Water Leak Detection And Repair: Calgary, Airdrie, & Area

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Water leaks, especially inside walls and floors, are not always easy to detect. It is important to watch for warning signs in your home to prevent further damage and costly repairs due to structural damage, rotting or molding. Common warning signs that you have a water leak include:

If you notice any standing water on a cabinet floor beneath a kitchen or bathroom sink, you most likely dealing with a leaky pipe.

Look closely at the walls and ceilings of your home, a wall with bubbling drywall or paint is another obvious indication of a troublesome leak. When water and moisture get into the walls and behind the layer of paint, it eliminates the bond and begins to separate the two, causing the paint to rise from the wall and shed off. When drywall is exposed to moisture, it becomes soft and begins to blister, ultimately warping and breaking into pieces. If your drywall has become discolored, damaged or starting to bubble and crack, there most likely is a water leak behind the wall - even with water-resistance drywall, persistent leaks can still cause some discoloration or bubbling.

Mold grows and thrives in damp, dark areas. A mold problem anywhere in your home could indicate a leaky pipe somewhere. A persistent musty odor is a clear indication you have a leak. You may even smell the effects of a leak before you notice obvious signs of a problem.

If you notice your water bill going up without explanation, a hidden plumbing leak could be the issue. Performing a water meter reading test will easily confirm if you have a hidden water leak.

Unexplained warmth on your walls or flooring could be the result of a hot water pipe that has sprung a leak. 

The sound of water trickling behind the wall or ‘phantom flushes’ from a toilet leak are both signs that you should call a plumber.

If you have a bathroom on a second floor that has sprung a leak, you will notice a stain or discoloration on the ceiling beneath the bathroom. Keep in mind water can travel a long distance, so it’s possible to find water stains on the ceiling farther away. A sagging ceiling is also a definite sign of water issues and should be investigated immediately.

If you notice sections of your floor are starting to showing signs of cracking, buckling, or beginning to stain for no apparent reason, chances are hidden water damage is the culprit. Depending on the type of flooring you have, moisture can make it feel spongy or soft. Tile may lose its adhesion and become loose, allowing you to easily remove a piece and possibly expose water or moisture underneath it.

Water leaks are not just annoying, they can cause serious damage to your home and lead to costly repairs. Considering numerous plumbing pipes are hidden behind walls, under floors, and above ceilings it can be difficult to determine where a water leak originated from. Undetected water leaks can cause permanent water damage, mold growth, and even health risks for you and your home. It is important to address and repair any leaking pipes in your home as soon as possible.

To avoid the risk of water damage caused by undetected leaks, we advise that you periodically inspect your plumbing system to ensure your home is safe from water damage. Although most leaks are detected shortly after a failure has occurred, other plumbing leaks can go unnoticed for an extended period of time. 

Performing annual home plumbing inspections help ensure problems areas are detected before a plumbing emergency occurs. 

The most common areas to inspect for leaks are:

Sink, bathtub, and shower drains are the most common leaks experienced by homeowners. Addressing these water leaks early prevents mold and costly repairs. Although small leaks may just seem like a minor inconvenience, such as a leaky tap or dripping shower faucet, they could be indications of a more serious issue with your plumbing system. 

While water stains on your ceilings are an obvious sign you have a plumbing leak, it is always a good idea to keep the area under your sinks clear and inspect underneath your sinks occasionally to ensure you do not have a small water leak going on undetected.

Although most leaky faucets are simply considered a nuisance and do not require prompt repairs, they should be addressed sooner than later to limit water wastages and unnecessary increases to your utility bill. Remember to check under your sink as well, faucets not only leak from the spout or handle, but they can also leak at the hose connections located in the cabinets as well.

Composed of several parts, a toilets leak can occur in areas such as the tank, valve, bowl and drain which consequently causes a puddle of water to accumulate around the base of your toilet. If you notice a lot of moisture accruing on your toilet tank or bowl, inspect the area closely as you may have a hair line crack. 

Your water supply lines not only produce various water temperatures but also consistent pressure. These factors along with possible corrosion, age, or sub-standard plumbing fittings can cause water leaks to occur. Considering water supply lines are located in various areas in your home, including ceilings, floors, behind drywall, and basements, it can be difficult for homeowners to determine where a water leak originated from.

Loose or worn-out seals, damaged pipes, increased water pressure, and improper fitted pipes are just a few reasons why your drain pipes may be leaking. Unlike waterline leaks, drain pipes are used to remove waste water out of your home and can cause substantial damage to your home if they fail to drain properly.

Hot water tanks store several gallons of water with varying temperatures. The heat and pressure that builds up within the unit can corrode seals and fittings ultimately causing water leaks.

Dishwashers have several moving parts that can wear down causing the unit to leak. An obvious sign your dishwasher is leaking is noticing puddling of water around it. However, it is always a good idea to inspect the basement, directly below the dishwasher while it is in use, to ensure it is not leaking from lower floors as well. Discovering a dishwasher leak early is the key to not only preventing water damage to your floor and cabinets, but preventing harmful mold growth as well. 

Our Plumbers have seen it all when it comes to leaking or damaged pipes. When you have a leaky pipe, give us a call right away, and we will make sure it gets fixed quickly so you don’t have to worry about water damage or mold growth in your home.