The What, Why, How About Leaking Water Pipes – A Comprehensive Guide!

By Author: Zac Mealmaker
Total Articles: 60
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Water damage is one of the most common causes of property damage and destruction. Many don’t understand that water or moisture has the capacity to corrupt the core of any construction. When water continuously seeps through the wall, floor or ceiling it tends to rot the base of the construction work. It leads to dampness in the house. As a result, you will find popcorn walls, damp ceiling, a pungent smell in the house. It also leads to the growth of mould and mildew in the house. And when in live in such a property, the constant exposure to the dampness leads to numerous health hazards like cold, flu, hair fall, skin irritation and can also aggravate breathing problems and lead to asthma. Do not take water damage lightly. It has the potential to damage your property beyond repair. Hence, the moment you notice the signs of leaking water pipes in your home, you should immediately call in the experts and ask them to inspect the matter.
 
What causes the pipes to leak?
Well, there are ...
... numerous reasons that can lead to leaking water pipes in the house. Some common causes are:
 

The pipe was installed poorly. The professional hire for installing the pipes did not do his work properly. And since you have hired an expert for the job, you did not think of overseeing the work. You completely relied on him and hence you never knew that the pipes were never installed properly. Normally, the experts do a good job. It might be a one of time when they failed to carry out the work properly and now you are stuck with leaking water pipes.

It may be that you never bothered about pipe repair and maintenance work. It has been years since you moved into the property and from the beginning the same pipes are being used. The passage of time has played its role and now the pipes are in poor condition and hence have started to leak.

The changing weather and climatic conditions have aggravated the wear and tear of the pipes. As a result, it has developed cracks which lead to the leak. Most of us don’t expect the pipes to leak and we think that it will last a lifetime but that does not happen and we end up with leaking pipes.

You just bought an old property where the pipes were already in a poor condition. You did not think it necessary to get everything inspected. You just went with the flow and believed everything that the property seller told you and thought that the house was in excellent condition. Always remember that a seller will never give you the true picture. He knows that if he does that then no one will buy his property. As a buyer it is your responsibility to get everything checked and inspected before you move in. You should have got the pipes and waterline inspected to make sure that everything is fine.

Finally, natural calamities like a flood, earthquake or other natural events can lead to leaking water pipes. No one knows how nature will behave. In such emergency situations the water line is bound to get effected and can lead to the leaking of the water pipes.

 
What should you do when you find the water pipes leaking in your property?
The moment you find that the pipes are leaking, you should immediately switch of the main pipeline so that the leaking stops. Next, you should call in the experts and ask them to carry out a water leak inspection in your property. Let them know the exact area where you find the leak. This will help them to come prepared. They will carry the necessary tools and equipments to inspect the leak thoroughly. Let them carry out the check. Do not try to do anything on your own. Most of us don’t have the tools to inspect the leak and since we lack the expertise and skill, we end up worsening the situation. So, control your desire to carry out DIY measures.
 
How to prevent future water leaks in the house?
Once the experts identify the source and cause behind the leaking water pipes you should opt for quality repair and maintenance solutions. If the damaged water pipe needs to be replaced with a new one, then go for it. At the same time, if you think that waterproofing the house will work in your favour then get that done too. In short, you should opt for the necessary repair measures to protect your home for further water damage. And yes, don’t forget to get the water pipes checked once every year. You never know whether the pipes have developed any cracks or not. Annual inspection will give you a clear picture about the existing condition of the water pipes in your property.
 
Conclusion:
Now that you know about the causes behind leaking water pipes, what you should do if you find a leak in the house along with how to prevent future scenarios, we expect that you will be in a better position to deal with the situation in the future.
 
About the Author: This contribution has been made by Zac Mealmaker who has written a number of articles on Leaking Water Pipes and provides fruitful information.