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How to Detect Leaky Pipes

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Melbourne Plumber

Water leaks are a serious problem and should always be taken care of as soon as possible. That’s why you always need to be on the lookout for signs of a water leak, and why you have to work hard to take care of these issues before they cause serious problems. Here are some common signs of pipe leaks that you should be on the lookout for.

The Smell

One of the main ways that you’ll spot leaky pipes is by the smell of them. They put off a mold or mildew smell, or at least the surrounding materials do once they are soaking wet. If you begin to notice an odd smell somewhere in your home, it could be caused by a leak that you haven’t found yet. Pay attention to odd odors and record right where you smelled them so that you can investigate the problem when you have time to do so.

Water Stains

If the issue is an upstairs pipe, or an exposed pipe, you might see water stains around the problem that you didn’t know existed. If you notice water stains at the base of your toilet, on a downstairs ceiling in your home or on the flooring somewhere in your house, it’s possible that you have leaky pipes that you haven’t noticed yet. Investigate the stain more closely and make sure that you figure out what the source of the water is, because staining is almost always due to a serious issue.

Peeling or Puffy Paint

If paint is peeling off the walls in one section of your home, or it’s beginning to puff out, you probably have moisture in the walls. It’s due to a pretty serious leak somewhere in your home, and it’s up to you to handle that leak before it causes additional problems. Check out the pipes behind the wall that you notice the symptoms in. You’ll likely spot some sort of a leak.

Call the Plumber Immediately

When you discover a leak in your home, or you see signs of severe water damage, it’s important to call in a plumber as soon as possible. This professional can help you get the issue sorted out, and if you don’t call in help your home could be damaged severely. Make sure you deal with a plumber that you trust, and that you get help as soon as you can. It’s good to try to limit the leak on your own, but consider getting a plumber in there to inspect the problem even if you believe that you fixed it yourself.