Has your water bill been unusually high? Low water pressure? Puddles in your yard? Stains on your walls or ceiling? These are some signs that you may have a water leak. Leaky pipes can cause any number of problems, and some can be costly to fix, if they’re left alone too long. Here are five signs that you may need water line repairs.
If you are noticing puddles in your yard, even though it hasn’t rained, this could be a sign of a leaking water line. Even if there aren’t puddles, having an extra green area on your lawn, especially near where your water line is, could possibly indicate a leak. It’s not a do-it-yourself project. You’ll have to have your plumbing contractor deal with it. It may involve digging up your yard to inspect and most likely repair or replace the pipe. Talk to your plumbing contractor about what they’ll need to do.
If your water bills are suddenly much higher than normal, then there’s a good chance you have a leak somewhere. You can check your water usage by checking your use when no one is home. Before you leave the house, write down the numbers from your water meter, and then check them when you get home. If the numbers have changed, you have a leak. Finding the leak will take some effort. Check for water stains on the walls or ceilings, mold and mildew in unusual places, and so on. Also check your basement for foundation cracks, water puddling and other signs.
If you notice a significant drop in your home’s water pressure, there’s a good chance that you have a leak or a clog. Tree roots or mineral build up in your water line can cause a drop in water pressure. If you don’t have any water at all, the line could be broken or completely clogged. Check your yard for puddling and where your trees are in relation to your water line. In any case, you should contact your plumbing contractor immediately to repair your water line.
If the flooring in your bathroom is warping or has a soft spot or two, there is probably an underfloor pipe that’s leaking. If the tile in your kitchen is loosening, or if you have wood floors and they’re warping or there’s water coming up through the floor, you have a leak. It may not be in the same room, but in another location and the water is flowing from the leak to the affected room. If your basement has a musty smell and any flooring is warping or carpeting is damp, then there’s probably a pipe in the underlying slab that’s leaking. This situation will best be handled by your plumbing contractor.
Water leaks can lead to the formation of mold and mildew. This usually occurs due to a persistent, long-term leak. Mold and mildew aren’t just unsightly, they can cause health problems, including respiratory irritation, aggravate allergies, and cause issues for anyone who has asthma. If you do have a mold problem, contact your plumbing contractor to find and fix the leak. Any mold build up in your walls will have to be professionally remediated. The water leak can be anything from a leaky washer hose, water leaks in your basement, condensation from uninsulated pipes, or a leaky pipe. Aside from the plumbing repairs, and any necessary mold remediation, you’ll also need to replace any damaged flooring and drywall.
Okay, you realized you have a water leak, so what do you do now? First off, call Mark Lindsay and Son Plumbing & Heating to come in, find, and repair the leak. Even if it seems obvious where the leak is, it’s not always that easy. Once the leak is found and repaired, then you’ll have to have any related damage repaired. If it’s an outside water line problem, then you’ll have to fix up your lawn. One way to avoid all this is to have your water lines, outside and inside checked periodically by Mark Lindsay and Son Plumbing & Heating, so any problems or potential problems can be fixed before they get worse.
Click Here to Contact Us!