Plumbing Leak Causes

Plumbing leaks are one of the most common reasons homeowners have to call in plumbers. Unfortunately, plumbing leaks can also be expensive, particularly if you don’t get them fixed right away. As such, it’s important to understand the most common plumbing leak problems so you can immediately call in a plumber to help if you notice any of these conditions. When calling Fawcett Plumbing Adelaide residents who have plumbing leaks get them repaired quickly and affordably, so if you think you have a leak, give us a call now.

Pipe Corrosion

If your house has galvanized steel pipes instead of PVC pipes, they’re going to be susceptible to corrosion. As your pipes age, they begin to rust because of all the exposure they get to water, which is a natural corrosive to metal. Corrosion then eats through the metal and leaves holes for the water to escape, causing a leak that will worsen over time as the holes get bigger.

You don’t want to wait for corrosion to create holes in your steel pipes to call in a plumber. If you live in an older house, you may want to get your plumbing inspected before they become an issue. A plumber can tell you if your pipes are corroding and need to be repaired or replaced. When looking for a plumber, Adelaide residents can look for one on Google or find it here.

Extreme Temperature Change

Whenever the outside temperature is extremely hot, your pipes expand. When it becomes extremely cold, they contract. So, if there is a wide temperature swing between extreme hot and extreme hold, the pipes may crack or even burst with the sudden expansion or contraction motion. If you have a crack in a pipe, you may not notice the leak for quite a while, but if your pipes burst, you’ll know it right away. Either circumstance calls for a plumber, but if you live in an environment where it can be extremely hot one day and extremely cold the next, be extra vigilant about leak detection to prevent major damage.

Ground Shifting

Since plumbing pipes are buried underground, if the soil around them shifts significantly, it can cause the pipes to collapse or break. A collapsed pipe will have a low spot where the water accumulates and can’t go anywhere, eventually causing a backup,  but a crack will lead to a leak. Again, you might not notice a small leak from a small crack until it causes damage to a wall or ceiling, but if you know the ground has shifted recently, possibly due to an earthquake, you may want to have your plumbing inspected for these types of problems.

Seal Degradation

While only galvanized pipes can corrode over time, any type of pipe can have seal issues as the pipes age. Plumbers use seals at pipe connections, but these seals degrade over time and eventually, there will be gaps between pipes, leading to leaks. If you notice water puddles around a particular appliance, you could have a leak at a connection where a seal has failed.

Conclusion

Plumbing leaks are no joke. They need to be fixed as soon as they are detected so that you don’t experience damage to other parts of your home. Call in a plumber the minute you notice a leak to protect your house from further, more expensive damage.