24/7 Emergency ServiceThe Most Common Places to Find a Water Leak | SERVPRO of East Cobb
9/13/2021 (Permalink)
A water leak can turn into a big problem. Contact the SERVPRO of East Cobb team if you are dealing with any water damage.
Many people start their mornings with reflection or prayer, but we’re willing to bet none of those prayers include a petition to discover an expectedly flooded laundry room. Nobody’s begging the heavens for a sewage-back to fill up their basement, but unfortunately, it happens. The good news is that you can give yourself better odds to avoid a surprise water attack if you know the most common points of failure. Let’s run down the top few.
- Toilets - The toilet is a simple machine that manages gallons of water every day. A leak or failure here can be a big problem—make sure your flapper gets replaced when it starts to wear down, and an old valve seal under the tank can cause a mystery leak in the floor.
- Appliances - Any appliance that uses water uses hoses or pipes to transport or dispose of it, and over time they may crack, dry out, or in the case of water heaters, even burst, sending water everywhere.
- Clogged Gutters - Spending an afternoon on the ladder probably isn’t your idea of fun, but it can save you the hassle of tracking down and dealing with a leak in your attic or walls later. Keep leafs and debris out, or install a gutter shield of some kind to prevent buildup.
- Roof Damage - Your roof is an under-celebrated hero at home. It takes a constant licking from hail, rain, sunshine and other factors, and it stays strong as long as it can. But it can only do so much—check your roof periodically for signs of wear or damage, and have a professional examine shingles and flashing if you suspect a leak.
- Pipes - There are many reasons pipes may fail—old age and oxidation are probably the most common, but faulty joints and high water pressure can do it, too. And there are dubious threats outside and underground as well, such as tree roots, which can sneak their way into sewer and water lines.
- Blocked Garbage Disposals or Other Pipes - Certain foods can cause garbage disposals to clog, and things like rice or pasta can clog drains because they soak up water and expand. These clogs can cause backups, and the plunging they may require can cause old or loose pipe fittings to fail.
You may not get a phone notification or text message warning you about a pipe break or impending water damage, but a little prevention and attention can make them less likely, less frequent and reduce overall recovery costs.