How Much Damage Can a Water Leak Cause to Your Home?

Water damage is one of the dreadful things a homeowner could face especially during certain seasons when pipes are cracking, leaves are clogging, snow is melting, or there’s heavy rainfall.

Water pipes, whether they contain wastewater or clean water should not leak in your home so it’s best to constantly conduct water leak detection as early as possible.

Hidden water leaks can cause serious damage to your home even before you notice it. Water can be destructive whether it gushes from a ruptured main pipe or it seeps from a loose-fitting pipe. In addition, leaks can also increase your monthly water bill.

Furthermore, water leaks can play havoc in your home which can lead to thousands of dollars in repair costs if you won’t perform water leak detection ahead of time. A buildup of molds and fungi can also be hazardous to you and your family’s health.

Late water leak detection causes risk and consequences both to your health and home, here are some of them:

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1. Late Water Leak Detection Decreases Your Property Value

A history of water damage from leaks decreases the value of your home or property because even if you think that you have completely fixed the damage, there is still a lingering effect on it.

So if you have decided to sell your home in the future, this can compromise your bargaining position and will definitely decrease your final selling price.

Taking care of leaks earlier or right away prevents water damage from occurring or reoccurring and helps maintain the value of your home.

2. Early Water Leak Detection Helps Prevent Structural Damage

Another potential hazard to be aware of is the structural damage water leak can bring your home. It can be dangerous and expensive and the most obvious and prominent signs of water leaks are staining, discoloration or streaks on your walls.

When your home’s drywall starts to absorb water from a leaking pipe or from other sources of water damage, it begins to swell and warp and this can happen to structural materials as well — if left untreated for long, this can compromise the structural integrity of your home and this is most dangerous for support beams that hold your home together.

3. Not Performing Water Leak Detection Leads to Mold and Fungal Growth

Mold and fungal growth are some of the biggest consequences of water leak in your home. These organisms could be hazardous to your health because they produce spores that become air pollutants and may cause a long-term health problem.

When spores come into contact with water, it triggers their growth and molded spores can proliferate which fills areas with unhealthy and unsightly mold growth.

Mold spores in the air can lead to nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing — these symptoms can become catastrophic especially for people who have a pre-existing condition or a weakened immune system.

So How Do You Perform Water Leak Detections?

Discovering water leaks in your home is essential for the safety of your family and home. However, water leaks can sometimes remain hidden and the first step in solving the problem is discovering the problem.

• Pay attention to odd odors

A leaking pipe would often leave an odd, musty smell in the air and the odor would be noticeable, this can even be the first sign that there’s a water leak inside your home. Try finding the source of the musty smell and you might find a water leak problem that has gone unnoticed.

• Sagging walls or ceilings

Water tends to accumulate in a single spot when there is a water leak because water would always flow to a given point where you would notice a sagging wall or ceiling. The added weight of the water causes the wall or ceiling to sag and can have a negative effect on the structure of your home.

• Discoloration on your walls

Another warning sign of a water leak in your home is discoloration on your walls. A yellowish or off-white stain appearing along your wall can be a sign of a hidden leak and this should be considered a major sign of leakage.

The more aware you are about the causes of water leaks in your home, the more you can save thousands of dollars in repair and the more you could keep your family and home safe.