Water leakage is every homeowner’s nightmare. The aftereffects of such home defects can ruin the beauty of your home and result in severe structural damages if left unattended. If you observe signs of water leak in your home, you need to act fast to save your water from being wasted and your home from impending catastrophe.

While spotting signs of water leaks is one thing; what you do next is what matters. Below are steps to take after observing a water leak in your home. But before we go into that, wouldn’t you like to know the common causes of water leaks in your home? You probably would. In that case, here are a few.

Possible Causes of Water Leaks in your Home

Your piping systems are designed to counter leakages. In other words, they are leak-proof. So when you observe leakage in your home, it is often a result of one or more factors. Here are a few of them.

• Clogged drains
• Toilet leak
• High water pressure
• Corroded pipe
• Damaged pipe joints
• Fixture cracks
• Wrong pipe laying

If your water leak results from any of the factors above, what do you do next? The first thing to do is:

Access the Type of Water leak

There are three main types of water leaks

1. Non-Damaging- But costly

Non-damaging leaks are minor leaks that could cause you some discomfort. This type of leak poses no threat to your home. Instead of damaging your home, non-damaging leaks will probably cost you more time, energy, and money to fix. Common examples of non-damaging leaks are running toilets, etc.

2. Minimal damage – But will worsen over time.

These types of leaks may appear simple at first, but if ignored, they will result in huge damage over time. Common types of such leaks are leaks in your wall, faucet, shower, or drip from your AC. If you observe minimal damage leaks in your home, you’ll need to invite a plumber to check the fault and recommend a lasting solution. Ensure you don’t sleep on this, as every minute counts.

3. Significant damage-Home is destroyed; act now.

Homeowners often dread significant damage leaks. Such leaks can wreak havoc on your home. Unlike non-damaging leaks, these leaks can be easy to spot, as their effects are super-glaring. Common types of significant damage leaks are burst and frozen pipe,

Minimal Damage Leak-What to do

Turn Off All Faucets, Showers, and Hoses: If you are experiencing a water leak, you should turn off all water sources to determine if there is an issue with the water supply in your home. If water is still running around the house, it could make it challenging to figure out the source of the leak.

Shut Down Toilets and Appliances: Your toilet is the number one culprit of non-damaging water leaks. Ensure you shut down your toilets, every one of them, and check your low-flow indicator after every shutdown. If the indicator ceases to spin after shutting down a toilet, you have found your leak. If shutting down your toilets doesn’t help you figure out the source of the leak, consider turning off your appliances (check the indicator as you do so)

Minimal Damage Water Leak- what to do

Shut Down Water in Your Home: If you are experiencing a minimal damage water leak, locate your water meter and shut down the water in your home to prevent further damage.

Fix Issue that Leads to the Leak: What is the source of the leak? Is it a damaged faucet? Or a bad water valve? Call in the right expert to fix the issue.

Significant Damage Leak: What to do

Shut Down the Water in Your Home: Find your water meter and shut down the water to prevent water wastage and stop additional flooding.

Document Damage: What damages did the water do to your home? Write them down to make the necessary repairs after stopping the leakage.

Call Insurance Company: If you have home insurance, you can contact your insurance company with proof of the damage so they are fully aware of the problem and can swing into action pronto.

Find the Source of Damage: Put effort into locating the source of the leak. If you cannot do this yourself, contact a plumber.

Fix the issue that Caused the Leak: What caused the leak? A leaking pipe? Or a clogged drain? If you cannot fix the leak yourself, call in the professionals.

Conclusion

Water leaks could damage your home if ignored. And we aren’t just talking about a few ceiling stains here and there. Serious water leaks could result in flooding, the development of molds, and, in worse cases, could lead to structural damages. So ensure you don’t joke with water leaks, as your home and comfort depend on how quickly you react.