An Accurate Leak Inspection Could Save You Thousands of Rands
While water is a necessity for life, it can also be a destructive force, even in small amounts. This is especially evident in our very own households. While plumbing is essential and one of the biggest contributors to modern life as we know it, even a tiny leak in a pipe can cause havoc and even lead to a house becoming uninhabitable. This is why proper leak inspection is so important. If you suspect that you have a leaking pipe on your property, get a professional plumber to conduct a proper leak inspection – it could save you thousands of rand.
The Dangers of Leaking Pipes
A leaking pipe can cause havoc and destruction in your home. Even a small leak has the potential to cause significant damage if it is not attended to in time, such as:
- Structural damage. This is one of the most significant dangers of a leaking pipe. Seeping water can cause the structure of the house to be compromised, resulting in extensive and expensive repair work or even the need for rebuilding parts of the house.
- Floor damage. Water can damage carpets, warp floorboards, and discolour floor covers.
- Wall and paint damage. Leaks can lead to flaking paint, cracks, and bubbling and crumbling walls.
- Ceiling damage. An overhead leak can stain ceilings and might cause ceilings to rot and collapse.
- Growing mould. The dampness resulting from leaks provide a perfect environment for the growth of mould and mildew. Aside from the aesthetic damage, this can negatively affect your health.
How do you know if you have a leaking pipe?
If you suspect a leak, you can do the following inspection to determine whether there is a problem:
- If you can hear hissing in the walls where pipes are, this could be an indication that water is escaping.
- Signs of spreading damp on a wall, ceiling, or floor is another indication that there might be a leaking pipe in your home.
- Have you noticed a drop in the water pressure? This could mean that water is escaping rather than flowing to its intended destination.
- If your water-usage habits have not changed but your water bill is suddenly high, it could also be a sign that water is going to waste somewhere.
- Close all taps and do not use any water. Check your water meter reading and again in an hour or two. If it has changed in spite of you not using any water, it means that water is escaping somewhere.
What do you do next?
Turn off your water supply and contact a professional plumber to perform a leak inspection on your house. The benefits of professional leak inspection are:
- Faster detection of the problem and its location.
- Less-invasive intervention, as the problem can be addressed directly at its source, rather than having to uncover the entire pipe.
If you think you have a leaking pipe, contact Alpha Plumbing immediately. We have the necessary technology to do an accurate leak inspection on your house and the expertise to fix the problem immediately and with as little disruption as possible.
