Plumbing Leaks - Water Damage

Water damage is one of a home owner's worst fears. It results in rotted wood, mold, and weakened support. It can also present possible electrical issues and it produces foul odors. Unfortunately, to rid yourself of these problems, it can take a fair amount of money and time.

Plumbing leaks early is the key to success
A leak can be any opening that water can get into, not just an active drip. If water seeps into an open crack and lays there, it can cause water damage. Even if some of it evaporates, the remaining water can create mold and weaken drywall.

If it's not taken care of right away, the damage can spread to other areas. If this happens, you will end up with a bigger repair job than you would have had originally. It could require repairing or replacing a wall instead of simply re-caulking the crack.

The joints of pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks are common problem areas for plumbing leaks. A small opening can be left behind if the plumber's tape or sealing compound is not properly applied. Water will find it's way through the smallest of holes. Eventually, it will find its way to the bottom of the pipe where it will begin dripping on the cabinet floor.

This is where the mildew will begin to grow. This will inevitably lead to rotting and weakening of the floor material. This will often lead to another crack or hole, and then the water will find its way to other areas.

You can check for plumbing leaks periodically by feeling around the joints and bottoms of your pipes. After performing any kind of plumbing job, you should check more often. You should know very soon if you have applied the plumber's tape or sealing compound correctly.

Look for water leaks that start higher up, too.
Kitchen faucets often develop small openings in the caulking or sealant. Water will lie behind the plate at the base of the faucet. The caulking gets worn away when people use steel wool type cleaning materials for this area. It is important to periodically check this area for leaks.

Cracks in this area will not show up all at once. They will gradually form over time as the caulking continues to get worn away from cleaning and water exposure. This process will be accelerated by the frequent temperature changes near the kitchen window. These changes in temperature will cause the caulking to expand and contract, eventually causing it to crack as the seal weakens.

Periodically checking your plumbing for leaks is a good practice to get into. Check the joints and bottoms of the pipes on any plumbing that you can get to. If you do find a leak, repair it immediately, no matter how small it is. If you do this, you will save yourself hundreds, if not thousands of dollars later on in repair bills. You'll be glad you took the time to perform this simple routine maintenance.