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We have all been there. A faucet in your home drips water constantly, the toilet never seems to stop running, or the space around your hot water heater or below your sink always seems to be damp. These are all small annoyances, and oftentimes we take notice of them once or twice, and then life happens and we forget all about it.
So, what happens if you ignore these small leaks for a long period of time? The answers may surprise you and will likely have you calling in the home leak repair professionals immediately.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems associated with putting off home leak repair.
Dangerous mold thrives in dark, damp environments. A leaking pipe under a sink or behind a wall creates the ideal environment for mold to flourish inside your home. Mold is particularly insidious. It takes only a small number of mold spores to cause severe respiratory illness in those living in the home. Symptoms can range from recurrent cough, persistent sinus infections, and headaches to more severe illness and, in rare cases, even neurologic troubles and death.
Mold is a serious issue and must be remedied immediately to protect the health of the home’s inhabitants. Once mold has developed, you will need professional assistance to safely remove the mold and repair any damage.
In addition to the health concerns described above, mold and mildew caused by leaking pipes can cause a persistent foul odor to build up within the home. If left untreated for an extended period, this musty scent can permeate soft fabrics in the home making it difficult to eradicate entirely.
Leaking pipes can also impact the function of your home’s plumbing system leading to low water pressure and plumbing issues in other parts of the system. A plumbing system that is not functioning at peak efficiency may allow dangerous, noxious gasses to build up in the drains or re-enter the home from the sewer pipes. These dangerous gasses pose a health risk to the home’s residents and may pose a fire hazard if allowed to accumulate in large quantities.
Leaking pipes can cause severe damage to the flooring, subflooring, and walls surrounding the leak. Continuous exposure to moisture will cause the wood support beams beneath the floor and inside walls to rot and weaken, leading to costly repairs.
A leaking pipe can also lead to costly repair and replacement of surface flooring due to warping and buckling.
A leaking plumbing pipe running in the space between floors on a multi-level home or located above a ceiling can cause significant damage in a relatively short amount of time. Most modern ceilings are made of drywall and plaster. As these materials become soaked with water from a leaking pipe, they become heavy and begin to soften and break down. When a sodden ceiling reaches its breaking point, things can quite literally go downhill fast. You may notice a small bubble on your ceiling one day, a steady drip the next day, and suddenly a large chunk of soggy drywall is now resting on your living room sofa.
Flooding
When a plumbing leak is caused by a weak or damaged area of a pipe, this weak spot can worsen over time. A small leak may seem like a simple nuisance now, but over time the damaged area of the pipe can continue to weaken and may eventually rupture. A ruptured pipe has the potential to cause significant flooding within the home.
If someone is present in the home and able to shut off the water supply to the home immediately, the flood damage may be contained to one room of the home. However, if the rupture occurs while the family is sleeping or away from the home, the flood damage can easily expand far beyond the source of the leak.
Soil Erosion
Not all home plumbing leaks occur inside the home. Pipes leaking on the exterior of your home can cause significant damage as well. A pipe that is allowed to continue leaking around the foundation of the home for an extended period of time can lead to soil erosion around the base of the home.
Soil erosion exposes the foundation to the elements and, in severe cases, can undermine the stability of the structure leading to cracked walls and floors.
Increased Repair Costs
It goes without saying that the longer that a leaking pipe is allowed to persist, the more damage that is going to be caused to the plumbing system itself, as well as the surrounding flooring, walls, and other structure.
Often what may have begun as a simple home leak repair will morph into a multi-component repair and restoration by the time the professionals are called in to solve the original problem. When addressed promptly, a home leak repair is often a relatively quick and affordable plumbing fix. If allowed to continue leaking, the eventual repair and restoration costs can be extremely costly. Additionally, if mold has developed, professional mold removal and remediation services will be needed to ensure that the home is safe for habitation.
Leaking water can lead to slowly increasing utility bills. With monthly utility rates at an all-time high, a leaking pipe can cost you a significant amount in higher monthly utility costs. If you are noticing an unexplained hike in your monthly water bill, it is time to call out a professional plumber for a home leak repair to stop your precious dollars from pouring out of your home plumbing system.
Water is one of our most precious resources. In many areas of the United State, years of droughts have left states scrambling to cut residential and commercial water usage. Regardless of whether you reside in a drought-stricken state or a wet state, water is too valuable of a commodity to take for granted.
A leaking pipe is allowing this valuable resource to seep back into the ground unused. In turn, the wasted water and inefficient plumbing system mean that your home is drawing more than your fair share of water to compensate for the water being lost.
Are you concerned about the possibility of a leaking pipe inside or outside your home? Don’t wait for a small problem to turn into a large problem. 4 Star Plumbing is your home leak repair Fort Lauderdale expert.
Our certified plumbing professionals will arrive quickly, diagnose the issue and complete the repair before the damage can spread throughout your home. We don’t consider the job done until you are 100% satisfied with our work. We are here to help solve your plumbing issues now! Contact us today!
Sean Hasle is a third-generation plumber and he and his family have been serving the South Florida area since 1957. He is a licensed plumbing, underground utility, and fire contractor. Sean is married with two young boys and he spends time giving back to the community through Rotary International and coaching his son's little league baseball.
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