What is Slab Leak Detection?
Slab leaks typically occur when the piping beneath your concrete foundation deteriorates, resulting in pinhole leaks in your plumbing. The four main causes for slab leaks are a chemical interaction between the pipes and the water running through them, foundation shifting, high water pressure, or poor plumbing craftsmanship or workmanship (inferior supplies or materials, a kinked line, a line nicked by another (non-plumbing) workman, etc.).
Homes in Rio Grande Valley built on concrete slabs are vulnerable to shift, particularly when there isn’t much rain. If the soil moves too much, plumbing lines can develop leaks.
You may need leak detection if:
- Water bill increases for no apparent reason
- Hear the sound of water running when no taps are open
- Visible foundation cracks
- Warm spots on slab floors
- Discolored or damp floor coverings
- Smell bad odors coming from floors or walls
How ePIPE works (English)
How ePIPE works (Spanish)
How ePIPE can save you money
The ePIPE® Solution?
ePIPE® provides a permanent solution for plumbing system failures such as pinhole and slab leaks, corrosion, low water flow, and lead/copper contaminants. ePIPE is an affordable, effective, and permanent alternative to an ordinary re-pipe. The patented ePIPE process is non-disruptive and restores your pipes in-place.
A number of factors can work alone or in combination to affect the rate of corrosion in any piping system. Depending on the number and degree of these factors, even a new piping system can show signs of corrosive wear in a few as two years after installation. Even the highest quality water source can cause some of these problems in your piping system.
- Lead/Copper Contaminants: Corrosion causes lead and copper contaminants to leach into your drinking water.
- Pinhole Leaks / Failing Copper: These minuscule leaks in your pipes can cause major damage such as mold and water damage to your floor, ceiling or walls.
- Discolored Water: Many people attribute brown water to the water source, when in fact the water entering their home is clean. Rust in their pipes is contaminating their water.
- Low Water Flow / Encrusted Galvanized: Poor or lower flow than normal is also a telltale sign that there may be a problem in your piping system
How ePIPE® works
1. Air Drying of Pipes
Air hoses are connected to the piping system. The isolated system is then dried with preheated, filtered air.
2. Corundum Cleaning
The dried pipes are cleaned using an air and sand mixture that sandblasts the inside surface of the pipes. The cleaning process prepares the internal pipe surface for proper bonding of the epoxy.
3. Epoxy Coating Applied
The final stage of the ePIPE process is the application of the epoxy lining to the system. Once the coating is cured the pipes are reassembled, flushed and pressure tested. The finished product provides a “new pipe within a pipe” protecting your water supply from leaching lead and leaks.
Benefits
No Wall Damage
The patented ePIPE® process restores your pipes without the mess and expense of a repipe.
Cost Effective
Because there is no need to destroy walls, ceilings, or floors, you save a significant amount of money in reconstruction costs.
Better Than New
The ePIPE® process is quiet and unlike a repiping construction job, ePIPE® restoration takes place within the pipe.
Improved water flow
Significant buildup of corrosion or pinhole leaks can cause low water flow. The ePIPE® process gives you the flow your system was intended to deliver.
Clean Water
No more brown water or discoloration. No more lead or copper contamination. ePIPE® provides a safe, clean, epoxy-lined piping system.
