Some parts of a home’s piping are covered by concrete, as in the case of concrete floor in the bathroom that hides water and drainage pipes. Unlike with leaks in visible water pipes, leaks that occur in pipes that are located under concrete can be very hard to diagnose.
(Pixabay / Mapaalo)
Most of the water leaks that happen inside the house are easy to detect. If the water leak occurs inside walls or in the ceiling of the house, there are telltale indicators, including wet spots on the walls or ceilings. Repairing these water leaks can be difficult because it requires tearing down walls and ceilings. Major damages could be prevented if the leaks are spotted early.
Leaks under concrete floorings or in concrete walls are harder to detect. As a first line of defense, keep your eye open for wet spots on the concrete. Some people do not expect to see a wet spot caused by a water leak under concrete because of the mistaken notion that concrete is solid. Concrete is actually porous enough that it can be permeated by water. When there is a water leak under or behind a concrete floor or wall, it will eventually create a wet spot.
Repairing a water leak that has occurred beneath concrete is not a DIY project for a homeowner. It usually requires the services of a professional. If the pipes are embedded in shallow concrete, the experts will have to slowly chip away the concrete cover until the water pipe is exposed. Only then can a repair be made. If the water pipe is embedded in thick concrete, it may require the use of a jackhammer to break down the concrete and expose the water pipe. After the repair of the water leak, the concrete will need to be fixed, too.
If you live in Utah and suspect a leak in your home underneath a concrete floor or wall, call the professionals at a reputable Utah Plumbing Company.