Home Plumbing Tips: Signs That You May Have A Serious Problem

Of course, there are the easy to spot constant drips from a tap that may have a damaged thread or faucet (and is pretty easy to fix) but it is the undetected leaks that, more often than not, will cause the most problems and cost the most in terms of lost water, money and inconvenience. These undetected leaks will, over time, cause structural damage as well as lead to mold growth.

There are all sorts of reasons for undetected leaks: perhaps damage was unintentional such as a nail or screw being pushed through a pipe when hanging a picture. Perhaps plumbing joints have not been sealed properly or pipes have simply corroded with age. New buildings tend to ‘stretch' during their first few years too, which may cause undue strain on fixed plumbing. At least problems with new homes are normally covered by a builders warranty.

The four easy to spot giveaway signs of an undetected leak are dampness (especially on walls), small pools of water on the floor, a sour smell and or mold.
Mold can cause serious health problems and will spread quickly if it is not dealt with properly, becoming more and more expensive to remedy as it does so.

Dampness on walls normally means that the structure of your home is being degraded quickly. Structural damage to non load-bearing walls is normally not too big an expense to deal with but damage to load-bearing walls and structures can be very expensive to repair, not to mention involve a major upheaval in living arrangements so the earlier that problems are identified, the better.

If you should spot any of the signs of undetected problems, you should call in an expert at the earliest possible time. Any qualified plumber or home inspector / surveyor should quickly be able to confirm the existence of any major problems and even if no problems are detected, paying a small call-out fee to a plumber has got to be worth the peace of mind it will bring. If you have home insurance, the cost of any repairs due will normally be covered and if you are a tenant, your landlord will be responsible for the costs of repair, which are probably also insured anyway.

On a final note for potential homebuyers, it is always worth paying a little extra for a full structural survey, where potential plumbing problems should be identified. Investing in such a rigorous home inspection almost always pays dividends in identifying potential problems.