Water leaks can cause serious and expensive damage to your home. Here are some of the ways a leak left unrepaired can cause major damage:
1. Damaged Paint/Wallpaper
Your walls can give you the first sign of a water leak homeowners fear. Water and moisture can get trapped between the wall and the wallpaper/paint and cause the bond to undo, causing peeling and flaking.
2. Damaged Walls
A wall that is deformed or stained for no apparent reason may point to a plumbing leak. When a dry wall comes in contact with water or moisture, the plaster becomes soft, starts to bubble and can crumble. This can become an expensive problem to fix.
3. Damaged Floors
If you find a leak in the floor of your home, such as your bathroom, cracking or staining can occur. The bathroom tiles may also start to loosen due to the moisture underneath it breaking down the grouting between them.
4. Mould/Mildew
The appearance of mould or mildew on your wall or floors can keep reappearing in the case of a leak. Mould tends to flourish in moist areas, and a leaking pipe located behind a wall or underneath the floor provides the perfect atmosphere for it to spawn and cause damage.
Mould or mildew resulting from a leaking pipe can pose a serious health risk to you and your family, which is why it is important to get it detected and fixed as early as possible.
5. Bad Smell of Stale Water
When a pipe-leak goes unnoticed for a long period of time, water starts to accumulate. As it becomes stale it starts to smell very bad. If you clean your home regularly, but still notice a musty or damp smell, then you probably have a leak on your hands. Sometimes, the water may not dry up, which can only worsen the problem by causing mould or mildew that just won’t go away.
Leak Detectors – Ways to Check for Water Leaks
Detecting hidden water leaks in your plumbing system not only saves you money, but it can also prevent potential disaster down the road. Melbourne leak detection is a service we are proud to provide. But you can try some ideas before calling!
Check the water meter
One of the easiest way to tell if your home has a water leak is to check the water meter. First, turn off all the water using appliances, making sure the washing machine, dishwasher, and all taps are off. Check the water meter and take a reading. Then come back in a couple of hours, making sure all the water stays off. If the meter changed, you probably have a small water leak on your hands.
Monitor your water bill
It is easy to go on-line and check your water bill. Check previous months and if you notice a large increase without a change in your usage, you probably have a water leak.
Use some food colouring
Toilets make up a good percent of water used in a home so it’s a good idea to test it for leaks. Just add a few drops of food colouring to the tank of the toilet, wait a few minutes, if the colour shows up in the toilet bowl, you have a water leak.
Don’t forget to check outside
Check your outdoor taps, hoses, and irrigation system. Just a pinhole leak can account for 5,000-10,000 litres of wasted water a month!
Have a Check Performed by a Licensed Plumbing Professional
Since most water pipes are located underground and behind walls, it can make detecting water leaks difficult. It is worth the investment to have a professional leak detectors to inspect your home.
