Plumbing leaks are common in U.S. homes. Studies show roughly 77% of homeowners have encountered them at one time or another. But not all leaks are immediately apparent. Sometimes, homeowners don’t notice them until they have caused significant damage.
These hidden water leaks often form behind walls and ceilings, under foundations, under sinks, and in or around showers, toilets, and tubs. They are also commonly found behind appliances, especially dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters.
The True Cost of Hidden Water Leaks: What More Homeowners Should Know
Regardless of where they occur, hidden leaks can cost homeowners hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars if they are not quickly found and resolved. To appreciate the extent to which that is the case, we need only look at a study published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It revealed that the average household can waste an estimated 10,000 gallons of water annually from hidden leaks. These leaks can increase the average homeowner’s water bill by as much as 10% each month.
Beyond wasted water and higher-than-usual water bills, hidden leaks can cause the following if they go undetected and unresolved for too long:
- Foundation and frame damage – Water leaks can severely weaken the structural integrity of a home by cracking, eroding, or shifting the foundation beneath it. They can also damage the wooden beams that help support the home.
- Interior property damage – Depending on where they form, water leaks can warp drywall and ruin insulation, collapse ceilings, and severely damage furniture and personal belongings in a home.
- Electrical hazards – Hidden water leaks can pose a serious electrical hazard if not quickly detected and resolved, especially those that are close to electrical wiring in the home. Such leaks can increase the risk of short circuits, electrical fires, and damage to appliances.
How Hidden Water Leaks Can Open the Door To Mold Illnesses and Other Health Problems
While the water damage and higher-than-usual water bills that arise from hidden leaks are themselves a nightmare for homeowners, the health consequences can be worse.
Hidden leaks and stagnant water often go hand in hand, and stagnant water can expose a home’s occupants to mold. Exposure to mycotoxins, the toxins in mold, can cause asthma, dyspnea, wheezing, and other respiratory issues.
These respiratory issues are symptoms of chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), a medical condition that triggers an imbalance in the body’s immune system. Along with respiratory symptoms, CIRS from stagnant water and mold can trigger the following:
- Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headaches
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Neurological issues
Hidden water leaks are also known to attract rodents, which can put people in the home at an increased risk of contracting various bacterial, parasitic, and viral diseases. The same applies to cognitive issues and certain types of cancers. Studies show that mold can begin to form within 24 to 48 hours of a water leak.
How Water Leaks Can Impact Your Insurance Policy
Water leaks have long-term costs for homeowners, namely in the form of higher premiums when renewing their homeowner’s insurance policy if they use their insurance to cover repair costs.
According to leading online insurance marketplace Policy Genius, most homeowners notice a 7 to 10% increase in their insurance premiums after filing a water damage claim. There are also short-term costs associated with repairing hidden leaks. These include out-of-pocket expenses and co-pays that homeowners might be responsible for paying.
Common Signs of Hidden Water Leaks in Florida Homes
Signs of hidden water leaks can show up in several ways. Some of the most common include unusually high water bills, discoloration on walls or ceilings, and visible mold growth. Musty odors and buckled or warped flooring are also telltale signs of a hidden water leak.
What Should Florida Homeowners Do if They Suspect a Hidden Water Leak?
The first thing a homeowner should do if they suspect they have a hidden leak is to turn off the water supply to their home. Second, they should contact a professional plumber.
Doing these two things significantly lowers the risk of flooding, which could lead to extraordinarily high water bills, mold growth and related illnesses, and severe property damage.
How Do Plumbers Find Hidden Water Leaks?
Plumbers use various tools to detect water leaks, including the water meter attached to a home. This method entails shutting off the home’s water supply and monitoring the meter for changes in water volume while the water is off.
While it can’t pinpoint the location of a leak, changes in the meter will confirm whether or not one exists. If a leak is confirmed, plumbers will then use a moisture meter, a device that identifies areas of high moisture behind walls, under floors, or in ceilings, to find the exact location.
Alternatively, they might use pressure testing, which involves monitoring pressure drops throughout the home’s pipelines, to find the exact location of a water leak. Other popular detection methods include the following:
- Thermal imaging cameras – This approach involves using an infrared camera to identify temperature differences between wet and dry areas throughout a home’s plumbing system.
- Video pipe inspection – This leak detection method entails using a tiny, flexible camera attached to a cable. The camera is fed through pipes to locate cracks, holes, and other damage that might be responsible for water leaks.
- Acoustic devices – Some plumbers use microphones to pinpoint water leaks. Microphones help amplify the sound of water that might be escaping from pipes and coming into contact with other surfaces.
Repairing Hidden Water Leaks
Depending on the severity of a leak, repairs may involve repiping sections of a home’s plumbing system, tightening loose connections, or replacing worn parts in fixtures, such as washers and O-rings. Sometimes, a plumber will recommend a complete sewer line replacement to resolve hidden leaks.
Hire a Gainesville Plumber Today
To summarize, hidden water leaks can waste water, jeopardize the health of a home’s occupants, and cause enormous property damage if not quickly identified and repaired. To learn more, consider speaking with a Gainesville Benjamin Plumber today.