Water leaks can cause severe damage to a home or business property. Gone undetected, you may experience mold growth and unexpectedly high water bills, which can be a nightmare to resolve. Repairing water leaks early on at your home or business is crucial for eliminating costly repairs in the future. Yet, leaks can go unnoticed for months. You may find yourself calling your neighborhood plumber if you see any of these key signs of a hidden water leak:
Your water bill is higher than usual
Elusive leaks may hide within your walls or under your home, but water bills do not lie. If your water bill is suddenly much higher than usual, your house has sprung a leak. Your home water bill shouldn’t fluctuate massively each month once you account for seasonality. However, if you find that your bill is getting sky-high, it’s time to check out your home’s plumbing.Â
Your lawn is overgrown or damp in patches
A luxurious lawn is the envy of every neighbor, but not when it only comes in patches. A water line buried beneath the grass can leak, creating lusher grass in spots in the yard. It’s not unusual for more significant spills to create puddles or pooling outside of your home. To check for an outdoor leak, turn off the home’s water supply and turn off faucets. If the water meter keeps moving, you have an underground leak.Â
You find mold or mildew growing
Flowing water turns any area into a haven for mold or mildew. Mold becomes dangerous for anyone with respiratory health concerns and can be harmful if exposed for long periods. Black or white spots resulting from an area unable to dry are promising signs of a nearby leak. Showers, sinks, and other fixtures throughout the home are not impervious to mold or mildew. Do consider resolving a mildew problem immediately for the sake of your plumbing and health.Â
Your walls are damaged or discolored
Ceilings and walls get especially burdened with the adverse effects of leaky pipes. Walls may discolor, peel, or blister at the site of a leak. Unfortunately, walls or ceilings below a long-standing leak are damaged even if they are not directly near the root cause. For example, the flow of water runs down throughout the inner structure of the home, where an upstairs bathroom can flood a basement or cellar downstairs. To limit the overall damage, treat discolored walls or sagging ceilings quickly.
Weird or bad smells are present
A musty basement or laundry room indicates the presence of moisture, most likely mold. Mold emits gasses called microbial volatile organic compounds (or MVOCs). The smell that accompanies MVOCs results from the different stages of mold growth. You can expect an earthy or sweaty smell to be present—the more severe the leak, the more powerful the scent.Â
Invest in plumbing maintenance and preserve your home
Stinky rooms, structural damage, and high water bills sound like something out of a homeowner’s worst nightmare. However, preventing leaks is easy by knowing information about your home’s plumbing, like how old it is and what repairs it has had or may need. Additionally, it never hurts to get a professional inspection every one to two years, whether you have old leaky pipes or picture-perfect plumbing.Â
Royalty Plumbing offers high-quality residential plumbing services in the areas of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin.