Is Leaking Plumbing Inviting Pests into Your Home?

Most people want to keep their homes free from pests, but plumbing problems can be inviting them inside. Ants, mice, rats and many types of insects are drawn to moisture, seeking places that are damp to make their home. If you have leaking pipes in your crawl space, basement or other areas in your home, there is a good chance that pests are trying to invade. Fixing those plumbing issues can help minimize mold and water damage, as well as minimize the attraction to pests.

Small Leaks Can Create a Big Pest Problem

It doesn’t take a broken pipe or large leak to attract pests. A small amount of condensation or slow drip is enough to create a moist environment that cockroaches, mice, termites and other types of pests, love. These leaks can be happening in inconspicuous places but could be at the root of your pest problem. Here are a few common leak areas:

  • Around water heaters
  • Under your home in crawl spaces
  • In your basement
  • Under sinks
  • Behind walls and under floors
  • Around appliances with water hook-ups

Look for mold, mildew, water stains or rotting wood; these are signs of too much moisture that may be derived from plumbing leaks. Not only does it damage your home and cause possible health issues, it puts out an invitation to pests to make your home their home.

If you have a pest problem, look for possible plumbing leaks that can be making the issue worse. Call your local plumber to have these issues fixed to help make your home less attractive to insects and rodents, as well as prevent further damage to your home.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

Watch Out For A Broken Water Line

Now that spring has arrived, keep a watchful eye out in the yard for a leaking or broken water line.  A broken or leaking water line is the kind of thing that can go unnoticed during the winter and early spring because the yard is either wet or covered with snow but now that it’s starting to dry out, the tell-tale signs of a broken water line should be obvious.

One of the most obvious signs of a leaky water line is an area of the yard that always stays damp and mushy.  This can be a sign of other problems such as a sewer line break or a septic drain field problem, but if the mushy area does not have a foul odor and is roughly in an area where the water line would run, it’s probably a broken water line.

Another indication of a broken water line is that your water bill will be consistently higher than normal.  It could be just a few dollars extra a month, but combined with a soft spot in the yard this is a sure sign of a broken water line.

You can confirm a broken water line by turning off the water inside your home, then checking the meter.  If it moves at all, then you know the water line is broken.  Call a good local plumber and have the water line repaired as soon as possible.  It may only be a few dollars a month now, but the leak will quickly get worse.  In addition, a broken water line can cause all sorts of problems such as underground erosion problems with your home’s foundation.

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.

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.