3 Warning Signs That Your Pipes Are Leaking

A leaky pipe in your plumbing is a serious issue. Even a small drip is nothing to ignore. Leaks do not go away on their own; they only get bigger and put you at risk for more damage. If a small leak turns into a burst pipe, you could be looking at much more than just a plumbing bill. Water and mold damage are expensive. It is best to catch leaks in your pipes right away and get them fixed before they become a large problem. Here are three warning signs that your pipes are leaking.

  1. Water spots on walls or ceilings. A discolored ceiling tile or water spots on your walls can mean a pipe is leaking. Even if it is not your plumbing, you have a leak somewhere that needs to be identified.
  2. Warped floor boards. If you notice the floor boards in your bathroom or kitchen are warped or feel spongy, it is time to investigate. You may have a leak that is ruining your subflooring and needs to be fixed before you no longer have a floor.
  3. Water bill increase. For those on municipal water, the water bill can be an eye-opener that you have a major leak. Sometimes a water main can be leaking outside the house and you don’t even know it, or an outdoor water source has a leak. A big water bill or any increase in usage is a good indicator that you may have a leak in one of your pipes.

At the first indication that you have a plumbing leak, call your local plumber for a water line repair. It is worth the investment to get your plumbing fixed right to avoid more costly damage to your home.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(404) 973-2471

Water Leaks Waste Water And Money

A water leak in your home can cost a lot more than most people think.  Even a small leak can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars per year on your water bills.  A large water leak in your water service line can set you back over a thousand dollars per month!

Don’t let this happen to you – be vigilant and call your local plumber at the first sign of a water leak.  Repairing a water leak will cost far less than the cost of the wasted water.  In addition, underground water leaks in your water supply line can lead to insect problems or damage to your foundation.  Water leaks in the plumbing inside your home can cause expensive damage to walls, floors, and ceilings.

Your first line of defense against water leaks is to keep a close eye on your water bill.  If you see an unexplained rise in your water usage, this is usually the first sign of a water leak and you should investigate further.

Your water meter can help you determine whether you have a water leak in your home.  Locate your water meter and make a note of the reading on the meter.  Turn off all water using devices in your home including automatic ice makers, pool fillers, sprinkler systems, humidifiers, dishwashers, and other appliances.  Don’t flush any toilets or use any faucets for at least 4 hours, then check the meter reading again.

If the meter reading has changed, then you have a water leak and you should call your local plumber right away to have the leak repaired.  Your local plumber will be able to find the leak quickly and explain your repair options.

 

Trenchless Water Line Replacement

If you need to have your water service line replaced, be sure to consider your options before your plumber starts digging.  The traditional method is to dig a trench from the meter to your home, lay the new waterline in the trench, and then bury it.  This method leaves an ugly scar across your yard.  It can also be very trick if the water line runs under a driveway, sidewalk, or landscaping feature.

An alternative is using a trenchless excavation water line replacement technique.  Instead of digging an entire trench, your plumber digs a hole at the meter and another hole where the line enters your home.  Then a flexible water service line is pulled through the old line, breaking up the old as it goes.

Once the new line is in place, your plumber hooks up each end of the line and fills the holes. Trenchless pipe replacement is a little more expensive than trenching, but the big advantage to trenchless water line replacement is that there is limited digging and damage to your yard.

Trenchless pipe replacement only works in a relatively straight line.  If there is a sharp bend in the old water service line, a hole will need to be dug at that point and a fitting will be installed to make the sharp bend.  Also, only flexible pipe such as polyethylene or soft copper pipe can be used for the replacement water line.  If you want to use hard copper line or PVC, your only alternative is trenching.

Household Water Pressure Problems

If the water flow coming out of your faucets or showerheads doesn’t seem to be as strong as it once was, you may have a problem with your water pressure.  There can be many different causes of low water pressure.  The problem can originate at the municipal water supply, or maybe more homes have been hooked up to the water main that services your home.

A clogged, corroded, or broken water supply line can result in lower water pressure, your water pressure regulator may need to be adjusted, or the problem can be with an individual fixture.

Your first step is to measure the water pressure in your home using a pressure gauge available at your local home improvement center.  The guage threads onto your outdoor faucet or to your washing machine connection.  Read the pressure, then call your local water authority and find out what the pressure should be in your area.  If your pressure is correct, then the problem may be a clogged fixture.

Remove the offending showerhead or faucet strainer and check to see if it is clogged by debris or hard water deposits.  If so, clean out the foreign material and see if the pressure improves.

If you still think your water pressure or water flow seems unusually low, you may have a problem with your pressure regulator or your water supply line.  If the water supply line is corroded or broken, the result will be lower water pressure in your home.  The same is true for an improperly adjusted pressure regulator.

In either case, you will need to seek help from a plumbing professional for a water line repair or to adjust your water pressure regulator.

Water Service Line Insurance Coverage

If you are a homeowner who has received a dire sounding letter stating that you are not covered by water service line insurance and offering to sell you coverage, you may be wondering if you need this coverage.  Your water service line is the pipe that runs from the municipal water main at the street to your home and supplies your home with fresh water.  Your water utility is responsible for maintaining the water main, but you are responsible for maintenance and repairs to the water service line between the water main and your home.

Water service lines can rupture or leak and when they do, a water line repair or replacement of the line can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.  The first sign of a leaky or broken water service line is usually a mushy area in the yard or an unusually high water bill.

Galvanized or polybutylene water lines tend to deteriorate over time and when these pipes start leaking, it is usually best to replace the entire line.  Depending on the length of the line and the type of replacement, expect to pay somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 for a water line replacement.

