Many people wonder: “What causes leaks in your house?” Leaks waste water, cause damage to your house, and encourage unwanted organic growth. Unfortunately, most pipework isn’t visible to the homeowner. Luckily, you can prepare for unexpected events by understanding what causes leaks. Listed below are some of the most common causes of water leaks in your house. To fix a leak, first check to see if it’s the source of an existing leak.
Water leaks are the result of pinholes in the plumbing system or small failures in the exterior materials. Water will find the quickest path to the ground, which is usually through the framing of walls. A moisture meter will help you determine if you’re dealing with a leak. You can also use an infrared camera to check behind walls or ceilings to identify where water is leaking. If you suspect a leak, be sure to hire a professional inspector to find it.
Water bills are usually predictable and fairly predictable, but if they start to increase, you should look for a leak in a plumbing fixture. In general, leaks cost an average household 12,000 gallons per month, so you can expect to see a spike during the summer months. If the leak is small, you can easily check it by turning off all faucets in your house, including the dishwasher and washing
machine. If you find a leak in a bathroom faucet, make sure it’s shut off. The same goes for the sink faucet.
Leaks in a home account for up to 10% of the water used by American households each year. If you don’t catch them early, the water you lose can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year! Leaks are a common source of water waste and if not addressed quickly, they can significantly increase your utility bills. If you don’t have time to detect a leak, you may have to turn off your water and check your pipes to see if they’re leaking. If you notice your water bill drastically increases or water consumption at more than your average, it is highly likely that you have a leak.
Contact a professional that can help with leak detection in Melbourne or which city you need. Leaks if left undetected can lead to other problems. A garbage disposal leak may seem like a simple fix but if left unnoticed, this water is considered black sewage water and can create bigger problems. The water can leak and spill into your pipes or into your floors or carpet and cause even more extensive damage. This type of black or sewage water from a garbage disposal leak can create bacteria and mold in unforeseen areas in your home. You are then looking at significant damage to other areas of your home. Mitigation or cleaning up all the water from the lead could potentially cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Besides leaks in plumbing, there are also numerous other causes of household water leaks. These can range from cracked pipes to faulty plumbing. Leaks can occur in any type of plumbing, and even the simplest pipes can become damaged. In addition, rodents can damage Pex pipes, which don’t fare well in cold climates. Also, aging homes may have lead pipes or galvanized plumbing.
To detect an interior leak, turn off all water-using appliances and wait for three hours. If water consumption increases during the period, there’s a high likelihood that the leak is an indoor plumbing pipe. Continuously running toilets and drips in the bathroom make indoor plumbing leak detection less effective. Check your exterior plumbing as well, including clogged gutters, deteriorated caulking, and inadequate flashing around exterior penetrations.
Odors are usually the first sign of a water leak. The leak accumulates with bacteria and odors come from unwanted standing water. If it is a small water leak from a faucet that can be replaced, you are lucky enough to be able to get that repaired. If it is a huge leak as mentioned above, you may have to contact a professional plumbing company to detect the leak and work with you on how to remedy the problem.
Clogged drains, corroded pipes, toilet leaks, faucet leaks, rapid outside temperatures, extreme high water pressures, can all lead to pipes bursting or leaks in the home.
