4 Issues That Cause Water Leaks in Your Home

It doesn’t take a whole lot of water to cause a whole lot of damage in your home, which is why you are well advised to try to identify potential problem areas for leaks before they have a chance to develop, using common sense or even professional water leak detection.

There are certain elements and conditions that are usually the culprit behind emergency plumbing leaks in your home. Here are the four most common causes:

1 – Older Pipes

Many of your home’s components age over time and will need to be replaced. This is true when it comes to your plumbing. There are a host of issues that can come about from older pipes, but the most troublesome is water leaks.

If you know that your plumbing is older, you may want to proactively replace aging parts. This will save you from water damage as well as the costs of water leak repair.

2 – Water Quality

If your pipes are high in certain minerals or toxins, as is the case in a number of Toronto, ON neighborhoods, not only is your water not great for you to consume, it can also cause damage to your pipes, which can lead to water leaks.

When is the last time that you had the quality of your water tested? It’s a worthwhile step.

If you discover that your water quality is poor, consider installing a water softener or a water filtration system to improve the overall quality.

3 – Wrong Water Pressure

Everyone loves the feeling of a strong, hot shower, but if you knew what that strong water pressure was doing to your pipes, you might feel differently.

Take a few minutes to test your water pressure and make sure that it is in the safe range.

Most homes are set to a range between 45-60 psi. Don’t go too far over 60 psi or you risk damage to your pipes, and of course water leaks.

4 – Corrosion

Over time, especially if your water is high in salt or minerals, residue gathers inside your pipes. Eventually, the pipes corrode, which causes them to leak.

These leaks can be substantial, messy and expensive to repair. If you have older pipes, or if you see evidence of corrosion (either rust on or around the pipes, or mineral deposits on the pipes) consider have a professional leak detection done.

You may want to take it one step further and replace old copper pipes with rust-resistant PVC, which will keep corrosion at bay for much longer. When it comes to leak detection, be vigilant to signs of water damage, so you can stop it before it gets out of control.