LITTLE LEAK CAN LEAD TO LARGE PROBLEM
Even if the right precautions are taken, nobody is fully safe from water damage
Often when I talk about leaky homes, I talk about the big stuff: Leaks that come in through your outdoor structure, like the roof, windows or foundation. While these can cause major water damage, sometimes the leak can be coming from inside the house.
You’ve got a whole host of pipes and plumbing hiding behind your walls that could be slowly leaking — either because of age, improper installation or an unfortunate accident like a burst pipe.
Even if you’ve taken every step to prevent water from sneaking in through your building envelope, you’re not totally safe from water damage. Here are a few places to keep an eye out for leaks:
IS IT IN THE KITCHEN?
A plumbing leak can be a common source of costly water bills. Even a small leak can add up to big bills over time. Where should you be on the hunt for leaks?
Look for standing water at the bottom of your dishwasher. Check where the dishwasher connects to the main drain. You’re looking for signs of discoloration on the hose to indicate a water leak.
Faucets and fixtures don’t last forever, especially if you bought cheap ones. If the unit is still dripping after it’s shut off, you’ve got a leak. You may also see discoloration around the base of the fixtures or in the sink cabinetry caused by water damage.
If it’s a small leak, you could try fixing it yourself. For compression faucets (faucets where you tighten the washer to stop water flow), the No. 1 cause is a wornout washer or O-ring. These are pretty simple to replace, but you must replace it with an exact fit or you will still have a leak.
For cartridge faucets (which typically use an up and down function, rather than a twist function), you can try replacing the cartridge in the unit. Again, you’ll need the exact size to make a successful replacement.
IS IT IN THE BATHROOM?
Everything I’ve already mentioned about faucets and fixtures remains true for the bathroom, though with one note of caution. If the leak is in the shower or tub, it could be a sign of something bigger going on behind the walls. That is a job I’d leave to a pro.
There are two types of toilet leaks. It could either be due to the flush valve for the fill valve. If the flush valve doesn’t form a watertight seal, over time water will begin to leak into the toilet bowl.
When the fill valve isn’t fitted properly, either it’s placed too high, or doesn’t close properly, the tank will experience constant flowing water into overflow tube.
Silent toilet leaks can waste upwards of 1,000 litres of water per day — so if you suspect a leak, call in a plumber quickly.
IS IT IN THE BASEMENT?
Look around your water heater for signs of leakage. You might see some rust spots or some pooling water on the floor.
There are a few reasons a water heater may leak, but the most common is a loose drain valve. You can try tightening it until it’s snug and see if that does the trick. If the temperature was set too high, it could be creating too much pressure in the unit, also causing a leak.
Finally, the leak could be from a cracked storage tank. Unfortunately, in that case, it’s time to replace the unit.
Generally, if the water heater is leaking, it’s still safe to use, but I recommend calling an expert quickly.
A leaking washing machine could be caused by bad tub fittings, insecure supply hoses or the internal hoses could be faltering. Checking the supply hoses and ensuring they’re still firmly connected is pretty simple for any homeowner. But if you’ve determined the leak is coming from inside the machine, your best bet is to have a pro look at it.
A smart automatic water shutoff valve system can help you in the case of big leaks or a burst pipe. If it detects a major water event, it will automatically shut off the water, preventing a bigger problem.