Finding Home Leaks Before They Get Big

Leak detection can avoid hundreds of plumbing problems in homes today, and it should be a top priority for both homeowners and insurance companies, preventing damage to covered properties. However, the truth is that homes by the hundreds have leaks that go on without being discovered, slowly causing damage and greater costs when they are finally discovered. The culprit involves plumbing, particularly the lines where the water comes into a home and is under pressure. While a drain line can leak too, the greater damage comes from pipes and now hoses where the municipal water pressure has the greatest impact.

Professional Expertise Finds Leaks Quickly

Fortunately, plumbing professionals brought in on a regular basis can detect leaks and easily repair small issues well before they become costly damages, saving serious money doing so. Additionally, they can prevent health problems too; remember, leaks from piping end up creating posture that contributes to mold, and that can create health risks for family members sensitive to spores and dust in the inside home air flow.

Watch Out For Leaks Underfoot

Leak detection services are also instrumental in finding slab leaks. They can be found under the concrete foundation of a home, and the water can even rise up to the flooring when it has nowhere else to go. Slab leaks are not common, but they can occur when the foundation has shifted, stressing the feed line into the home. These types of leaks have the potential to be costly if not found right away. If detected early, the repair work can be limited to right where the slab leak is located, reducing expenses and effectively repairing the problem. As with most leaks, the giveaway involves water running or sounds of water moving even when everything is turned off. If the water meter is still turning, there’s a leak somewhere in the home’s plumbing.

Finding The Leak Source

Once the water meter has been confirmed to be turning, even when the water has been shut off on all the home’s appliances like faucets, dishwashers, washing machines, and hoses, then it’s a process of elimination, line by line. Where, ideally, a dye would be used to see visibly where there are problems in a plumbing line, that’s not always possible in a home. So, plumbers work each common water flow area and look for dripping, signs of moisture, and stains on walls. Moisture detection tools can also be used to sense water’s presence where it shouldn’t be, especially when the moisture levels start to spike.

Getting Help For Older Homes

Older homes are particularly susceptible to slow leaks and should be inspected at least annually. Given the use of older plumbing, especially metal piping that might be exposed during the winter, a leak detection can help save money that’s being lost on a utility bill as well as help prevent a burst pipe later on when it completely fails. In these cases, the plumbing section that is suspect can be removed and replaced, and possibly upgraded as well with improved plumbing lines.

Use Leak Detection On New Homes Too

In new homes, leak detection help can identify where plumbing wasn’t installed correctly, especially when the home is still under construction warranty. There’s no reason why a new homeowner should have to pay for the mistakes of faulty construction when the home was supposed to be built correctly. Catching a leak issue timely gives the proof that the builder has to address the matter and absorb the costs of repair. It can be a big savings for a new homeowner otherwise stuck with a leaking pipe and water damage problem.