Plumbing: Red Flags of Undetected Leaks
Posted on: 21 December 2016
When it comes to residential leaks, homeowners tend to assume that they simply need to look out for unusual puddles of water that would be indicative of something being off-kilter. The reality of the matter is that not all your plumbing leaks would display themselves with obvious symptoms. Instead, you may be required to keep an ear and eye out to notice anything that would be abnormal in your home. Learning about these leaks as soon as possible and having them attended to by an emergency plumber can make the difference between minor repairs or having to contend with extensive water damage. Below are some of the red flags that you should look out for that would be indicative of undetected leaks.
The pipes in your home have become noisy
Although your plumbing pipes are transporting large amounts of water, being embedded deep into the walls should mean they would be inaudible. Therefore, if you begin to hear water dripping in your home while all the taps are shut or if you can hear gushing noises of water running, chances are your plumbing has developed a leak that remains undetected. Other noises you should be wary of that would be emanating from your pipes include rattling or tapping noises, which could indicate that air is getting into your plumbing pipes. This air could only make its way into them through a leak.
The water usage in your home has spiked
After living in a residence for several months, you should have a good idea on what your regular utility bill estimates would be like. In the event that you find there is a significant spike in your water bill, it is highly likely that there is an undetected leak in your residence's plumbing. To crosscheck this, you should turn off the main water valve in your home. After doing this, keep an eye out on your water metre to see if the reading will change. If this happens without any water being used in the house, it would be prudent to call an emergency plumber.
The walls in your home are deteriorating
A misconception that some people have is that walls will deteriorate over time simply due to ageing. However, sudden onset of peeling walls or unexplainable staining could be a serious indication of an undetected water leak. You may also find that the paint has started to bubble and you could eventually be contending with mould in your home.
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