Return to site

Why is there water leaking in My House? A few common causes of water leaks

· water leak

In most cases, a pipe leak is caused by corrosion and sediment building in the pipe or by loose connections that can let small pieces of pipe break off. Sometimes a pipe leak is combined with a water hammer, where the water pressure builds up to high levels in the pipe and then spits it back out. Water hammer will cause a lot of damage both through the spattering and through the trapped water that can't get back into your piping system. Other times, a water leak is caused by lime buildup on or inside of pipes. Lime can build up and cause corrosion that weakens the pipe wall and eventually lets the water leak out

The average family of four uses approximately 400 gallons (1,500 liters) of water per day in their homes. If a family of four has a 1/4-inch (6 mm) diameter pipe that is leaking, it would take only three weeks to lose 100 gallons (380 liters) of water through leakage—or 4 percent of the daily household use. This, of course, assumes that the water isn't being used at the time. And even if it's just leaking at a rate of a few drops per day, over time this can add up to significant amounts of lost water. As mentioned above, a pipe leak is often caused by corrosion and sediment building up on the inside of piping. But your plumbing fixtures are also at risk for leaks—and in some cases this is more common than issues with piping.

Water Leak San Diego

The most common problem with a leaking toilet is the flapper, which is a spring-loaded rubber flap inside your tank that closes off the water when you flush. It's often recommended that flappers be replaced every two to three years since they can wear out over time. Many of today's toilets also have a "float" switch that opens and closes the water valve when you lift the handle and let it go, causing difficulty shutting toilets off in many cases. Leaky faucets are very common, and are usually the result of a worn washer or other parts failure inside the faucet. Repairing of Faucet should be done by an expert and These can be replaced, but sometimes it's just easier to replace the whole faucet. 

Leaks in Pipes Carbon monoxide is released when hot water runs through your pipes. If you have a gas fireplace or gas stove, this is definitely an issue you want to address. Sulfur smells often mean your water has a problem with high levels of iron in it. This can be caused by rusty pipes or a bacterial issue in your water system. In some cases, a plumber will need to install a sulfur-removal filter in your home. Sometimes a rotten egg smell is the result of hydrogen sulfide--another indicator of problems with your water's pH levels or bacterial content. 

Water Heaters The most common source of leaks in water heaters is rust and sediment buildup on the inside of the tank. If the water level in the tank is too low, this can cause a leak. If your water heater is leaking, you will want to do your best to fix this problem as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it can get into your home in a big way: You may be able to hear water running outside when the water heater is turned off. Metal pipes can also rust and corrode from time to time; this will usually mean an immediate repair of the leak. Leaks can also occur around the gas and water connectors. 

Other Sources of Leaks Hot water heaters are often the cause of leaks in your home, but other sources exist as well: Rainwater or melted snow can leak into your basement through a crack in the foundation or in floor joists. This will create a large, wet area that may develop mold and mildew over time. Water leaks from appliances like dishwashers and washing machines cause damage over time, rusting out their internal parts and making them less efficient. A large, slow leak can result in an overloaded circuit breaker or even a blown fuse. 

Water Leak San Diego

How to Fix water leaks? 

 If you have a toilet that's leaking, the flapper is probably the first part to fail on the list. You'll want to replace it--and you'll also want to replace your toilet if it leaks. The flapper seals around the base of the rim of your toilet bowl and works by opening or closing a valve inside your tank. When you flush, water pressure pushes it back up against its rim, which closes off the valve and shuts off water flow. Because of this, flappers can develop leaks over time. If you can hear water running when the toilet is turned off, your flapper probably needs to be replaced. While replacing a toilet is a task on its own, it's always better to replace an entire tank if your flapper is not working properly and reduce the likelihood of any other problems in the future. 

Conclusion: 

You should always check your water pipes and not only the water heater in order to prevent your property from water leak. You should do this often because the roots of most problems are in the system and not in the plumbing. The first thing that you can do is taking cuttings from all pipes throughout your home and apply them to the affected area of the pipe.

Author Bio:- Angela Louise 

Angela is a marketing manager at EZ Plumbing USA. She has a great interest in educating readers about various leakages that can happen in their home or offices through her articles. With extensive knowledge of water leak and slab leak detection techniques as well as HVAC systems, Angela wants to make readers aware about the warning signs indicating leakage and predictive AC and Heater maintenance and also how to fix them to refrain from dangerous and costly consequences. 

Read articles to get more valuable information about detection and damages of water and slab leak repair, techniques to fix clogging, and installation and maintenance of AC & Appliance in San Diego.