Fast Plumbing Answers: Soft Spots in Flooring

Your bathroom floor feels more like a sponge than hardwood. There’s a “squishy section” of your kitchen tile. Soft spots in flooring feel dangerous to walk on- but what’s causing them? There’s definitely a moisture issue, and you need to find the leak before more damage occurs.

Don’t worry: we’ll answer all your questions in 2 minutes or less.

We’re Mother, a Dallas-Fort Worth plumbing company that provides dependable, hassle-free modern plumbing for homeowners who value quality. Call us 7 days a week for non-invasive leak detection and repair services, and lasting solutions that deliver peace of mind.

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Soft Spots in Flooring Are Caused by Water Damage

“Those soft, spongy spots in your floorboards are a sign of water damage,” says our Journeyman Plumber Dillon Ashton.

When moisture gets into your subfloor, it weakens the plywood. This provides less stability underfoot, leading to that spongy sensation when you walk across the flooring above it.

Dillon suggests hiring a trusted local plumber for leak detection services. Most issues driving your specific problem can be located with pinpoint accuracy using acoustic detection, electronic detection and plumbing camera inspections.

5 Most Common Causes of Soft Spots in Floorboards

It’s safe to assume your spongy flooring is caused by a water leak- but that doesn’t help identify the precise source of your water infiltration issue.

When water enters your floorboards, it’s usually coming from one of these 5 places:

1. Leaky appliances or fixtures
2. Cold water (freshwater) line leaks
3. Hot water pipe leaks
4. Hidden appliance line leaks
5. Underground slab leaks

Leaky appliances or fixtures

Dillon explains that any water-using appliance poses the potential to create soft spots in your floor.

“It could be a toilet, sink, tub, dishwasher, anything,” he says.

Look for leaks near the base of these appliances- for example, a wobbly toilet or a leak under the fridge. Compromised areas closest to your subfloor are more likely to create moisture infiltration.

Don’t limit your search for appliance leaks to the affected room or area. A faulty appliance on the other side of a shared wall can also leak water into adjacent flooring.

Freshwater line leaks

Leaks in your cold water line commonly occur in your walls, and where the main water line branches into your home towards appliances. 

If you don’t see or smell mold, gently place a hand on the affected section of your floor. If it’s cool to the touch, you’re likely dealing with a freshwater pipe leak.

A telltale sign of cold water leaks in your home is the appearance of damp cracks in your walls- especially near the floor.

Hot water pipe leaks

If you touch the soft area in your floor and feel a warm spot, you have a hot water pipe leak. 

Your hot water pipes lead to appliances that require frequent hot water delivery. These include your shower, washing machine, hot water heater and some dishwasher models. Leaks in these pipes generally affect areas close to these appliances.

Hidden appliance line leaks

Direct appliance lines that travel underneath the first floor of your home can infiltrate water into your subfloor. It’s tougher to notice these leaks- unlike cracked pipes in your walls, there are less visible warning signs.

Damaged appliance lines are particularly troublesome because they’re right next to the subfloor. There’s nowhere for leaking water to travel but directly into the floor system.

Underground slab leaks

If your home sits on a concrete slab foundation, underground pipe leaks can penetrate your home’s structure and add moisture to the floorboards.

When a burst pipe near your slab fully saturates the soil, the excess water seeps into natural pockets in your porous concrete. This water travels upwards to the subfloor.

If your home shows no other signs of water damage, ask your plumber for non-invasive yard leak detection options to find the source.

Need fast Dallas slab leak detection and repair service? Call Mother 7 days a week and we’ll have an experienced tech at your home within 24 hours.

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Find the Right Water Leak Detection Option for Your Problem

If water infiltration leads to soft spots in your flooring, you need immediate water leak detection services from a licensed plumber.

Different leak detection service options are best for specific locations and areas of your home (and backyard). Most leaks that cause soft floorboards are best detected in 3 ways:

1. Acoustic leak detection
2. Electronic leak detection
3. Plumbing camera inspections

Let’s look at each of these 3 service options, and the best use cases for each.

Acoustic leak detection

This service uses highly-sensitive microphones to pick up sound waves from leaking water underground. These high-frequency waves are amplified to analyze patterns and direction. The sound is triangulated to determine the exact location of your leak.

Best for: 

• Pipe leaks in your walls
• Appliance line leaks under your flooring
• Underground pipe and slab leak detection

Electronic leak detection

Electronic leak detection is similar to acoustic leak detection, except it relies on electrical signals to identify a leak.

An electronic leak detector senses changes in conductivity due to the presence of water. This allows it to find wet areas underground surrounded by dry soil — a telltale sign of leakage.

Best for:

• Underground pipe and slab leak detection

Plumbing camera inspection

Expect a main line or sewer camera inspection with every professional leak detection appointment. A small high-quality camera is sent into your pipes via a flexible cable, and produces real-time images of any issues within the pipe system.

Visual confirmation of your leak’s precise location is a great final step to assess your repair options. It’s also a crucial tool in your quest to get repairs covered or reimbursed.

Best for:

• All pipe and slab leak detection service appointments

We’re proud of our 5-star Dallas plumbing camera inspection service. Read more about Mother’s best-in-DFW camera inspection process.

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3 Pro Tips While You Wait for Your Plumber

Dillon recommends that homeowners who notice soft spots in their floorboards take 3 specific steps to minimize current water damage in their flooring and enhance their safety:

If your floor is spongy, stop walking on that section immediately

Adding pressure to a soft spot in your floor only accelerates the damage. Don’t walk across the affected section of your floorboards- you’ll limit the rate of deterioration, and avoid putting a foot through your floor.

“The wood may give way if it’s weakened enough,” Dillon warns. 

Any moveable furniture or decor should be removed from the soft spots as well. Place sofas, chairs, tables or moveable accessories to a stable area of the room.

Notice a musty smell in your floorboards? It’s a sign of mold or mildew growth- learn how to protect your home and health in our fast guide.

Turn off the water to potential trouble areas

“If you notice an active leak, shut off the water to that fixture right away,” Dillon suggests. 

Example: If you think there’s a leak near your shower or toilet, turn off the water to the bathroom.

Even if you aren’t entirely sure where your leak is located, there’s no harm in guessing wrong and turning off water to any potential problem spots in your home.

Call a contractor to assess the flooring damage (and stability)

A licensed general contractor is able to properly inspect and resolve issues related to water damage and soft spots in your floorboards.

“A contractor is able to assess the damage to your floor,” Dillon says. “They can also advise whether it’s safe to walk on.”

Call Mother for Advanced Leak Detection in Dallas, TX

Soft spots in your flooring are a surefire sign of water damage from a leak. This leak is likely located in a faulty fixture, a freshwater pipe, or a leak underneath your slab foundation.

Modern plumbing companies offer non-invasive leak detection services to find the issue with pinpoint accuracy. Methods like acoustic leak detection and camera inspections involve zero property damage- no opening walls, tearing up floors or digging in your yard.

A water leak is stressful enough- Dallas residents call Mother for peace of mind. Stress-free scheduling, pinpoint leak detection, and lasting solutions you can trust.

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