How a Simple Leak Can Cause Major Damage
If you’ve been a renter most of your adult life, you may have not put much thought into your home’s indoor plumbing. But once you become a homeowner, you become painfully aware of every little cost because the home repairs all add up!
A simple little water leak is one of those “seemingly minor” issues that you need to tackle as soon as you become aware of it. Because, if a little leak is ignored, it can eventually lead to major water damage or flooding, or both, and it can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs.
As a homeowner, you want to prevent major water damage and flooding at all costs. If it happens to you, it can be a huge nightmare for you to deal with. Even a minor leak coming from an old bathtub or a showerhead, or from a leaky pipe can cause extensive damage to your home, leading to expensive repairs not to mention, your cherished property can be destroyed. Sometimes, you don’t have control over what gets damaged and you lose items with precious memories.
Ways Leaks Can Cause Major Problems
There are countless ways that a minor leak can turn into a major headache, but here are some examples:
- If a pipe is leaking and it bursts during the night while you’re asleep, it can have hours to wreak havoc on your home.
- It can occur in walls, which surprisingly, can cause some of the costliest damage. Sometimes, a leak can go on for months behind a wall or even years before it’s discovered. If a lot of time passes, the leak can saturate the wood and insulation, potentially leading to structural damage.
- A source of a flood doesn’t necessarily come from the inside. It can come from the outside. Our advice is to ensure that cracks in the foundation and around doorframes and windows are sealed. You don’t water from outside coming inside. As far as your landscaping is concerned, make sure the water runoff is directed away from your home.
- Even a minor pipe leak can cause serious damage to ceilings, carpet, and hardwood flooring. A leak can leave visible water stains and other damage that’s irreversible, plus it can cause mold, which is hazardous to your health. Lastly, it can cause structural damage.
- Beware – a lot of insurance policies do not cover water damage so read the fine print. If your policy has an exclusion for flooding or water damage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket if your furnishings and home sustain serious water damage.
As a homeowner, it’s extremely important for you to be vigilant about potential water leaks in your home. The financial consequences of a small leak can be significant and result in substantial property damage or loss. If you detect a leak, don’t ignore it. It could end up being a very costly mistake.
Contact Excalibur Plumbing to schedule a service call with a Georgetown plumber!