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One mistake people often make when it comes to finding a leak in their home is assuming the only problem it presents is disrupting the quiet of the household.
Aside from the incessant dripping sound, leaks can present a very real, very expensive threat to the condition of a home, and we explain why that is, and what you should do about it.
Locating the Problem
To get a leak solved, you need to know where it is, and how serious the condition may be.
The luckiest homeowners will have no trouble tracking a leak down.
It’ll be right on a faucet, and only require a bit of tightening with a wrench, and the problem is solved.
For others, however, the leak may be in a toilet, or in a water heater.
It may also be in the sewage pipes that carry drain water and other waste away, or in the water pipes that circulate water to all the taps and other fixtures in the home.
In more serious cases, you can even use your water meter to see just how much water is being wasted.
Shut off your water flow, and make a note of your water meter reading.
After 15 or so minutes, consult your water meter again. If you see water usage being registered even though the water flow has been shut off, you’ve got a problem.
It’s A Warning
A leak can be a possible hint to a homeowner that there is a small problem, but if given the opportunity, grow into a much more serious problem.
The minor inconvenience of fixing a small leak can grow into the major headache of needing to repair a burst pipe as well as the water damage to the part of the home where the break occurred.
Even if the only issue with a leak is the dripping water itself, this is costing you money in the long run.
Depending on how serious a leak is, between 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water can drip out over the course of the year.
The problem is, you’re still paying for that water every month in your bills, even if you never got the chance to use it.
Maintenance Can Help
If you don’t want to have an expensive repair problem on your hands, the best way to circumvent this is to not let a situation escalate.
Inspecting your pipes on occasion can help a lot in this regard.
Examine any pipes you have access to, and do things like keeping the vanity relatively free of clutter.
It makes it easier to inspect for leaks.
The other thing you can do is to be kinder to your pipes to ensure they operate longer and more reliably.
For example, “hard water,” which is water with a higher mineral content, can have corrosive or erosive effects on pipes.
But soft water with fewer minerals is less abrasive.
And increasing the water pressure puts a strain on pipes, but if you’re satisfied with lower water pressure, this also increases the lifespan and durability of your water pipes.