Imagine forking out $10,000 to $20,000 in mold repair because you couldn’t find or fix a leaking pipe. Something that could’ve taken minimal time and effort is suddenly breaking the bank.
That’s no good at all! But what’s the solution? Find and fix a leaking pipe yourself, obviously!
The Dangers of a Leaking Pipe
Scores of pipes in your home run underneath the floorboards. As the leak begins, the wood will start to bend and buckle.
Weird bumps and lumps underneath tiles and carpeting are good indicators of a broken water pipe.
If you don’t fix this ASAP, the destruction continues unabated, and your floors will rot away, stealing dollars from your pocket as you cough up to repair the damage.
Besides, underneath your feet, all sorts of pipes run through the walls. Water leaking behind walls will remove paint and cause the wallpaper to start bubbling and peeling away. The worst part about a leaking pipe is the mold and mildew growth.
One of the reasons that even minor leaks in pipes can turn serious is that pooling water will lead to mold and mildew.
Both mold and mildew will chew through construction materials like drywall and massively weaken the wood.
The amount of damage this can do to the structure can lead to collapsed walls and ceilings and maybe even worse situations like your whole house falling down!
How to Find a Leaking Pipe
Check the Water Meter
Look at your regular water meter numbers and check them often. To check your meter, turn off all the taps in your building, then look at the meter and write down the numbers. A few hours later, check the meter once again, and if the numbers have changed, you have found a leak.
Use a Water Gauge
A water gauge tests your water pressure.
The showerhead will produce a certain water pressure based on the model. If the pressure is less than it is supposed to be, you probably have a leak.
Use Your Eyes
Brown, yellow, bulging, or streaky walls are a sure indicator of a water leak in a specific area.
Use Your Nose
A leaking pipe will create standing water. Eventually, that water will become stale or rancid and let off a musty, damp, yet noticeable smell. If your house smells this way, but you cannot tell why you probably have a leak.
How to Repair a Leaking Pipe
Once you have found your leak, you need to learn how to fix a leaking pipe. The ultimate way to fix a leaking pipe is to reach out to us.
Short of that, here are some things you can do.
A leaking drain can be repaired by tightening the bottom pipe, resealing the drain, applying caulk to the rim, and tightening any other pipe nuts and bolts.
In the same way, a leaky toilet can be fixed by screwing tight the stuffing nut, and you may need a new valve while you’re at it.
A leaking tap just needs to be tightened or its washers replaced.
If the pipes have holes, you just need to seal them up using a pipe seal kit or sealing tape. This hasty repair will even temporarily mend a copper pipe.
Wash Away Your Worries
While leaking pipes can cause a lot of trouble if left unchecked, it’s not the end of the world. You now know how to find and fix an annoying, potentially hazardous leaking pipe in your home.
If you’re already beyond that point or just want the best in the business to nip a leaking water pipe problem in the bud, you better get hold of us right now!
