Are you certain you have a water leak? Some plumbing leaks are obvious to repair. But some leaks can be hiding behind your home’s walls or even the ceilings, making it difficult to find and – what’s worse – it can cost you thousands of dollars in damage if you don’t detect the leak before it causes an issue and a major headache.
And depending on the type of home you have – for instance, if your house’s foundation is built on a concrete slab, a water leak can be even harder to detect. Slab foundations typically have pipes running underneath your home and can develop leaks as the pipes get older.
Avoid Costly Damage To Your Home & Get Your Water Leaks Fixed Quick
Detecting a water leak early can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Here are 6 signs Santa Cruz homeowners like you should look out for when trying to identify and repair leaks ASAP.
1. Saggy Ceilings
A sagging ceiling is often caused by a leaking pipe or a leaky roof. You might see some discoloration paired with the ceiling sag. A saggy ceiling can be potentially dangerous and will need to be fixed immediately. We want to avoid a complete collapse of your ceiling, which can be extremely dangerous by putting you and your loved ones’ lives at risk, and it could be extensively expensive to repair.
2. Ceilings with Water Stains
As mentioned above, if you see spots or discoloration on your ceiling, this could be a sign of a water leak. The plumbing leak indicator could be telling you there’s a roof leak, but it could also possibly be a leak from your bathroom – if you bathroom is upstairs, and you notice the spot is directly below that bathroom.
However, typically, you won’t see signs of a water leak on your ceiling until the leak has been accumulating there for a while. So we at Expert Plumbing suggest you address the issue as soon as you are aware of it.
3. Rusty Pipes
If you have an older home, your house might be fitted with galvanized steel pipes and/or drains. Unfortunately, galvanized steel will corrode and develop rust – which leads to water leaks.
Look at your exposed pipes. Do you notice any signs of rust? Discoloration or stains? Flaking? This could be a sign of corroded pipes! We suggest you replace those rusted pipes because complete corrosion occurs, leading to faulty pipes overall damage to your home.
4. Reduced Water Pressure
Low water pressure is a common indicator of a plumbing leak. Reduced water pressure can be caused by faulty valves, water leaks or a buildup of sediment in your pipes. Whenever you have this type of leak, there is simply less water that’s able to go through the pipe.
Are you noticing a sudden decrease in your water pressure? If you can rule out faulty valves and sediment buildup, then it may be pointing to a water leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
5. Mold and Mildew
Water leaks that persist will eventually lead to mold and mildew. Mold can be particularly toxic to both allergy and asthma suffers, but also to the average person who can develop upper respiratory conditions. Left unattended mold may turn into “black mold,” which is extremely toxic and should be looked at by a professional.
Mold grows as a result of standing water or moisture caused by the condensation from uninsulated pipes. Examples of this include water leaking into a basement, a leaky pipe, or a leaking hose from your washing machine.
If mold and mildew damage gets out of hand and has shown to be extensive, it is in your best interest to get the mold out as fast as possible. Typically, crews will wear complete protective suits in order to remove all of the mold and everything that is contaminated by it. It is important to check the surroundings near the mold that was found because mold can damage drywall, wood and other building materials. Taking expedited action in this situation is needed in order to keep your home safe and your family’s health protected.
A constant musty odor, for example, is often an indicator of mold growth. Growing and spreads molds emit gasses that give off a musty smell. It’s important that you don’t ignore seemingly small things such as this. Taking care of repairs like this as soon as possible will help prevent problems and costly repairs in the future.
6. Peeling or Blistering Paint or Wallpaper
If your home’s wallpaper or paint is peeling or blistering, it may be a sign that there could be a water leak inside the wall. But by the time you see the wall begin to peel and blister, the leak has most likely been there for quite some time – and needs your immediate attention and action to prevent damage to your home.
Wood and drywall are great at absorbing moisture, but you don’t want them to do that! If there is a water leak in the wall structure of your house, it means the structure underneath your wall is most likely damaged and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Never Ignore Plumbing Issues
Whatever the case may be for your water leak, don’t ignore the signs. As your home ages, so does your plumbing. It needs to be taken care of, looked after and given a makeover from time to time. Fixing a water leak in your home is just part of the process, and every homeowner will need to fix at least one plumbing leak at one point or another.
Be sure to inspect all pipes, drains, valves and even washing machines for potential water leaks on a regular basis. Developing and having an awareness to signs that may indicate that there’s rust or corrosion in your pipes is an extremely important skills to have in your toolbox.
However, if you aren’t experienced in finding such leaks, or if you’re not sure about your plumbing skills on assessing whether something may or may not be a water leak, don’t hesitate to give Expert Plumbing in Santa Cruz a call right away! We’re no stranger to emergency plumbing and can help you right away!
You Can Trust Santa Cruz County’s Expert Plumbers
Don’t let a small water leak turn into something larger and, potentially, dangerous and costly. Call Expert Plumbing for all of your plumbing needs.