Water is essential for life to thrive; however, there are times it causes problems like when it leaks from damaged pipes. If left undetected, it may cause water damage and other issues that affect your and your family’s health, safety, and finances.
Water leak detection and prevention is something homeowners should learn and practice. Identifying the source of water leakage in your home will help you take corrective measures before they get worse.
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Common Causes of Leaking Water
Most of the time, plumbing systems work smoothly. However, it may encounter problems from time to time. Often, these problems begin with leaks.
A leak may seem insignificant and easy to ignore, but it will make itself known. If you ignore a leak long enough, it will start leaving cracks and stains on your walls or ceilings and cause mold to grow. At this point, the damage is already irreversible and will take a lot of time, effort, and money to repair.
Some of the common causes of leaks include:
Weather
Forces of nature such as storms, hurricanes, and snowstorms can damage your Drainage Pipes. If you live in an area with extreme weather conditions, water leak detection is another thing to add to your list of things to do.
Storms bring water that shifts the ground, leading to cracks in your pipes where water can leak through. Hot summers may cause the ground surrounding your home to expand, affecting the foundations and bursting your pipes. Hot temperatures also dry out the soil and affect the strength of your pipe’s materials. The water in your pipes may freeze in winter, expand, and burst through.
Weatherproof your home and make sure your property has adequate drainage. Also, make sure to clean your gutters and downspouts regularly; dirt and debris may clog them up and cause water to build up and seep through your ceilings and walls.
HVAC Malfunctioning
A malfunctioning HVAC unit is another source of leaks and water damage in your home; it may have been incorrectly installed, or its drain pipes are clogged or damaged. Having expert contractors maintain your unit regularly will help prevent costly water leak repairs on the unit and the water damage the leaking water has caused. Knowing common HVAC problems also helps prevent leaks from happening.
Different Plumbing Issues
Plumbing problems are part of homeownership. Some are caused by aging fixtures and normal wear and tear. Sometimes, not having regular maintenance causes these problems to worsen, resulting in water leaks.
Knowing how to check for water leaks and other plumbing problems will help keep your system running longer. Have plumbers regularly maintain them to prevent minor problems from worsening.
How to Know if There’s a Leak
Early water leak detection reduces the damage water can cause and saves you money.
You might have a water leak on your property if you find:
A Spike in the Water Bill
Take a few bills from the past months and compare them; if you find your bill gradually increasing despite minimal changes to your water consumption habits, you might have a leak somewhere in your system.
Professional plumbers have the proper water leak detection tools and experience. Hire them to inspect your pipes and prevent leaks and other plumbing issues from happening.
Spots on Walls
If you see wet or darkened spots on the walls, they likely experienced water damage from a recent leak; these spots can take up to 24 hours to develop.
Call a professional plumber immediately as soon as you see these water spots. Consult them and have them check your plumbing for further damage or leakage.
Molds
Do you know what old and wet newspapers, magazines, and cardboard smell like? They smell musty and damp. Areas that smell like them might have mold growing somewhere behind the walls, ceilings, or underneath the floor.
Mold growth is another sign of water leaks and water damage. Molds multiply fast if left unattended and they can become a serious health risk. Excess moisture from a leak allows them to thrive. If you find them anywhere in your home, call for immediate water leak repair services.
Soggy Soil
Water leaks in a house don’t happen only inside; they also occur outdoors. Damaged water spigots may have some water seeping through them. Underground pipes may have also burst, making the ground around them soggy.
Tree roots may also pierce, damage, or burst your pipes; roots are always searching for water sources for nourishment, especially during warm weather. If you notice soggy soil on your property with a tree nearby, its roots have likely pierced the pipes, causing a leak.
Leaks are only the beginning. Don’t ignore them and consider having your plumbing maintained. Otherwise, your water leak might turn into water damage that will require the help of an Omaha water damage restoration company.
Detect a Water Leak with the Help of Professional Plumbers
A leak is perhaps the most common plumbing problem of every homeowner. Finding out the source of a leak is usually easy because often, the culprit is the bathroom or the kitchen faucet.
However, there are some leaks the cause of which is not easy to explain, as in the case of a pool of water in a corner room. In this scenario, you’ll need to call in a plumber because it’s possible that the leak has something to do with your water line. The problem could be complicated, and plumbers are the people who can best handle it.
It’s good to be knowledgeable on the things that can lead to leaks in the house. If the problem is simple enough, you could probably do a quick repair. However, if the leaky issue can be traced to your water pipes or the drainage system, then perhaps it’s better if you refer this to a skilled plumber.
