Why Leak Detection Is Crucial In The Winter

CJ the Plumber here, with a new blog on leak detection! Why is this the most important time to keep an extra close eye on your plumbing? The temperature! Freezing and fluctuating low temperatures make leaks even more likely to occur, as freezing water within your plumbing places an insurmountable amount of stress on your pipes, causing cracks.

When water freezes, it expands. This expansion can cause your pipes to crack or burst. As a result, leaks manifest, leading to structural damage and a compromised plumbing system.

So how do you detect a leak if you can’t see one? If you don’t have water dripping from your ceiling or you don’t see a puddle of water on your floor—how can you possibly know you have a problem in the first place?

Well, that’s why I am here to spill all the insider tricks on detecting hidden leaks in your home. Here are the signs the cold weather has gotten to your pipes.

Signs You Have A Leaking Pipe

Low Water Pressure

If you notice that your shampoo is taking exponentially longer to rinse out of your hair, you may be experiencing a drop in water pressure. This is a sign that your plumbing is not functioning properly, and you may have a leak. Leaks manifest as low water pressure because less water is making it to your fixture.

This needs to be addressed immediately, as the lost water is dripping out of your plumbing and pooling somewhere, even if you can’t see it, which can compromise the integrity of your home’s foundation and your family’s health.

Mold

Did you know, it only takes two days for mold to grow and foster within your drywall and your carpet? So, if you smell anything musty or moldy you must act fast. If a leak is present, it won’t take long before your wood flooring rots, and your ceiling starts to form black and green spots—I know, gross!

Wet Spots

When water is collecting beneath your floorboards or in your home’s crawl space, puddles of water will seem to appear out of nowhere. This is an evident indicator that your plumbing has been affected by the winter weather. Contact Winters® Home Services for pipe repair before you require extensive, and expensive, water damage restoration.

Spikes In Your Water Bill

If you take one thing away from my blog today, let it be this—track your water usage costs.

Why? Your water bill acts as a record of your water consumption; and, if you have a leak, it will let you know. How? In the instance your water bill spikes without an increase in your actual household water use. This will provide clear evidence that your plumbing is leaking.

Contact Winters® Home Services, at 617-221-5899, for leak and pipe repair this winter!