Here are a few questions that commercial space owners ask us on a regular basis:
- What’s the most expensive commercial plumbing problem that can be found during an inspection?
- Are there any commercial plumbing issues that can severely endanger the foundation of my building?
- Why do commercial plumbers always check out basements and crawlspaces?
The answer to all of these questions is the notorious “slab leak.”
Commercial plumbing in Boynton Beach, FL is fairly simple when things are in good shape. We can ensure drains are not clogged, appliances are running, and no water is being wasted. We’ll fix leaks and even repipe a whole establishment. That’s the easy part.
The hard part of our job is when we encounter a building’s foundation that is in desperate need for repairs. This problem is called a “slab leak,” and it can be expensive to repair, as well as a necessary cost to keep your structure standing.
What Is a Slab Leak?
The foundation of your building is made out of cinderblocks, concrete, or even stone that’s potentially reinforced with other materials. Its sole purpose is to keep the building upright and standing strong for the next 100 years or more. When something happens to this foundation, the whole building can begin to bend, buckle, and crumble. It’s really no wonder why slab leaks are such bad news, they’re risking the whole foundation of your building!
Slab leaks occur when water starts seeping into the cracks of your building’s foundation. Eventually, over countless months or years, the cracks will expand and your foundation will begin to buckle. Your building’s slab could even start to slump to one side, split in half, or even start growing mold depending on where the slab leak is taking place. Basically, slab leaks are never good no matter how small or large they are.
Water Can Be Bad News
This kind of problem might not sound that bad on the surface. What’s wrong with water seeping into my building’s foundation? It’s just water.
Water is known for its erosion properties. Depending on the pH level of the water (the acidity) and other factors, it will wear away at your building’s foundation over time. By exchanging ions, seeping into new cracks, and removing particles as new water enters, it’s really only a matter of time before your foundation starts to crumble.
Commercial Slab Leaks Can Be Worse Than Residential Ones
The reason why we’re focusing on commercial slab leaks today is that they can be far worse than residential ones. Not only are commercial foundations much larger than residential ones, but they can also be the foundation for a lot of people, not just a single-family or home. If your restaurant or shopping center is built on a foundation that potentially has a slab leak, all of those businesses could be at risk for a variety of problems that come with this slab leak. When more people are affected and more costs are involved, it’s usually a much more intense problem for our clients.
