Most people understand perfectly well what a plumbing leak is and have seen a leaky faucet or pipe at least once in their lifetime. However, there is still a surprising amount of information that people don’t know when it comes to leaks that can occur in their homes.
If you’re a homeowner, here are some important facts that you should know about leaks.
Fact #1: Leaks may seem small, but they can waste a lot of water
According to WaterSense, one leaky faucet in your home that drips once per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water in one year. That equates to over 180 showers that were taken by nobody.
When you take into account how many homes have leaks in the United States, you can start to see just how much water is wasted daily and annually. In fact, 10% of homes in the U.S. contain leaks that waste a minimum of 90 gallons of water daily. WaterSense estimates that household leaks can account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water every year. To give you an idea of just how much water that is, 1 trillion gallons is equivalent to over 11 million households’ annual water usage.
Fact #2: Leaks can occur in plain sight or completely out of sight
Some leaks in your home are obvious because they occur on a plumbing fixture or in an area of your home that you regularly access. However, leaks can also occur behind walls, above ceilings, under floors, and underneath your home, and those types of leaks can cause serious water damage.
It’s best to contact a plumber for advanced leak detection services if you encounter any of these signs of a hidden leak in your home:
- A musty odor
- Mold or mildew growth
- Damaged/chipping wallpaper or wall paint
- Staining on floors, walls, or ceilings
- An inexplicably high water bill
Fact #3: The most common types of leaks in households are easy to repair
Dripping faucets, worn-out toilet flappers, and faulty valves are typical leaks in many households. Plumbers consider these sorts of issues only a minor repair and can fix the problem with no trouble.
Fact #4: Some leaks can threaten your home’s structural integrity
While some leaks result in water damage to your walls and flooring, other leaks result in damage to your home’s foundation. Slab leaks occur within the slab foundation of your home, and as the leak worsens, it can create cracks in your foundation or even cause your foundation to shift or move.
What should I do if I have a leak?
If you have an active leak that you aren’t able to stop at the source, locate your water meter, and shut off the main water supply to your house. Next, clean up the water as quickly as possible to avoid mold and mildew growth. After that, contact a plumber to repair the leak.
Shreveport businesses and homeowners can count on Bobby L Greene Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Co. to provide superior leak detection services with the latest technologies. Our leak repair plumbers are always professional and will always treat your home with care.
