Learn common plumbing leaks before they happen!
Plumbing leaks are never any fun but unfortunately, they are something that most homeowners are going to have to deal with at some point.
The good news is that if you regularly inspect all your water fixtures and pipes, leaks can be easily detected and the fix is often simple. The bad news, however, is that if leaks go left unnoticed or untreated, they can cause devastating problems for your home.
In order to save you and your home from the damage that leaks can cause, we’ve compiled our list of the most common places to look for leaks and some preventative measures you can take to mitigate them.
Cracked Pipes
If you live in a part of the country that experiences freezing temperatures, cracked pipes are something you have to be conscious of.
If you don’t take the necessary steps to make sure your pipes are insulated you run the risk of having them freeze. Frozen pipes not only have the ability to cut off your water supply but can eventually crack causing leaks.
If you find yourself in the middle of a cold snap, make sure that all of your outside pipes and spigots are sufficiently insulated with a sleeve or tape. Inside your home, making sure that all exposed pipes are receiving the heat of at least 55 degrees should prevent them from freezing.
It’s also a good idea to keep all your faucets dripping so that water is constantly moving through your pipes as well.
If you do happen to find a cracked or leaky pipe, it’s a problem that needs to be addressed right away. Making sure you have pipe clamps, rubber pipe connectors or epoxy compounds readily available can help to temporarily stop the leak before a plumber arrives.
Dripping Faucets
A dripping or leaky faucet probably doesn’t seem like a big deal and in some cases that is indeed the case. While a faucet that slowly drips won’t likely cause water damage to your floors or ceiling, it is something that should be addressed right away.
Why? Because a faucet that leaks even just a couple of drops every second can waste up to 27,000 gallons of water per year. Not only is this a tremendous waste of a precious resource, but it’s going to prove expensive for your wallet every month as well.
Leaking Bathtub or Shower
The most common cause for leaky tubs and showers is a faulty seal. Seals simply wear out from continuous use over time. If you notice your shower or tub leaking, it’s best to deal with the problem immediately.
The most obvious issue is that your bathroom floor will get wet. Even though this may seem like a minor issue, floors that get and remain wet can rot and water can eventually get into the subfloor and studs and beams beneath it.
This can lead to serious problems like dry rot and mold growth that in extreme cases may cause you to have to redo your entire bathroom.
Running Toilets
Just like showers and tubs, the most common cause of a running toilet is a bad seal on the floor. In some cases, running toilets can be caused by leaky internal components that can be difficult to detect and fix on your own.
If your toilet continually runs, you’re smart to call an Einstein Pro as you’ll be saving as much as 200 gallons of water a day and hard-earned money on your monthly water bill too.
Leaking Washing Machines
You probably don’t realize just how much water goes through your washing machine with just a single load of laundry.
If you find that you repeatedly end up with water all over the floor around your washing machine, there are some simple preventative measures you can take to avoid having to clean up a mess down the road.
First, we recommend replacing your rubber or plastic connective hoses with stronger braided steel hoses that are more durable. Regardless of how your hoses look, be sure to replace them every five years.
If you plan on leaving the house for a few days or weeks, simply turn off the water to your washing machine. This ensures that any leaks connected to your washing machine won’t spring up while you’re gone.
Leaks are pesky, there’s no doubt about it. While most are minor, some can be major and if left unchecked can cause serious damage to your home.