There comes a time in the life of almost every homeowner to discover a water leak in their home. Whether it’s an obvious dripping from a pipe, water stains on the ceiling, or strange noises that sound like water running behind walls – it’s most probably a plumbing emergency.

But wait. Is a leak an emergency? Shouldn’t the homeowner wait to see how far the leaking will progress (and maybe stop on its own)?

Water leaks are always an emergency in the sense that a professional should take a look and see how serious the problem is. If leaks are left untreated, the homeowner may end up with a very large water bill, plus an even larger bill for plumbing once the leak destroys the construction.

What Causes a Water Leak?

Water leaks can happen for many reasons. A common one is old plumbing. The pipes have corroded and are starting to leak. High water pressure can also be a strain on pipes. The house foundation shifting can cause pipe joints to break, tree roots can get in the way of your pipes, and even something as banal as your washing machine shaking too much can cause a leak from the water connector.

It may seem like the chances of leaks in your home are much higher than the chances of no leaks. For that reason, it’s wise to schedule regular plumbing checkups.

What to Do if There Is a Water Leak in Your Home?

The first thing to do is turn off the main water supply. The very next thing to do is call a trusted plumbing company. A lot of people try to fix the leak themselves, and are able to repair it, but many times it results in more wasted water and bigger damage to plumbing.

How Do Plumbers Detect Leaks? Is There a Tool to Detect Water Leaks?

As we hinted at in the title, plumbers can detect water leaks, but… There are leaks and there are leaks. Some are obvious and easy to fix. Some are hidden, silent, and you only know something’s fishy because of very high numbers on your water bill.

So, it’s important to consult an experienced plumber because some leaks are just not that easy to find.

The plumber will initially do the same things you may as well do – inspect the whole property, walls, ceiling, sinks, faucets, the garden, look for dripping, pools of water, water stains. If they don’t detect anything, they resort to the aces in their sleeves – the water leak detection tools.

There are several tools they can use: sound and video inspection tools (such as ground microphones, listening discs, small cameras), soil probes, heat scanners that detect temperature changes caused by water escaping, etc.

These tools will help the plumber pinpoint the leak’s exact location, but only their knowledge and experience can help them find the best solution.

How Long Does It Take for a Plumber to Fix a Leak?

Depending on how serious the leak is and how much damage it caused to pipes and plumbing, fixing it can take from a few hours to several days. And it can be costly!

In order to prevent expensive repairs, it’s best to schedule regular maintenance checkups with your trusted Red Seal Drainage & Plumbing team. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they wisely say. Contact us!