How To Detect That You're Having A Plumbing Problem?

By John Saparo

Of course, there are the easy to spot consistent drips from a tap that may have a damaged thread or tap but it is the unnoticed leaks that, more often than not, will cause the most Problems and cost the most re lost water, cash and inconvenience. These undetected leaks will, over time, cause structural damage as well as lead to mold expansion.

There are all kinds of reasons for unnoticed leaks : perhaps damage was unintended like a nail or screw being pushed through a pipe when hanging a picture. Perhaps plumbing joints have not been sealed correctly or pipes have simply corroded with age. New buildings have a tendency to 'stretch' during their first few years too, that might cause undue tension on fixed plumbing. At least Problems with new homes are typically covered by a builders warranty.

The 4 straightforward to spot giveaway symptoms of a undetected leak are dampness ( particularly on walls ), small pools of water on the floor, a sour smell and or mold.

Mold may cause major health Problems and will spread quickly if it is not dealt with properly, becoming more and more expensive to address as it does so.

Dampness on walls routinely means the structure of your house is being degraded fast. Structural damage to non load-bearing walls is usually not so big an expense to deal with but damage to load-bearing walls and structures can be really pricey to repair not to mention involve a major upheaval in living agreements so the earlier that issues are identified, the better.

If you should spot any of the appearances of undetected Problems, you should call in a wiz at the earliest possible time. Any qualified plumber or home inspector / surveyor should quickly be in a position to confirm the existence of any major problems and even if no Problems are spotted, paying a little call-out fee to a plumber has got to be worth the reassurance it will bring. If you have home insurance, the cost of any repairs due will routinely be covered and if you are a tenant, your owner will be responsible for the expenses of repair, which are possibly also insured anyway.

On a last note for potential house buyers, it is always worth paying a little extra for a full structural survey, where potential plumbing issues should be identified. Making an investment in such a rigorous home inspection almost always pays dividends in identifying potential problems. - 30517

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