Common Household Water Leaks

Big or small, water leaks can have a detrimental effect on your home. They can occur anywhere you have pipes or plumbing fixtures—from obvious places, like your kitchen and bathroom, to less apparent locations, such as the basement ceiling or living room wall.

Water leaks can be destructive, no matter their source, so you should always take them seriously. Here’s where to look for the most common household water leaks and when to call a professional for help.

Leaking Faucet

The most common—and luckily least destructive—type of household water leak is a leaky faucet.

The drip, drip, drip may be obnoxious, but the water is contained to the sink. Even leaks around the seal of the faucet usually cause minimal water damage. However, a dripping faucet can still rack up your water bills, so it’s essential to have it repaired promptly.

Leaking Toilet

Toilets can leak internally or externally. An internal leak causes “phantom flushes” as water slowly trickles from the tank to the bowl. This doesn’t make a mess, but it needlessly wastes water. A faulty flapper is usually to blame, which you can easily replace yourself.

An external leak around the floor seal is more damaging. This causes the floor and subfloor to become soggy, moldy, and in time, structurally unsound. If your toilet bowl rocks on a squishy floor, call a plumber for help right away.

Leaking Tub or Shower Seal

This is similar to a leaky toilet and can cause comparable damage. A leak around the bathtub can cause mold growth and significant damage to the subfloor. If this happens, you may find it necessary to remodel the entire bathroom.

Leaking Pipe

The easiest pipe leak to find and fix is the type that appears under the bathroom or kitchen sink. This exposed plumbing can send a steady trickle of water into your cabinets. If ignored, this could cause mold growth and warped wood. Check your under-sink cabinets frequently and fix any leaks you find without delay.

Pipes can also leak behind finished walls. If you notice stains on the walls or ceiling, or a musty smell permeating one area of your house, call a plumber for leak detection and repair.

Leaking Hot Water Heater

Storage water heaters hold 40 gallons of water or more, meaning a leak here could be incredibly destructive, especially if the tank fails catastrophically and floods the utility closet or basement where it’s stored. Water heater maintenance is the best way to prevent this.

Leaking Garbage Disposal

This hardworking appliance makes after-dinner cleanup a breeze, but if it starts leaking, it could cause a foul smell in your kitchen. The good news is that the odor brings the problem to your attention so you can have it repaired immediately.

Leaking Appliance Hoses

The washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, and other plumbing appliances have hoses that attach to the plumbing behind the wall. If these hoses become brittle or develop loose connections, they could start leaking. These types of leaks can remain hidden, so be sure to check behind your plumbing appliances regularly for signs of water damage.

Schedule Leak Repair in Northeast Ohio

The goal is to prevent household water leaks by keeping up with routine plumbing maintenance and repair. However, if you notice water leaks anywhere in your Northeast Ohio home, turn to Blind & Sons for plumbing repair service. We can troubleshoot the source of the leak and repair it quickly to keep property damage to a minimum.

To schedule leak repair from a qualified plumber in Northeast Ohio, please contact Blind & Sons today at (330) 753-7711.