If you have copper or PVC pipe, it may be repairable for less than $1,000.  With all this in mind, coverage that costs a few dollars a month sounds pretty good, but keep in mind that the majority of water service lines last 20 to 30 years or more without a problem.

If you decide that you need coverage, examine the policy very closely.  Some may exclude coverage for thawing of frozen pipes or normal wear and tear or have other exclusions that deny coverage for most causes of broken water pipes.  Be sure you are getting the coverage you need before signing on the dotted line.

When to Replace a Leaking Water Service Line

Most homeowners first recognize that they have a problem with their water service line when one of two things happens:  Either they get an unusually large water bill or they find a mushy spot in the yard.  Both of these are signs that your water line is leaking and calls for immediate help from an experienced plumbing contractor.

With a leaking water line you will have the option of replacing the entire line or just repairing the leaky section.  The answer depends on your unique situation and your plumber will be able to help you make the decision, but in general if you have a polybutylene or galvanized steel line you should replace it.  If you have copper or PVC, then answer depends on the condition of the pipe and the cause of the leak.

Older galvanized steel or polybutylene water lines tend to deteriorate over time.  When a leak develops, it usually signals that the entire line is on the verge of failure and the pipe should be replaced rather than repaired.  Sometimes these lines can be repaired, but they will usually start leaking again in a new location.  Spending money on repairs is a waste of time for galvanized steel or polybutylene.  It’s best to bite the bullet and have the line replaced.

Copper and PVC water lines are another matter.  These can often be repaired, depending on the reason for the leak.  If the leak is at a fitting or caused by shifting of the ground and the pipe otherwise appears to be in good condition, it is usually possible to repair PVC and especially copper water supply lines with good results.  Your plumber can help you decide if water line replacement or water line repair is the best option for these types of pipes.

Preventing Water Pipes From Freezing

This has been a very cold winter for many parts of the United States.  Freezing temperatures for prolonged periods of time have been seen in most states.

During prolonged freezing temperatures, you need to ensure that your pipes do not freeze and burst.  Broken pipes will cause immediate flooding in your home, creating sheetrock damage, ceiling damage, and destruction of floors and carpets.

The easiest way to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze is to know how well the pipes were insulated.  If you have never checked your exposed water pipe insulation, this is an easy job. Simply visually inspect all water pipes.  Appropriate insulation should surround each pipe.  If no insulation is present, local homeowner’s stores sell these relatively inexpensively.  Homeowner’s can then apply the insulation around the pipe, securing with tape for colder months.

If you did not have time to check the pipe insulation, on cold nights and whenever the temperature is expected to be below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you should leave water trickling in a sink.  One water outlet generally is fine, and a slow drip is all that is needed to keep the water moving through the pipes.

If this fails, and you notice water stains, standing water in your basement or bottom floor, or signs of a burst pipe  such as a lack of water pressure or water stream when turning the water on, you should immediately contact your local professional plumber for an emergency water line repair.  Turn the water off at the main entrance point, usually at the street water meter, and wait for help to arrive.  During this time, you should also consider calling your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if any assistance is available to you for repairs and clean up.

Repairing a Leaky Water Service Line

Most people rely on a professional plumber to repair or replace a leaking or broken water service line.  This is usually a big, dirty job that involves a lot of digging.  If you want to try to handle the work yourself or if you just want an understanding of what a water line repair entails, here is an overview of the process.

First, the source of the leak needs to be located.  This is generally a mushy spot in the yard.  Start digging in the mushy area and follow the water back to the leak.  Be sure to have all underground utilities marked before you do any digging.  Once the leak has been found, turn off the water at the steet and at the house.

At this point, you will have to decide whether the leak can be repaired or whether the entire line needs to be replaced.  If the water service line is galvanized pipe or polybutylene, you should replace the entire line rather than trying to fix the leak.

Once polybutylene or galvanized pipes start leaking, they have probably reached the end of their service life and should be replaced.  You will need to rent a trenching tool to dig a trench from the meter to the location that the water line enters your home and install a new water service line.

A leaking copper or PVC pipe can usually be repaired if the pipe seems to be in good condition except for the leaking section.  Cut out the leaking section of pipe and install a new section of pipe using the appropriate fittings.

Turn the water supply back on at the street and at your home and check for leaks before burying the new supply line or the repaired supply line.

Leaking Water Service Line

A leaking water service line is a serious problem that should be taken care of as soon as possible.  Your water service line is the pipe that supplies water to your home from the main line at the street.  This line is buried in your yard and runs from the water meter near the street to your home.  If the line breaks between the meter and your home, it is your responsibility.  If the line breaks on the other side of the meter, call your local water company and have it repaired.

A broken water service line is not always easy to identify.  Sometimes, the first warning sign is an abnormally high water bill.  If your water usage for a month is much higher than normal, look around your yard in the area between your water meter and your house for signs of water leakage.  This usually appears as a soft, mushy spot in your yard that never seems to dry up.  Try turning off the water supply where it enters your home.  If your water meter continues to run, then you have a leak in your water supply line.

If you think you need a water line repair, call a local reputable plumber right away.  Once they start leaking, a broken water line will quickly get worse.  In addition to high water bills, the leaking water can cause underground erosion, or leak into your basement or crawlspace.

If your water supply line is galvanized or polybutylene pipe, you are probably better off replacing the entire line rather than fixing the leak.  For copper or PVC supply lines, you may have the option of just repairing the leaking section of pipe.  Your plumber can help you make this decision.