A water leak can mean serious business. There are estimates that water leaks account for nearly 80 percent of water wastage in a household. Typical households in the U.S. waste thousands of gallons of water every year.
Not only is that environmentally unfriendly, wasting water is going to jack up your water bills. And that’s not the only cost if you put off dealing with a water leak until later.
There are the costs of repair and potential costs to your health. It’s worth your while to detect and deal with leaks ASAP. Here is leak detection information compiled for you by our professionals.
Being a Leak Detective
There are situations that call for the use of professional leak detection equipment, but if you use a checklist approach, you can often narrow down the source of the leak.
Start with your sinks.
Open cabinetry and look for moisture on the pipes or on the cabinet itself. Is there mold growing?
A good trick to see if water is trickling from the pipe joi
nts is to wrap the pipe in a tea towel and see if it gets wet over time.
Examine your floors, walls and ceilings for signs of water damage that include discoloration, wet spots, mold growth or musty odors.
This is a common sight if you’ve got a toilet, tub or shower leak.
Your water heater could be the trouble spot. Is there pooling water? Do the valves leak? Do you see any rust?
Check under your appliances to ensure that they aren’t leaking. Pull them out from the wall and check for moisture.
The Effects of Water Leaks
Want to wager a guess how long it takes mold to grow after drywall or carpet gets wet, as it frequently does with a water leak?
Only 24 to 48 hours.
Removing mold from your home is a messy, expensive job.
Mold spores also present a risk to your health.
It is dangerous for anyone to inhale those spores, but even worse for people with allergies or asthma.
Mold is one of the more serious byproducts of water leaks, and it should not be taken lightly.
Preventative Maintenance
Since appliances leak so often, upgrade your connector hoses to braided stainless steel, which is the sturdiest option.
Clean faucet aerators often. Clean your pipes regularly and get them inspected for damage. Have a hydrojetting service done for the most thorough cleaning.
Save your pipes from stress by keeping water pressure low. Ensure that tiles aren’t loose in your bathrooms and caulk around your tub and shower as needed.