Rising water bills, wet walls, or reduced water pressure all indicate a pipe leak somewhere in the house. Finding and repairing the leak should be left to a professional because in many cases, the leaking pipe is in an inaccessible location. An expert plumber will have the knowledge and tools needed to find and fix the leak quickly before it causes severe damage to the home.
Leaking pipes can be located anywhere in the home and caused by a variety of reasons. Remodeling in the home may damage some of the pipes, accidentally, especially if walls are being torn down. Freezing weather can cause pipes in the attic or outside to burst. Sometimes the leak will occur in a pipe that runs through the slab of the foundation of the home, where a homeowner cannot see or fix it.
Plumbing leaks, even slow drips, can cause severe damage to the interior of the home and may make the home a health hazard for some. A water leak in a hidden location may take time to be noticed, but in the meantime, the water from the pipe can soak into floor or wallcoverings, weakening their structure, irreparably damaging them, or causing permanent stains. If the leak occurs in a warm location around organic material like wood, mold may begin to form. For those with mold allergies or asthma, this may negatively affect their health. Getting the leak fixed as soon as possible and replacing the water-damaged structures near the pipe can reverse these conditions.
Plumbers use a variety of tools, which are only available to them, to find and fix leaks. A camera may be inserted down a pipe to find a leak in a pipe running through a narrow space or under a slab. If a leak is found, the faulty section of pipe will need to be removed and replaced. Depending on the location, this may require removing some of the walls or flooring in the home, but this is a small price to pay compared to the damage a leaking pipe could cause if left to continue to drip.
Once the plumber fixes the leaky pipe, high water bills caused by a continual drip of water or low water pressure issues should cease. The homeowner should also remove any moldy materials near the pipe leak location to prevent breathing problems for those with asthma or allergies.
While a homeowner may make general plumbing repairs, a pipe leak is best addressed by a professional plumber who can most effectively repair the leak.
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