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LEAKING WATER PIPES: WHEN IS DANGER IMMINENT?

At what point does a leaking water pipe turn from a nuisance to a danger? Knowing what to look for can mean the difference between a simple DIY repair and, at the other end of the spectrum, a flooded home. In this blog, we’ll let you know some of the most common warning signs, as well as possible causes, and help you differentiate which ones you can fix yourself and which ones you’ll need some professional help.

Signs of Leaking Water Pipes

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already noticed something that wasn’t quite right with your water lines. Did you just get your water bill only to see it was significantly higher than last month? Or maybe you found a patch of wet – or previously wet – drywall? Sometimes leaky pipes show themselves by disrupting seemingly suddenly and causing a huge mess (not to mention serious damage to your walls, flooring, and belongings). Other times, you’ll have some warning, be it lower water pressure than usual, visible water damage to your wall, or a higher water bill.

But what can you do about it?

Well, if there is visible damage to your home’s structure, in many cases you will be able to trace back the damage to the source of the water leak. There are times where the damage doesn’t stop there, or there’s no visible damage yet (such as lower water pressure, or a higher utility bill), and that’s where our leak detection services come into the picture. Using high-tech equipment and their years of training and experience, our licensed plumbers will find the source of the leak, as well as any other affected areas that could be causing issues for your home.

The truth is, there are a number of types of leaks that could be happening within your water lines, the most common of which are:

Leaks in the joint fittings- Leaks in the middle of the pipes. Now if it’s just a minor leak in the joint fitting, say behind your tap, or your washing machine, that’s often something you can simply replace on your own. If it’s a joint fitting that’s been welded, as is often the case with copper pipes, that’s going to require a licensed plumber to solder in order to fix it. There could be any number of reasons that caused the joint to start leaking, including clogs in your water lines, poor workmanship or soldering in the installation or previous repairs, or simply old age.

When water lines are cracking and leaking throughout the length of the pipe itself, that usually comes about from either old age, or extreme weather conditions (pipes freezing and unfreezing), and is considerably more serious in many cases. The bottom line is if you suspect a leaking water pipe in your home and aren’t able to find the source of it, or it’s something more complex than replacing a fitting, it’s time to make the BEST choice!

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