Plumbing leaks can be found anywhere in your house or commercial property. It could be on your ceiling, underground, behind the property walls, as well as on the pipes. Leaks are common in kitchens, drains, toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers. So why do you need to be bothered about the leaks? It is because a small leak can end up causing damage to the property. It could flood, rot, and decay the floor or the tile below, leading to a huge mess. This makes it essential to take immediate action if you notice any leak in your commercial or residential property. If you are not sure of what needs to be done, then it is best to hire a professional plumbing service in Perth to detect and stop the leak.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are a common place where you can find plumbing leaks.
- To check for the same look at the exterior and the interior bathroom walls. If the adjacent wall paint or wallpaper starts to peel off, then this too indicates a leak.
- Loose and falling wall tiles could also be caused because of water seepage. You may even spot some mould growth in certain parts of your bathroom. This is seen especially in areas that are closer to the shower or the bath. If your bathroom pipes leak, then this is a breeding spot for moulds.
- Another key place to look at is the ceiling that lies exactly below the bathroom. If that is stained, then this indicates a water leak. Curled and loose flooring is also an indication of water leakage.
- Caulking is an aspect that should not be ignored if there is some space between the bathtub and the floor. When prone to water leak, this erodes the gaps between the bathtub and the floor.
Toilets
The toilets are another crucial area for plumbing leaks. Most of the toilets in Perth are connected to various pipes as these are mostly placed in the floors above. If there are leaks that are left unattended, then this can cause a lot of damage. Here is how to check the leak in the toilet.
- One way to check a leak is to add food colour in the water tank of the toilet. Leave it without flushing. If you notice that the watercolour in the bowl changes its colour, then this indicates a leak.
- Check the base of the toilet. If it is loose, then this could be because of a leaking pipe. You can check the toilet floor when you sit on it and feel if it is moving. When you flush the toilet, then the water could be seeping through it, and this may form water puddles.
- Look at the area of your ceiling right below the toilet. If it is stained, measure the distance between the stain and the toilet to find out the stain source. You would notice water puddles often are close to the main source. This makes it easy to understand the leak’s location.
Kitchen
The next room where you are likely to find a leaking pipe in your kitchen. Most of the leaks will be placed close to the sink and near the water supply pipe below your sink. Kitchen taps that are leaking are also common.
- The lower area below the countertop of the sink will show changes if there is a water leak. If you have a plastic laminate countertop, then the leak can be easily spotted. The countertops will feel spongy and swollen. Pour water along with the taps of the sink. The area in the edge of the kitchen sink is where the sink and the countertop will meet. If the water starts to drip beneath, this indicates a leak because of the space between them. It could also be a concern if the taps of the sink is loose and exposed to the constant splashes of water. It will cause the taps connected jointly with the countertop to lose out and let some of the water to go through it with time.
- If the base of the taps of the sink is loose and exposed to water splashes, then the joint connected to the countertop will get loose, which causes water to seep with time.
- Also, check the area between the cabinets. The area would have rotting boards, dampness, and water puddles in it. It is because of a leaking pipe in the cabinet.
- If you stay in a multi-story apartment, look for leaks in the ceiling area that lies underneath the kitchen. It will show wet stains. When there is prolonged leakage, the water will seep through the joints and show on the ceiling below.
- Pass a dry cloth or paper to check the drain and the supply pipes around the slip joints and the shut-off valves. The areas that leak leave behind spots of water on the cloth or the paper.
Exterior Pipes
The leaking pipes are not just restricted to inside a home. It could also be caused outdoors. Your main water supply is prone to a lot of leaks.
If there are leaking hoses, if there is an increase in growth of grass around the mainline pipe, or if you notice corrosions on the pipe, this indicates a leaking pipe.
Underground and hidden pipes
A leak could occur underground or within the wall. These are leaks on the basements, concrete slabs, and the ceiling. It can be a real challenge to find these leaks.
- To check the leak, you should first watch your water meter reading to see how it moves. Once it is done, switch off the tap and the taps and see if the water meter reading is still moving. If the reading is still moving, then this is a leak hidden.
- If you notice moulds, mildew, and rotten wood in some areas, this could be because of underground or hidden leaking pipes. These moulds could be developing on the wall or floor because of a leak behind the area.
- Check for the heat that comes from a surface. The heat could be caused by water getting pressurized when the surface is hit, generating heat.
Conclusion
There are many leaks that you may fail to detect with your naked eye. In such cases, you may want to set up an appointment with a plumbing service in Perth that uses modern technologies to see if there are any leaking pipes. Overall, in any situation, be cautious and always keep an eye for these symptoms as they can lead to damage to your property.