corporate insurance-preferred vendors who work for the insurance companies cannot claim. The insurance companies may want to force their big guns on you, but remember that in the State of California, you as the homeowner have the right to choose who performs work on your house – whether it’s a corporate franchise or your local specialists – the choice is up to you, not your insurance carrier.

It is important to be cognizant of water damage in your own home. If you do experience or suspect a problem, give Gold Coast Flood Restorations a call today at 619-449-9611 and don’t let water damage ruin your home!