We are well aware of the fact that leaks occur in the home, and they do so very often. What we don’t understand is that they arise. Why does your pipe unexpectedly start leaking if you haven’t damaged it? Are the pipes defective? Is the leak an indicator that something has gone wrong?
Fortunately, the answer to these questions is “possibly not.” The majority of household leaks are the result of time and wear and tear. Knowing where these leaks come from and what to do when they happen is crucial to identifying, repairing, and stopping them. Here’s what you should be mindful of:
Common Causes Of Plumbing Leaks
Almost all pipes leak at some stage, but several factors may speed up or slow down the process, and allow the leak to occur in the first place. The following are the most frequent sources of plumbing leaks:
Broken seals – Most appliances have seals in place at the point where water flows inside. These seals can wear out or break over time like any other part of a fixture. When this occurs, some of the water that should be running into the appliance spills out instead.
Clogs – Clogs allow water to back up, causing pressure buildup on the insides of pipes. All of the friction breaks off seals and the sides of pipe walls over time. When the pressure builds up to a point that the damaged pipe walls or seals will no longer tolerate it, they break and cause a leak.
Corrosion – Over time, the inside of pipe walls can corrode or rust. When you have hard water or high water pressure, it can speed up the process. Corroded pipes can no longer handle the pressure of flowing water. The pressure and force could eventually cause a leak, especially in the corroded section.
How To Prevent Plumbing Leaks?
Taking proper care of the pipes is the most efficient way to prevent plumbing leaks. Fortunately, taking care of plumbing pipes is pretty simple. Make sure you:
Don’t use chemical drain cleaners. Chemical drain cleaners may tend to be a fast and simple way to remove clogs, but they aren’t. Chemical drain cleaners have no means of distinguishing between a clog and the drains that contain it. Drain cleaners can eat away at the interior of the pipes if you use them too much. They can finally chew through your pipes full, causing a leak.
Don’t use your drains as garbage disposals. The majority of pipe leaks occur due to one of the following reasons: The first is poor fittings. The second is clogs that put so much pressure on your pipe walls. You’re much more likely to cause clogs that need drain cleaning if you use your drains like garbage disposals by flushing items that you shouldn’t. This increases your odds of triggering a clog, and your chances of causing a leak.
Have A Leak? What Should You Do?
If the leak is caused by a poor fitting, you might be able to patch it on your own. To avoid a leak in its tracks, simply grip the loose-fitting with a plumber’s wrench and secure it. Hairline breaks, damage, and burst line leaks, on the other hand, are more difficult to patch. If your pipe is already cut open, we suggest taping it up and finding a specialist to support you.
A skilled plumbing technician will identify and fix existing leaks in your home’s plumbing system quickly. We’ll also use this time to search at any signs of potential danger to help ensure that they don’t turn into fresh leaks once we’ve left. A quick plumbing repair and inspection now will save you a lot of time, aggravation, and money in the long run.
Leaks in the plumbing system can occur at any time. It’s pretty normal. If you have one in your house, the only thing you can do is deal with it right away. The longer you keep a leak, the more likely it is to inflict more damage. You’ll be able to easily detect and patch the plumbing leaks if you follow the above instructions.
And remember, give the team at J.O. Plumbing a call, if you ever need help with particular plumbing leaks or any other plumbing issues. Our experts will get things back to normal in no time!
