Water damage is a property owner’s nightmare. Water can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage in a quick amount of time, ruining furniture, electronics, household appliances, and plumbing equipment. Catastrophic water damage is an expensive emergency situation, but what if a pipe doesn’t burst? What if it’s just leaking and you don’t see signs right away?
Don’t assume the slow damage will be cheaper.
Signs of a Damaged Water Pipe
Damaged water pipes leak, and much of the time, you won’t get a lot of signs until significant damage is done. Pay attention to whether you get an increase in mildew or mold, or whether it starts growing in a place that isn’t typically exposed to a lot of water. Mold thrives in moist, dark areas, and pipes are often behind walls or under flooring. While this provides a perfect habitat for mold, it will make it very difficult for you to see or fix. If you see mold or mildew cropping up on non-shower walls or in corners of the bathroom, there’s a good chance you have a damaged water pipe somewhere and the damage is already being done. The longer it takes you to detect and fix the leak, the easier and faster mold will grow.
There are other potential signs as well. Blistering paint or wallpaper can be a sign that moisture is in the walls, and warped or stained walls are a clear indication that you have a moisture problem. Drywall doesn’t handle moisture well and it becomes soft, warping and breaking. If a leak reaches a ceiling (or if your damaged pipe is on the second floor), it can cause the ceiling to sag and eventually start leaking the water it has accumulated.
Floors can be damaged as well. Floors rarely suffer water damage unless water is left on it, so if your floor is buckling, cracking, or beginning to stain, there’s a good chance you have a damaged water pipe somewhere. Moisture can also make your floor feel spongy or soft, and tiles can start pulling away from wet flooring. This will leak into the subfloor as well, causing more extensive damage.
Finding the Problem
While knowing where the damage is occurring can give you an indication of where the problem lies, this isn’t always the case. Water can travel down or along pipes and cause damage elsewhere. If you can’t find the root of the problem, the damage will continue to grow. Pipes that have started to degrade or developed a leak will continue to do so until they’re replaced, causing increasing amounts of destruction. The majority of leaks occur around plumbing fixtures like tubs, sinks, and toilets. Check drains to see if they’re draining properly. Check under sinks and inside their cabinets to look for water damage. Make sure your toilet is properly secured to the floor and not wobbling. If you suspect a leak in the water supply system, you can confirm it by turning off all faucets. If you have a drippy faucet or a toilet that runs between flushes, close the shutoff valves. Go to your water meter and check the position of the “1-cubic-foot” dial. Check again in 2 hours. If the dial has moved, you have a leak in your water supply.
Assessing the Damage
Once you’ve figured out where the problem is, you’re going to have to figure out how extensive the damage is. You might have damage to walls, floors, paint, wallpaper, or fixtures. There’s a good chance that, if a leak has been going for a while, you’re going to have mold in your walls. This is costly and dangerous to fix. It requires special equipment to prevent health hazards while removing the mold.
There is always a risk that a damaged pipe, especially if it’s part of your water supply system, can rupture, causing severe damage to your home. The longer water damage is going in your home, the more professional assistance you’re going to need to repair the damage. Catching the problem early can save you a lot of trouble and money.
