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The Water Leaking Under The Driveway Pavers Has Been Repaired In The Past Three Months. Why Does It Need Repairing Again?
After having a plumbing team fix your dripping taps, water lines, water leaks, or a burst pipe in your house, especially in your crawl space where it’s often ignored or where you’ll need water leak detection services and leak detection specialists, are you wondering as property owners why you need those exact plumbing needs looked into again? Of course, the need won’t come up overnight. You will find indicators telling you of unknown leaks or leaking water pipes and high water meter readings, and your water bill will skyrocket.
Even with low water usage in the house, when the water bill comes, and it’s high— you’re most likely looking at a new hidden leak or another problem in your plumbing again. And it could be the same water leaks you thought were already fixed.
Is it the same plumbing issue again after recently having them fixed and paying for the plumbing work? It could be.
But don’t worry about those leaks in your property. With a trusted licensed plumber to provide you with the best solution and valuable information and help you with a cost-effective, fast, and friendly service, you won’t be having the same problem again. Believe it or not, you’re not alone in your situation.
This was the situation that Amy from Robina found herself in just before the New Year when she called us about a leak in her driveway.
Amy and her husband bought a lovely home in a quiet little street in Robina, Gold Coast. The home is near schools, sporting events at the Cbus Super Stadium, and the Robina Town Centre for fantastic shopping and services.
Robina experienced a property development boom in the mid-1980s, around the time Amy’s home was built.
The ’80s were a boom time for things like the Sony Walkman. Our phone cords stretched for meters through our homes to get some privacy to talk to our “crush” without our parents or siblings overhearing us. ALF was on TV, and E.T. was at the movies. MTV introduced shock jocks, and Apple Macintosh became a fixture in many homes.
Golf course developers became overnight millionaires by enticing Japanese investment dollars.
Let’s not forget the many half-arsed builders of the time whose motto was “Greed is good”. These builders were crooked as a butcher’s hook and did their best to rip off as much as they could from unsuspecting homeowners. It’s no surprise that issues like slab leaks, water seeping through walls, or pooling water often crop up in homes they slap together, with little care for the consequences.
Don’t get me wrong; not all builders were like this. Many built quality homes and put their customers before profit here on the Gold Coast. Sadly, these decent builders were decidedly outnumbered by the fly-by-night builders who made a quick killing and closed shop before regulators could take action against them. Problems such as a burst water pipe beneath a concrete driveway or water leakage that starts as just a trickle can often be traced back to their shortcuts. They ignored proper acoustic and thermal technology or failed to properly connect an existing pipe, leaving homeowners with repair bills that could have been avoided.
The reality is that tens of thousands of homes on the Gold Coast have been built like this, and ultimately, the homeowner suffers the consequences and cost. You see, the builder doesn’t make the entire home. They subcontract the work to other specialty trades like painters, plasterers, tilers, plumbers, and electricians. Sometimes, the builder may not build anything at the property and subbie out everything. The builder makes a profit by comparing the construction cost and the sale price to the client. Every cent saved during the construction phase is a profit to the builder. This often leads to skipping essential measures such as using proper thermal technology or hiring reliable tradespeople, leaving homeowners to deal with long-term issues like slab leaks or faulty plumbing.
As a local Gold Coast plumber, one of the most common plumbing problems we see is the shortcuts undertaken during the construction of homes. There can be a broken water main, which can turn into huge hassles but neglected. Pipes were installed incorrectly, and water fell back to the fixture instead of flowing to the central council sewer drain. Or water lines buried under the builder’s rubble with bricks, roof tiles, and metal found amongst the materials used to backfill the trenches.
In the case of Amy’s home in Robina, the main water pipe supplying the home was installed just a few centimetres below the concrete slab and was so shallow that it touched the driveway pavers lying directly above.
Three months before the Gold Coast Plumbing Company attended, Amy had another plumber repair a water leak under the driveway on a sunny and dry day. As the pipe was shallow and directly under the pavers, they quickly found the leaking pipe and replaced a small section. However, this was never a long-term solution to the problem. These few drops or this small water leak would become a bigger problem.
You see, holes were developing along the entire length of the pipe. Mainly, where the vehicles drove in and out of the garage, the pavers made contact with the water pipe. It’s noteworthy
One of my favourites was back in November of 2016 when we replaced the entire length of the pipe under a driveway without cutting concrete for Michael and his family in Worongary.
Our solution to repair the water leak was one of three, and Michael selected the option that avoided cutting the driveway concrete completely.
In the present case, we provided some information and options to Amy so that she could make an informed decision that would suit her plans for the future of her home.
To prevent unnecessary future callouts from repairing the leaking pipe, it was decided that the best option was to replace the entire waterline under the driveway.
We would install the new waterline in a deeper dug trench, thereby removing it from contact with the driveway pavers entirely. The trench would then be backfilled with material to prevent damage from rocks and foreign objects in the ground.
Once we completed the plumbing fixtures, it was easy to pop the pavers back in place, leaving the property looking like there had never been a water leak affecting the water bill and a pipeline replaced at Amy’s home.
Amy from Robina is sure there will be no more underground water leaks requiring leak detection and more plumbing work. There will be no more stressing out about major water leaks coming from under a concrete slab. Nor will there be any unnecessary costs for water line repairs. Amy also has the peace of mind that the work done on concealed leaks is backed by Gold Coast Plumbing Company’s Lifetime Workmanship Warranty. So, if she has another problem, she can always call us.
Are you struggling with a broken water main? Do you notice any water stains on your property? Suspect a concealed leak or water leaks around the house, causing your high water bill and high water meter monthly reading. Do you have a low water pressure or a leaking toilet? Leave your plumbing problems to us, and let’s limit the water lost! You have high water bills, whether you need a water meter installed to help you manage your water usage or see slowly dripping taps, damp patches, and water stains. You’re noticing other signs of water leaks and leaking pipes, or you need hot water system maintenance, your new hot water systems are installed, water tanks are installed, or your toilet bowl is clogged. The inside of your toilet cistern isn’t working— you can rely on our expert plumbers! We also have gas fitters available 24 hours a day for gas plumbing emergencies. Let’s prevent leaks and water loss and keep your property in good condition. Suspect leaks on your property? Reach out to us today and call us on 1300 792 041.
