Whether you've managed to get through life without experiencing the horror of a burst pipe or you have been through it and would like to avoid it in future, regular inspections are your best bet.
Routinely inspecting your plumbing's condition is critical in early detection and preventing damage to your property and sanity.
Why Inspections are Key to Early Detection
A water pipe can burst catastrophically, flooding a home in minutes, or develop tiny cracks and slow leaks you may not detect until it's too late to prevent damage to your home. Here's how regular inspections and early detection can help.
Increase the lifespan of your plumbing: Regular inspections pick up minor problems you can have fixed right away. Small plumbing problems and broken pipes can escalate and require emergency burst pipe repair if ignored for too long.
Prevent property damage: Moisture hidden inside the walls can cause damage to your floors, ceilings, and walls. Mould outbreaks create unpleasant odours and decrease the air quality in your living spaces. Some people are sensitive to mould spores, so a leak in your plumbing can lead to serious health consequences.
Prevent a pest infestation: Pests need moisture to survive, so a small leak will invite mice, rats, termites, ants, and other undesirables into your home, where they can cause even more damage.
Save on repair bills: A small leak discovered quickly can be easily fixed at a nominal cost. Let it fester, however, and you could be up for some major reconstruction on your property.
Signs Your Plumbing Has Sprung a Leak
Recognising the signs of pipe leaks is a big step toward preventing even more damage from occurring. Here are some common signs to watch for:
Water stains or discolouration: Water leaks often result invisible stains or discolouration on walls, ceilings, or floors. These stains may appear as dark patches or streaks, indicating the presence of water seepage from pipes.
Mould or mildew growth: Excessive moisture from pipe leaks can create an ideal environment for mould and mildew to thrive. Mould or mildewin areas such as bathrooms, basements, or under sinks can indicate a potential pipe leak.
Unexplained increase in water bill: A sudden and unexplained rise in the water bill without a corresponding increase in water usage can strongly indicate an underlying pipe leak. Monitoring water bills for unusual spikes can help in the early detection of leaks.
Damp or musty odours: The presence of persistent damp or musty odours in certain areas of the house, especially where there are no other sources of moisture, can be a sign of hidden water leaks.
Decreased water pressure: A sudden lack of water pressure in the shower and other water outlets may indicate a leak in the plumbing system. Reduced water pressure can result from water escaping from the pipes before it reaches the outlet.
The Cost of Plumbing Leaks
Did you know that:
● Not only are water leaks potentially damaging, they account for almost 10% of water consumption, or billions of litres going to waste annually.
● A household can lose almost 38,000 litres of water because of minor leaks.
● If all countries could reduce their leakage to just 6%, it would be the equivalent of saving 130 Twh in energy or the equivalent annual power consumption of Poland.
● The average cost of water damage repairs in Australia is between $5,000 and $500,000, so getting in early can save a significant chunk of change.
Plumbing Inspection Tips
While a thorough and regular inspection from a trained professional is highly recommended, there's a lot you can do yourself to keep an eye on the state of your plumbing.
Check your toilet cisterns: A leaking toilet can be hard to spot. Add a small amount of food colouring to the water in the cistern. If the colour appears in the bowl without flushing, it means your toilet has a leak.
Check the water meter: Make sure no taps are running in your home (don't forget the outdoor taps). Check the water meter. If it's still turning, even slowly, it could be a sign of an undetected leak.
Inspect the pipe joints: Rust, corrosion, or beads of moisture around pipe joints are signs of weak points and potential leaks.
Perform a visible inspection: Leaks can reveal their presencethrough stains in the plasterboard and puddles around pipes and fixtures. Asoggy patch in your yard or a sudden, unusually lush and thick green patch ofvegetation could indicate that your sewer pipes have sprung a leak underground. You may also notice a foul odour inside your home as sewer gas escapes from the plumbing.
How Professionals Can Help with Plumbing Inspection and Burst Pipe Repair
Most homeowners can perform many of the leaky pipe checks themselves. However, sometimes, a professional assessment once or twice a year will ensure all your plumbing is thoroughly examined and tested for problems or developing issues. Here are more reasons why you should have a proactive assessment of your home's plumbing:
Professional advice on preventive measures: An experienced professional is the best person to identify small leaks, reveal weak spots and advise on preventative measures to help you get the most out of your plumbing.
No pipe left unchecked: Most homeowners have a rudimentary understanding of the plumbing in their home, so an in-depth analysis will ensure that you don't miss anything, even the most minor leaks hidden away from sight.
Stay compliant: Victorian plumbing regulations require that all plumbing repairs on homes in Melbourne are carried out by trained professionals with the necessary qualifications and current licenses.
Don’t stay out of the know when it comes to your home’s plumbing. Call a professional service and book an inspection foran in-depth report and expert advice.
