Plumbing leak repairs in your Washington home can be something as simple as replacing a washer on a dripping faucet or replacing the flapper on a constantly running toilet. On the other hand, homeowners might not notice leaky plumbing until they see water spots on walls and ceilings or until some other more dramatic event happens, like flooding basements, shifting foundations and mold or mildew taking over areas near plumbing leaks.
When the integrity of your home’s foundation is compromised, any number of things can happen, including cracks in walls and sinking foundations that require costly construction work to repair.
Checking for plumbing leaks
Proactive homeowners should check under their sinks and toilets, from time to time to ensure there are no signs of water damage, such as mold, mildew, moisture or buckling.
Another way to check for leaks can be to turn your water off at the main water line. If, with no appliances running, such as the dishwasher or the washing machine, your water meter continues to register usage, then you might have a plumbing leak somewhere in your system. Time to call in the professionals.
Repairing leaks and drips
Several of the most common, easy to fix leaks include dripping faucets, leaky faucets and running toilets. Even though you may think your sink drip isn’t a problem, try putting a kitchen pot under the drip and come back in 30 minutes. If the pot is full and running over, think about how many times that pot can fill up in 24 hours. That’s a lot of wasted water. If you are on a sewer plan, that little drip can start to get expensive.
Toilets
Running toilets, usually the result of a worn, leaky flapper, can be as simple as a trip to a home improvement store and a little know how.
Purchasing a toilet tank replacement kit can be the most effective and least expensive way to go, since if your flapper’s worn, the rest of your toilet’s inner workings are likely showing signs of wear as well.
If you find yourself coming up a little short in the know how department, call in a professional.
Leaking pipes
If the pipes under your kitchen or bathroom sink leak, you may be able to repair or replace them yourself. But if you notice water spotting, buckling, mildew or mold on your walls, contact a professional to find and replace leaking pipes. Wet ground around the outside your home can be an indication of an underground pipe leak or breach and requires the attention of a professional plumber.
Conserve water this winter. Check your basements and under sinks for any sign of leaky pipes. Replace washers, gaskets and o-rings on dripping faucets.
