Your home’s plumbing system is supposed to allow water to flow in and out of the house freely without leaking. So, any sign of a leaking pipe should have you worried. But since even the best plumbing materials wear off over time, you should always be prepared for leaks.
Knowing what to do when your pipes start to leak is important because you will be able to avert severe damages caused by the water seeping through the pipes, such as flooding, damaged furniture and other interior fixtures, and increased monthly water bills. According to EPA, nearly 1 trillion gallons of water get lost annually in America through household leaks. This article offers you a few simple steps that you can take immediately when your plumbing system starts to leak.
Action Steps for Leaky Pipes
Find the Leak
The first thing should be to identify where the water is coming from. Sometimes it’s not easy to detect a leak without the help of a professional plumber. A plumber will use advanced machinery and run a series of tests to locate the leak. If the leaking pipes are covered by concrete, the plumber can use a thermal imaging camera to identify the leaky pipe. Sometimes they will analyze the moisture map to pinpoint the source of the water.
Dry the Water
When a pipe starts to leak, it will cause serious damage to your walls, ceiling, floor, and other fixtures. So, you need to dry out the affected areas immediately, even before you think about repairing the pipe. If it’s a small leak, you can use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the house. You might also be forced to strip out some of the affected parts of your wall, ceiling, and floor. In case of a significant leak, you should use a specialized drying machine such as a thermal dryer.
Document the Damages
Since most homeowners insurance policies do not cover water damages caused by floods, you need to assess the risk rate and purchase a flood insurance policy. So, if you have insured your home against floods, you should document all the damages caused by the leak by taking pictures and recording videos of the damaged areas and fixtures. The documentation helps you to raise a claim.
Restoration
Once the leak has been identified and fixed by a professional plumber, it’s time to clean, sanitize, and restore the damaged areas. The amount of restoration will depend on the extent of the damage.
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