We’re sure everyone will agree with us that indoor plumbing is useful. You certainly wouldn’t want to do without it! But you’ll also agree that it isn’t exactly beautiful. That’s why most of your pipes are tucked away out of sight. They’re between ceilings and floors, they’re behind walls, and in some cases, they’re underneath the foundation of your house.
Now, while you wouldn’t want to have to look at your home’s plumbing all the time, having it hidden from view does pose a bit of a challenge. What if something goes wrong? If there’s a leak in a pipe somewhere, how can you tell? Detecting leaks and pinpointing their sources requires skilled professionals with high-tech equipment.
The Importance of Addressing Leaks
It’s obvious that, if a pipe bursts or breaks apart, a huge gush of water can cause a lot of damage. This is the sort of thing you can tell right away is an emergency. But what about slower leaks? How much damage can they do? Well, as it turns out, rather a lot.
According to the US Geological Survey, even a very gradual leak will add up to a huge amount of water. For example, imagine that you’ve got a leak that is causing just five drops of water per minute. That’s one drop every twelve seconds: not a lot, right? Quite the opposite: in just one day, that will add up to half a gallon of water! This could do a lot of damage to your property.
Signs of a Sneaky Leak
You would notice that gushing pipe in a matter of seconds, but how can you tell if there’s a slower leak, especially one that’s happening out of sight? Here are the clues you might spot.
- Pressure: If your water pressure is lower than usual, it could be because water is being lost before it can get to your faucet or shower.
- Spots: This could be a warm or cold spot on a wall or floor, where you can feel the temperature of the water before the water soaks all the way through. Or it could be a soft, sagging spot or slowly growing water stain.
- Mold: If you think nobody loves a plumbing leak, you’d be wrong. Mold loves it! The increase in moisture makes your home a much better habitat for mold.
- Bills: In some cases, the first sign a homeowner spots of a truly hidden leak is the sharp increase in their water bill.
How Professionals Detect Leaks
Once upon a time, plumbers had fewer tools for pinpointing leaks. They sometimes had to tear out large sections of wall or floor trying to find the exact place that water was coming from in order to do repairs. Today’s plumbers have much better options.
One of the best tools for this job is video pipe inspection. Have you ever watched a hostage-situation movie where the police or federal agents inserted a tiny camera through a hole to see what was happening? Using this same technology, your plumber can be the agent who uncovers what’s really going on in real-time video.
If you suspect that you might need leak repair in Johns Creek, GA, you don’t have to worry that your house will be destroyed in the process of trying to find that leak! You can trust that we’ll zero in on the source with minimal hassle.
To speak with a member of our team, contact DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today. Fixed, At the Speed of Life!
