Leak Repair

A leak might announce itself with the sound of water running where there should be none, while our water bills suddenly shoot up for no apparent reason. Even the most clever leaks produce some sign of their presence. Failing to pay attention to the signs can lead to a mold or mildew problem that could make your family sick, not to mention the wasting of a precious resource and the risk of undetectable leaks causing significant structural damage to your home. If undetected and unrepaired, leaked water can also turn into a nightmare by becoming a breeding ground for mold and mildew, both of which can pose serious health risks.

When a water leak isn't apparent, you can begin troubleshooting it by performing a dry inspection in your home. This process entails turning off every water fixture and appliance and then taking a look at your water meter to see if it's still going. You also, of course, have a few visual methods at your disposal. One is the infrared camera; another is the old but gold "look in the walls" method. If sound is more your style, you could also try using an acoustic leak detector. If the problem persists, and you or someone else can't seem to locate it, hiring a pro is certainly a viable alternative.

When you find a leak, the first thing to do is turn off the water so that it doesn't keep leaking and causing more damage. The water shut-off is usually near the water meter or at the main line where it enters your house. If you're still not sure where it is, just follow the water line. While you take these steps, have towels, buckets, and/or the kids handy so that you can absorb and contain as much of the leaking water as possible. If the leak is gushing and the contained area is flooding, you might need to call a plumber.

It is very important to repair leaks quickly so that your property does not suffer severe and expensive damage. Even warm moist air can cause the kind of structural deterioration that results in a house becoming uninhabitable. Mold is another result of unchecked leaks. Your health can be at risk with mold, and mildew is a close second. There is no close third, either; there are no beneficial aspects to mold or mildew. Past that, if the moisture doesn't get shut down, your water bill is going to skyrocket. Even a dripping faucet can spill a lot of liquid over a long time.

The severity of a plumbing problem determines whether it's feasible for a homeowner to effect repairs. Some leaks are definitely DIY candidates. If you're dealing with a slight drip from a faucet whose handle you notice is a bit too loose, then you've got an easy fix on your hands. And the tools you need are already in your kitchen drawer. On the other hand, if you're facing a complex series of leaks that appear to involve either the main water line or the kind of internal plumbing that runs through your house, then you're much better off calling a pro.

If you're faced with a leaky plumbing system and need a temporary fix, there are several do-it-yourself methods that can help get you through until a more long-term solution can be put in place. Using plumbing tape or pipe joint sealant can help stop the water from escaping in places where it is leaking due to poor joints. For more direct pinhole situations, a hose clamp or a rubber patch can work wonders. If you're experiencing a slow leak in a place that just is not cooperating, epoxy putty might help. But again, these are all temporary fixes.

Avoiding leaks calls for routine care and supervision of your plumbing. Be certain that all of your seals and connections are secure. Replace all worn-out washers in your plumbing system. Be sure to insulate all of your pipes if you are in a climate where it gets cold enough for water to freeze. If your water pressure is too high, have a regulator installed. Check your water pressure first, though, to see if a regulator is even necessary. Doing these things and avoiding the manifestations of the plumbing problem will save you the trouble of a leak in the first place.

At first glance, it may not appear significant to have a small leak inside your home, but over time, the effects can be substantial. The short-term loss of water is minimal, yet the continuous dripping adds up over time. Unless you're good about checking your utilities regularly, you might not notice a change until the beep of your next bill tells you that something is seriously amiss. We tend to think of our pipes as self-contained systems, but when they spring a leak, that water is just as lost to the environment as if you turned on a sprinkler.

Typically, whether a leak needs minor repair or major reconstruction depends on where the leak comes from and how serious it is. A sight leak under a sink might just need a new washer or a more tightly connected plumbing system, while a sight leak that keeps coming back might indicate a core issue in the plumbing system that needs some serious attention and reconstruction. Raucous pipes, unexplained water spots that seem to pulse with the pipe's innards, and significant fluctuation in water pressure might indicate some systemic plumbing issue that needs fixing. For looking into the "what," the "why," and the "how" of hose leaks, there are professionals and the not-so-super secret world of plumbing textbooks to call upon.

When it comes to fixing leaks, plumbers frequently utilize tools such as pipe sealants, Teflon tape, and pipe putty to seal joints and cracks. They often use flexible rubber patches and hose clamps to secure temporary, accessible fixes on dripping pipes. For what they term "permanent" repairs, they might weld pipe sections together or rely on the various pipe materials available: copper, PVC, or PEX. The situation dictates what the right choice is. But whatever it is, it has to last.