Water leaks in the home are one of the most common problems homeowners experience. It could be anything from the annoying sound of dripping taps to a leaking pipe in the bathroom. In this post, we’ll take a look at the most common causes of water leaks.
Water Leaks In The Home – What Are The Issues?
Every Australian home will experience some water leaks from time to time. It’s simply a part of life. Although common, water leaks shouldn’t be left unattended and must be resolved ASAP to prevent damage to the home.
Statistics indicate that the average Australian uses approximately 340,000 litres of water annually. While a considerable amount of this would be by consumption due to household water leaks, some of this figure is wasted water due to dripping taps, cracked pipes or corroded underground pipes and compromised plumbing fixtures.
Let’s look at some issues that water plumbing leaks can cause in the home.
Your Water Bills Will Increase
Not only can consistent water leaks potentially cause damage to your house, but they’ll also jack up your water bills. While many Australian homes are now fitted with water-saving devices, and we’re all conscious of using water more conservatively, this is all wasted effort if your home has water leaks that haven’t been fixed.
It’s just money down the drain.
Water leaks and leaking pipes waste more than a trillion gallons across the world each year.
Severe Leaks Could Lead To Your Home Being Flooded
While some household water leaks may not present a major problem regarding potential water damage, other plumbing leaks can be catastrophic.
The resulting damage can be major and rapid, whether it’s a burst pipe inside the home or out in the yard. The first step would be to go out to your water meter and turn off the water supply to stem the flow, then call in a plumber to resolve the issue.
In the meantime, if the leak is inside, you’ll want to do whatever you can to mop up the mess before permanent damage results.
Leaking Toilets Can Be a Real Problem
Apart from simply being annoying, a toilet continually leaks into the bowl and wastes copious amounts of water. Another issue when the system leaks is, making it harder to get a full flush when you use the toilet. The toilet cistern won’t be completely full and will lack pressure when you press the flush button. A toilet leak likely won’t flush at all.
This is very unhygienic and could lead to a clogged toilet bowl or, worse still, a blockage further along the sewer pipe.
Water Leaks Are Not Eco-Friendly
Water conservation in Australia is all about preserving our precious water supplies, especially during extensive droughts. Wasted water is simply not eco-friendly plumbing and does nothing to help the environment or preserve water.
Having those water leaks fixed is a positive step to ensure natural water reserves remain plentiful. A leaking tap or leaking faucet may only seem annoying, but all that water down the drain could have been reserved for more practical use.
Common Leaks Around The House
1. What Causes a Dripping Tap?
The most common reason a tap will drip, or leak is due to a worn rubber tap washer. Over time these become brittle and can crack, break apart or go out of shape. The end result is an ineffective seal. The solution is to replace the tap washer or call a professional.
The tap may also need to be reseated with a reseating tool to form a flat surface for the rubber washer to seal against.
2. What Causes Water Leaks In Ceilings?
If your ceiling is leaking water it could be due to a problem with the roof, in which case you would need to have it inspected and repaired.
Another common reason for water leaks in ceilings is when there is plumbing overhead and a pipe has developed a leak. It could simply be that the plumbing is old. Metal pipes and copper pipes can corrode and degrade over time.
You’ll definitely want to call a plumber to repair the problem before too much damage occurs.
3. Why Is There a Leak Under Your Sink?
This can occur in the kitchen, the bathroom or even the laundry. Water leaks in the cabinet under a sink are also very common in many homes. So what’s the cause?
There could be several causes. One of the most obvious ones would be a leaking pipe that may have developed a hole or crack. Another cause could be a loose or faulty pipe or hose connection. It could be as simple as tightening the connection, but if not, call in a plumber to resolve the issue.
A potential third reason might be a poor seal around the sink or where the plughole is. In this case, some silicon should resolve the issue.
4. What Causes An Underground Pipe To Leak?
Whether the pipes are PVC pipes, the old clay variety or concrete pipes, one common cause of a water leak is a tree root has burrowed its way into the pipe. All plants and trees seek water sources through their root system, and a pipe filled with water provides the perfect supply.
If the pipes are metal, they could have developed a hole or fissure due to rust.
Ground movement over time due to long spells of dry weather followed by wet weather can cause pipes to crack, usually resulting in a severe water leak issue.
5. Water Leaks In-Wall Cavities – What’s the Cause?
Water leaks within the walls of your home can end up causing severe damage and can potentially seep into your home’s electrical system as well. It’s not something you want to delay getting fixed.
Copper piping for your hot water supply often runs through the wall cavities. Over time the pipes can corrode and develop small holes that get bigger the longer the leak is left unattended. Other water pipes will run behind the walls, too and could have burst due to high water pressure or a defect in the pipe.
Water leaks in the wall cavities could also be due to rain getting in, which would mean an area on your home’s exterior is compromised.
Refined Plumbing Can Help
If your home is suffering from water leaks, don’t ignore them. Get them fixed ASAP before they cause damage. Give the friendly and reliable team at Refined Plumbing a call for fast and affordable water leak detection services on the Sunshine Coast.
We are water leak specialists and will resolve your issue in no time contact us today.
Read about our Water Leak Repair service >
Original article by Refined Plumbing Sunshine Coast
