We all intuitively know that it’s not a good idea to ignore a leaking pipe. If you see an innocent puddle under the kitchen sink or hear a slow drip-drip-drip sound behind a wall, it can be easy to ignore. You put it off until the next day or say that you’ll deal with it at the weekend when you have more time.
Unfortunately, in the world of home maintenance, this is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make. If you don’t call out a plumber to fix the problem or do something about it yourself, you can find yourself facing some pretty hefty bills.
The domino effect of water damage
You’ve heard of the domino effect in political theory, but it can also occur in the world of home maintenance and water damage. Water doesn’t sit still; it travels through materials and slowly destroys them over time. It can also invite other critters and creatures into your home that damage the structural integrity.
For example, hidden leaks can seep into wood frames and studs and floorboards. Over time, these become weakened and eventually they can fail, leading to a collapse of a part of your property. Once you see the warped hardwood or peeling paint, it’s often too late. The damage has already been done, and the entire edifice may require replacement.
Silent health issues
On the flip side, there are also silent health issues that can arise when you ignore leaks. Many homeowners don’t realise it, but it takes as little as 24 to 48 hours for mould to start growing in some locations, depending on the climate. Mould spores thrive in the dim interiors of walls and under floors, and they can do more than just smell bad and look unsightly. Unfortunately, when mould grows, it can lead to health hazards as it releases spores into indoor air. Many people in mouldy environments experience:
- Skin rashes and eye irritation
- Severe asthma attacks
- More general coughing and sneezing, which is never particularly pleasant
Your money is going down the drain
At the same time, your money is often going down the drain, quite literally, when you have a leak in your home. You end up paying much more for your utility bills.
The waste from a faucet or pipe that leaks just 10 times a minute can be up to 500 gallons a year in some cases. That’s a lot of extra money to be spending on water that you’re not using. A hidden main line leak can be even worse. These can waste thousands of gallons of water every year, putting up your utility bills enormously and leaving you wondering what’s going wrong.
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to spot a hidden leak. For example, most people smell musty odours to begin with. This usually means that water is pooling somewhere that you can’t see. You can also look out for:
- spiking water bills (although this is a bit indirect)
- low water pressure, indicating a leak somewhere in your system
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