Scheduling and carrying out foundation repairs can be an expensive and stressful experience. The worst-case scenario following foundation repair is discovering that the work ruptured a plumbing line, leading to a higher risk of additional damage in the future, excessive utility bills, and the potential for flooding and water damage in your home. In two words, neglecting to test your plumbing after foundation repair can result in massive headaches down the line. Below, plumbing experts from Mr. Blue Plumbing will discuss what a hydrostatic test is and the top three reasons you need one following foundation repair
What is a Hydrostatic Test?
A hydrostatic test is a diagnostic that professional plumbers frequently use to test the integrity of plumbing pipes. The test is usually done by filling the pipe or plumbing system to be tested completely with water, removing any air from the lines, and then using a high-powered compressor to increase the pressure above what would typically occur in the system. Since the pressure on your plumbing spikes to about 1 1/2 times what it usually would be during use, the plumber can identify any loss of pressure that indicates a leak, any weak points in the pipes that could lead to leaking in the near future, and total pipe breaks. Although the breaks identified under the high pressure will damage your system, it’s always better and cheaper to discover the leaks in a controlled environment rather than unexpectedly in the middle of the night.
Why Do you Need One After Foundation Repair?
Foundation repair often involves a lot of movement around your concrete foundation. Depending on the repair you need, you might have machinery excavating around the exterior, a repair specialist using power tools to grind down parts of the concrete, or drilling through portions of the foundation.
Plumbing lines running through your slab or foundation wall can be disrupted by the erratic movement and vibrations during the repair. A hydrostatic test will confirm that the plumbing is sound and will work reliably once service is restored.
1. It Helps Avoid Additional Foundation Damage
According to Mr. Blue Plumbing’s office in Greensboro, one of the most important benefits of a hydrostatic test is that it helps you avoid additional foundation issues. You schedule foundation repair because of a problem beneath your house, most often due to saturation of expansive soil on your property from runoff. Unfortunately, the repair work can rupture a plumbing line and leave water leaking into the soil directly under your foundation. The result is a severe risk of further foundation damage from differential settling. A hydrostatic test will ensure all pipes are in working order and not at risk of leaks that could cause future complications.
2. It Helps Avoid Flooding
Plumbing leaks in your foundation routinely go unnoticed for weeks or even months because the water first accumulates beneath your concrete. Flooding can occur over time if the ground gets fully saturated and the water has no place left to drain. Flooding caused by a plumbing leak in your foundation is especially common in areas where heavy rains are expected, like North Carolina. During hurricane season, hurricanes and tropical storms bring intense rainfall that already has trouble soaking into the ground quickly enough.
When the rain falls on soil that is already saturated from a plumbing leak, it’s more likely to back up into your house. This can lead to severe flooding that causes significant property damage and mold growth.
3. It helps Avoid Massive Water Bills
When foundation repair ruptures a water line in your slab or concrete wall, the damage can range anywhere from a small leak that drips slowly to a complete pipe break and a heavy leak. Depending on the severity, that leak could end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in wasted water on your water bill. According to the EPA, common leaks in a household can waste up to 1,000 gallons a year, so you can imagine how much water a more significant leak would waste. Plumbing leaks in your foundation can double or even triple your standard water bill, but a hydrostatic test after foundation repair will help avoid these unnecessary expenses.
4. If Keeps Your Home Safe From Gas Leaks
Finally, a hydrostatic test after foundation repair can prevent gas leaks in your home., thereby reducing the risk of fire and explosion. Hydrostatic tests can be performed on gas lines as well as water lines, and a test is highly recommended after foundation repair if your gas line runs through or near your foundation. In many municipalities, a hydrostatic test on your gas line is mandatory because of the dangers of gas leaks.
Wrapping Up: Why a Hydrostatic Test After Foundation Repair Is Useful
Discovering foundation damage and going through the trouble of scheduling a structural engineer and a repair team — not to mention paying thousands for the work — is stressful enough. Adding a significant plumbing leak on top of that once your foundation issue is fixed probably the last thing you want. Luckily, a hydrostatic test post foundation repair can help detect any problems that came about during your repair and avoid future issues by stress-testing the pipes. The peace of mind you’ll get from knowing your pipes are in good working order is almost always worth the small investment to have the diagnostic done.
