We are all aware of the importance of water. Our bodies need it survive, we use it to cook, and we use it to clean. Plants and trees wither away without it. We splash around in swimming pools, lakes, and the ocean. Water is a key element to life on our planet.
As plumbers, our most important job is keeping the water running through your home. And as that water runs through your water lines and drain lines, it is also essential to keep that water where it belongs.
Common Leak Sources To Watch For
We are grateful to live in a time with modern plumbing in our homes. Water travels to and from various fixtures throughout your house. Yet each water line, drain line, and appliance has the potential to leak over time or with improper installation.
- Water supply lines carry water through your walls and ceilings and to plumbing fixtures throughout your house. Valves can fail, water lines can freeze and burst in the winter, and the pipes themselves can wear down and form leaks over time.
- Drain lines and their connections to sinks, bathtubs, and showers can also fail over time leading to intermittent leaks within your walls and ceilings.
- Sump pump failure is a common and sometimes devastating cause of significant water damage in your basement.
- Water heaters as they age can either slowly leak or completely fail releasing potentially gallons of water into your home.
- Toilets can leak either from the connection between the tank and the bowl, the supply line and valve, or from the drain connection at the floor.
- Appliances such as refrigerators with ice makers and internal water supplies, washing machines, and dishwashers all have supply lines and valves that can fail and leak over time.
Never Ignore A Water Leak
Water seems innocent, until you find it leaking in your home. Unless properly contained, water will always find a way out of your pipes and drains. And it can quickly cause extensive destruction to your home and your belongings. Even a small leak over time can cause thousands of dollars in damage.
- Cabinetry – Bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets are not designed to contain water or to withstand water. Leaking water from sinks and faucets will warp your cabinetry, eventually to the point of needing replacement.
- Flooring – While some flooring may be more water resistant that others, over time water will damage any type of carpet, hardwood, or laminate and potentially lead to damage to the subfloor as well.
- Ceilings and Walls – Leaks that occur within your walls and ceilings will soak into the drywall and studs. Not only will the drywall need replaced, but mold and mildew begins to grow fairly quickly.
The Dangers of Mold
When water leaks from either water lines or drain lines, mold and mildew can begin to grow within 24-48 hours wherever the water is left to sit. That mold could be in your walls, ceilings, carpeting, or cabinetry. Mold can cause health and respiratory issues for you and your family. Any water leak should be diagnosed, repaired, and cleaned up quickly. For more information on the dangers of mold visit the EPA’s website dedicated to mold information and safety.
When larger leaks occur a reputable water remediation company should be called in to evaluate the damage and potentially begin remediation as soon as possible. Interventions such as flooring removal and replacement, drywall removal and replacement, the use of industrial fans and dehumidifiers, and mold and mildew prevention treatments should be started before mold or mildew has a chance to begin to grow. Click here to visit Spartan Emergency Water Removal for assitance with water damage throughout the Fredericksburg region or call them 24/7 at 540-446-2502.
Always Act Quickly
When faced with a plumbing leak in your home, you should never wait. Give us a call at 540-642-0023 or schedule an appointment today to fix the source of the leak as soon as possible!
