Owning your first home is a thrill but it also means you’re now responsible for the protection of every wall, floor, and ceiling. One tiny little leak can turn joy into headache faster than you can imagine.
We’re here to help you identify most problems early if you know what to look for and when to act. This guide will give you some simple steps to identify leaks, prevent leaks from getting bigger and help decide when you need to get a professional involved. You’ll be more prepared to deal with the little plumbing surprises before they become big, expensive, messy surprises.
Early Leak Warning Signs
Spotting a leak is really about being aware of small changes. Here is a very preliminary checklist you can conduct anytime you hear, see, or smell anything out of the ordinary.
- Pipes don’t just explode. They whisper clues about the potential leak first.
- Listen for faint hissing sounds when it’s quiet in the house. Also, watch for sudden drops in water pressure at the kitchen tap or shower.
- Frequently, these signals happen days, or sometime weeks, before any evidence of visible damage.
- Discolored or stained paint, unexplained stains, or the floor of a cabinet that feels spongy are classic tell-tale signs. A musty odor-especially around baseboards-indicates that moisture has been lingering, which could mean you need emergency water removal if you wait too long.
Why Do Pipes Burst?
Temperature fluctuations can do the trick. In colder climates water can freeze and expand inside its pipe, splitting the line. In warmer climates, water pressure from your supply or age of metal pipe might spring a leak. Even minor settling of your structure can have a cumulative effect that stresses pipes.
If you live in Brooklyn, keep this in mind: Strictly Cleaning Restoration: Voted #1 Brooklyn Water Damage Restoration Company is on 24/7 call. Knowing you have the number in your phone means you can get into flood damage cleanup mode if a pipe ever bursts.
Temporary Pipe Fixes
If a drip turns into a trickle, you can prevent additional damage while you are waiting for professional help by taking swift action. Reinforce your knowledge of temporary pipe repairs, so you are never caught off guard.
- When you actually see a leaky pipe, the first step is to stop the spray, so grab a clean rag (or an old T-shirt) and wrap the pipe.
- Next, use plumber’s tape or rubber patch kit to seal the crack.
- These temporary fixes and repairs will not last long, but they will give you a few hours (some times days) when you can wait for a licensed plumber.
- If there is standing water, dry it using towels and a wet/dry vacuum.
- Taking fast action can prevent more damage and lessen the cost of professional water mitigation needs later. Make sure to always have a small repair kit as a part of your toolkit so you won’t be scrambling late at night.
Shut-Off Valve Location
In a water emergency, knowing where your main shut-off valve (click here) sits is the same as knowing the emergency exits on a plane. In many houses, the valve is located on the street side foundation wall, more than likely near the water meter, where the water first enters the building. You’ll often find it in a condo in a laundry closet or tucked under the kitchen sink.
Simply turn the handle until it stops, turning the water off to the entire house, and stopping additional water from escaping while you come up with a plan to repair the burst pipe. Make sure to operate the main shut-off valve at least twice each year to ensure it isn’t frozen; a frozen valve in a water emergency is not the best option.
When to Call a Plumber?
There are plenty of small and easy fixes you can make on your own for things like the smallest pinhole drips, or loose fittings. But there are times when a larger problem rears its ugly head, and you just can’t repair it yourself. If you have a leak that is fully gushing out of control, a pipe you think is ruptured and it’s under the basement floor or in the wall, or you are seeing arcs/sparks from wet dripping on live wiring; please may I suggest you just pick up the phone! There sometimes comes a point that waiting will only inject additional structural damage that will be far more costly than the service call.
A licensed plumber will do a thorough job of the repair, they will pressure-test your lines, replace the damaged section, and advise on the steps on mold mitigation in the future, especially if the leak created soaking insulation or drywall. Depending on the extent of the leak for example, should it have saturated the insulation and drywall; you should have your local restoration team inspect for any hidden moisture. Check https://www.angi.com/articles/why-do-plumbers-need-be-licensed.htm to know more about hiring a licensed plumber.
Conclusion
You’re probably already aware of just how far gone the cost of repairs are if you don’t catch a pipe leak soon enough. It is important to know your limitations with leaks and utilizing your shut-off valve to protect your new investment and keep acceptable stress on household maintenance. If you are concerned you might have water leaking in your premises, please don’t hesitate to stop whatever you’re doing and take action; listen for strange sounds, check for subtle stains, and know exactly where your shut-off valve is before another serious repair is required.
