Plumbing Leak Repair FAQ

Unless you are a trained plumbing professional, it is difficult to know everything there is about plumbing. In fact, even those who have undergone training are not truly adept in all aspects of plumbing. This is why it is so important to have a grasp of the basics especially with plumbing leaks. Why? Simply because this is one of the most common plumbing problem experienced in average households. Here are some of the commonly asked questions about plumbing leak repair.

What do I do if I think I have a leak?

Leaks can be either obvious or not. Sometimes you may even feel that you are paranoid thinking you are hearing a leak in the middle of the night. The best thing to do though to make sure and avert any damaging consequences is to start inspecting your home plumbing system.

Where do you start? The most obvious place is at the point where you think there is a leak. Keep in mind though that when it comes to leaks, where you see the symptoms is usually not the source of the problem. Therefore, you would have to follow the signs of the leaks to the adjacent connecting pipes, shutoff valves, supply lines, and others.

This sounds simple enough if all your plumbing installations are exposed. However, if you have pipes behind walls and foundations, you need to call on a professional plumbing service to do the plumbing inspection and start the repair work at the soonest time.

What is the cause of the marks on the ceiling below my bathroom?

The most obvious reason is a leaking fixture in the bathroom. But, what if there are no signs of leaks on any of the fixtures? The only sure way to establish the source of the marks is to have the ceiling opened so that you can trace where it is coming from. You may have to do multiple opening though to get to the real source of the leak and have it repaired.

If you are sure that the taps and the bathtub are not the cause of the leaks that are leaving a mark on the ceiling, you need to close all the water shutoff valves in the bathroom. If the leak persists, you may have to shut off the main water valve as well. This will allow you to trace the source of the leak based on the water that is left in the supply line. By cutting the water supply to the home plumbing system you can continue to do the inspection without the fear of flooding or water damage.

How can I check for underground leaks?

You can do a visual inspection of the ground above and around the area where you suspect a leak is happening underground. Usually you would observe pool of water forming or moisture buildup among others. This is not very reliable though especially if you are checking outside and it has been raining.

When it comes to underground leaks the most effective way to check is to call a licensed professional plumber. They are equipped with specialized equipment designed to detect leaks that are underground, behind walls and foundations. This means that there is no guesswork and the accuracy will allow repairs to be done faster to avoid damaging and costly consequences of the leaks.

How much does plumbing leak repairs cost?

Plumbing leak repairs vary in terms of complexity and amount of time needed to do the repairs. Because of this and the individual differences of homes, it would be difficult to give a ballpark figure of how much a plumbing leak repair would cost. This is until it has been inspected and the real source identified. It would be irresponsible for licensed professional plumbers to give a job cost estimate without first assessing the requirements for the work.

If you are after guaranteed leak repair work combined with low flat rates, call Scott English Plumbing today!