Broken water lines are a serious problem that can sometimes be difficult to detect.
Without the obvious presence of leaking water, how can you know that water line repair is needed in your home?
These tips on detecting broken water lines and the various water line solutions can help!
What Are The Signs of Broken Water Lines?
Leaking water from broken water lines can cause extensive damage to your home, especially if you are unaware that it is happening.
The best way to prevent expensive damage is to know the signs that there are leaks and need water line repair.
Puddles on the floor or wetness under cabinets are obvious signs that something is wrong, but considering most of the plumbing in your house is hidden behind walls and flooring, other leaks can go undetected.
When left unrepaired for long periods of time, hidden leaks from damaged water lines can result in extensive damage throughout the home.
Noticing any of these signs means you probably have a leak somewhere within a wall or floor that needs attention and an appropriate water line solution to resolve it:
- Soft or spongy spots in the drywall from being wet.
- Paint or wallpaper peeling away from damp spots on the wall.
- Water stains and discoloration where water has leaked and dried.
- Dampness in the air.
- Musty odors and stale or “earthy” smells.
- Mold or mildew growing in corners, on walls, under cabinets, and elsewhere.
- Dripping sounds from inside a wall.
- Low water pressure for seemingly no reason.
- Increasing water bills with no increased usage.
How Can Broken Water Lines Be Located?
Noticing the signs of a broken water line is a start to getting the problem resolved, but the next step is actually finding the damaged pipe.
The signs of active leaks do not always present right at the source of the leak.
Knowing this, professional plumbing services use two reliable methods to detect where a leak is originating so they know which water line needs to be repaired:
- Moisture Meters - Devices that detect moisture content in whatever material they are pointed at.
- Infrared Cameras - Detects heat or cold within the wall to find a hot or cold water leak.
What Can Be Done to Temporarily DIY Repair Broken Water Lines?
After a leaky water line is finally located and until a plumber can be scheduled to come provide a permanent solution, applying a suitable water line repair solution is the easy part for most homeowners.
The first step is to shut off the water feeding that line to prevent more damage, then decide how to access the source of the leak.
Water line repair methods may include:
- Repair Clamp - A protective sleeve and clamp that is applied over the leaky area of a cracked pipe to seal it.
- Epoxy Putty Repair - Plumbing epoxy putty applied over small cracks and leaky threads can seal off minor leaks.
- Replace Pipe - More major repairs may require replacing an entire pipe or welding in a section of new pipe after cutting out the old, damaged pipe depending on the material and how bad the leak is.
Seek Help From A Skilled Water Line Repair Service
The main challenge in dealing with broken water lines is first recognizing that there is a leak and second locating the source.
Making the necessary water line repair is the easy part once the affected, leaking area is isolated.
When locating a tricky leak becomes a problem, call in a plumbing professional to use detection devices to locate the problem, then apply an appropriate water line solution!