Your home's plumbing system is made up of a variety of parts. Unfortunately, each of them is at risk of leaks and breakages. The consequences can range from a minor inconvenience to a real emergency with significant water damage if action is taken too late. Read more about the most common plumbing problems.
Burst pipes
Dealing with burst pipes can be a scary experience for any homeowner. This problem can be caused by freezing temperatures, the age or lack of durability of a pipe, a clog, rogue tree roots, or even hard water. Burst pipes can cause thousands of dollars in damage if not treated quickly, so in most cases, you should call a professional.
Before the plumber comes, turn off the main water supply to your home. Not sure how to do this? The first step is to find the water shut-off valve, which could be in the basement or outside your home. It is highly recommended that you turn off the power in the room or area where the leak is occurring so that you do not risk electrocution.
Toilet leaks
Repairing toilet leaks is a potentially expensive plumbing job if you wait too long to fix the problem. Plumbers may recommend turning off the water valve (located at the bottom of the toilet) in emergency situations before making the repair.
Faucet leaks
In most cases, leaky faucets are easy to fix, but it's not a project that should be left waiting – you certainly don't want to pay a higher water bill because a faucet has been leaking for a few weeks. There are four general types of leaky faucets:
- Cartridge: Is due to a worn rubber seal on the valve seat
- Compression: Not as common in new faucets, but can occur in older homes; caused by a bad O-ring or a bad neoprene gasket
- Ceramic disc: Usually caused by a crack in the disc and requires replacing the cartridge (which can be expensive depending on the type and model of your faucet).
- Ball valve: Only occurs with ball valves and can leak in several places.
Faucets have an average lifespan of 10 years before major repairs are needed, but this time period depends on many factors, including the type and age of your faucet, water hardness, and more.
Leaks in the outdoor area
Exterior leaks are relatively common but difficult to detect if you've never had one. For example, a slab leak occurs when water pipes crack or leak beneath the foundation or slab of your home. This type of leak can damage your foundation, basement floors, walls, and even your lawn. You may not notice an exterior leak until you receive an unusually high water bill, even if your usage hasn't changed from last month to the current month.
If you think you have an outdoor leak, before you get a big bill, test all of your outdoor faucets one at a time. Turn on each faucet and observe surrounding rooms and areas for leaks or moisture. If you notice water in a place where it shouldn't be, you may have an outdoor leak and should turn off all faucets and call a professional to prevent further water damage to your home.
Water heater leaks
Water heater leaks should also be fixed quickly to avoid damage to your floors, furniture and walls. There are several reasons for water heater leaks, including the age of the water heater, lack of regular water heater maintenance, uneven pressure and sediment buildup.
You can always do your own preliminary inspections, but if you're unsure or uncertain, call a professional. A plumber can not only thoroughly inspect your system, but they can also quickly interpret subtle clues like a strange noise that many homeowners don't notice.
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