Common household leaks result in the loss of gallons upon gallons of natural resources every year. Also, these leaks can cause your utility bills to increase. Many times, it's as easy as checking known areas inside and outside the home for signs of water leakage. In more severe situations such as a broken underground water pipe or broken pipes in the wall, a professional plumber is needed to track down and repair the problem.
Types of Common Household Leaks
There are quite a few areas where water leaks can occur. This short list provides information on five of the most common household leaks found in and around the home.
Where to look:
- Ice Maker Supply Line. One area that often is overlooked is the water supply line to a refrigerator's icemaker. If you see water seeping out from under the fridge, chances are, the water supply value may be broken or the plastic water lines may be cracked.
- Faucets. Kitchen and bathroom faucets are notorious household leaks especially if they are old and the daily wear and tear puts a strain on the mechanism. There's always the possibility of a new faucet being defective, or when installed, some of the nuts, bolts and screws were not tightened properly. This results in a slow leak around the faucet base or from the faucet opening itself. Outdoors, the hose bib (faucet) can begin to constantly drip and leak usually due to loose, damaged, or worn washers on the hose stem.
- Dishwasher. Like icemakers, dishwashers do a lot of work and can become a source of water leakage. This can be due to a door gasket, a defective or worn tub, misaligned or loose door, over-filling, loose hoses or water inlet valves. In addition, the dishwasher itself is not level, resulting in water spillage.
- Sink Pipes, Drains, Wax Rings. Pipes under the kitchen sink and in the bathroom can leak due to a worn shutoff valves. Bathrooms can also have water leaks due to an old or damaged wax ring that supports the toilet. When the toilet base becomes loose due to motion or excessive weight, this causes the wax ring to compress. The compressed wax creates small holes or crevices that allow water from the toilet bowl to seep in around the toilet base onto the floor each time the toilet is flushed. A sink drain and P-trap assembly are other common areas where household leaks occur.
- Water Heater. If you see a puddle of water under the tank, it can be due to worn out supply lines inside or outside of the water heater. Corrosion at the base of an older tank can cause a leak, or water may be leaking from a loose drain valve.
For answers to your questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
Image Source: Flickr
