Upon finding a leak in your house, it is necessary to fix it immediately. A leak can cause lasting water damage that can become very expensive to repair very quickly, sometimes within minutes it becomes visible and structural damage can begin in just an hour in extreme cases. This can escalate to dangerous mould within a day or twoi. The longer you leave a leak, the more expensive it gets to fix all the damage caused. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult to figure out where exactly a leak is coming from, and knowing who to call is important to save you money and time.
Checking for Plumbing Leaks
Identifying a Plumbing Leak
Dripping sounds can be a reason to suspect it is a plumbing leak, especially around where you know some pipes are. For example, a dripping sound coming from the bathroom is a good indicator that you have a plumbing leak from one of the bathroom pipes. This is true also of water stains, damp or pooling in similar areas. These are pretty firm signs the leak is from the plumbing however, they also have the potential to be roof leaks (see steps to confirm a leak to find how to tell the difference). An increased water bill can also indicate a leak, potentially somewhere you cannot see the water damage. The most common sources for a plumbing leak are pipes under sinks, water heaters, toilets, and connections.
Steps to Confirm a Leak
To confirm if a leak is coming from the plumbing, turn off all the taps and anywhere water may be expected to come out of the plumbing (outdoor taps, baths, showers, etc.). Once you have turned off any ways water should come out of the plumbing, check your water meter; if it’s still going up, you probably have a leak in the plumbing. Look for dripping taps to make sure the leak isn’t coming from there, if it’s a dripping tap, it’s usually a fairly easy fix: look on the manufacturer’s website; they will usually have instructions to fix it yourself.
Who to Call
Once you have identified that there is a leak in your plumbing and confirmed it through your water meter, it is best to call a professional plumber. They should then be able to diagnose the leak and fix it. Make sure to get a trusted plumber in, since if the plumber is no good you may end up with a worse leak than you began with. While waiting for the plumber to arrive turn off your water to limit the damage the leak can cause.
Checking for Roof Leaks
Signs the Leak Might be from the Roof
If you find water damage on your ceilings or your walls causing stains, peeling paint or musty smells, especially on the top floor, your leak may be coming from your roof. This can be confirmed by checking your loft insulation; if you find damp patches in it is very likely your roof is leaking. You will know when it’s a roof leak by the leak appearing or getting worse after heavy rainfall.
Who to Call
The best person to call when you think you have a leak in your roof is a trusted leak investigator. Leak investigators specialise in finding hard to detect leaks in roofs, walls and even sometimes foundation areas. It is best to call a company that specialises in the type of leak you believe you have, if you have a pitched roof get a pitched roof specialist, and if you have a flat roof get a flat roof specialist and so on. IntegriTest specialises in flat roof leak testing, though we have some experience with pitched roofs. If you have a green roof or a roof where the membrane isn’t directly accessible, it can be cheaper to perform buried leak detection than to expose the entire membrane. This allows for only problem areas to be dug up and repaired if needed. Our partner company Vector offers such services.
However, if you do not wish to call a leak investigator, you may be able to spot the leak yourself. If you have a pitched roof, look for damaged or missing tiles, blocked gutters, or faulty flashing, especially in the area above and near the leakii. If you have a flat roof, we have an article on how to deal with flat roof leaks that includes how to find the leak and how to temporarily repair it.
Once you have found the leak you should call a trusted roofer to repair the roof, make sure to call the right roofer for the job: you don’t want a flat roof specialist on a pitched roof. Also be aware that there are different types of roofs within flat and pitched roofs, you should be aware of the type of roof you have before calling the roofer.
Preventing Future Leaks
To prevent leaks in future it is best to perform regular plumbing maintenance at least once a year, this involves checking pipes, water heaters, and any appliances connected. This can save you a headache and money in the future by catching leaks before they cause a big problem and large amounts of water damage.
It’s recommended to get your roof checked once or twice a year and after major storms or potential damage. This can allow you to catch a leak early and repair it before it causes a problem, it can also help you gauge how long your roof has left.
Proper home ventilation, though it cannot stop leaks, will prevent some of the effects of any leaks such as mould. It is also good practice since damp and mould can get in your house without any leaks.
Conclusion
It is imperative to act quickly upon finding a leak in your house to save you money and possible health problems. It’s best to call the right person first to save time, therefore call a plumber if you suspect it’s a problem with the plumbing, a roof investigator if you suspect it’s on the roof (or water is coming in through the walls), and a roofer once you find the leak. The best practice is to prevent leaks before they happen through regular inspections.
About IntegriTest
IntegriTest has a reputation for being professional, collaborative, precise and thorough in our inspections and testing. We are trusted by manufacturers, latent defect insurers, principal contractors, waterproofing contractors and estate management companies across the UK to perform our varied services.
Article written by Ben Flood
iHow long does it take for a leak to cause water damage?, https://www.moldguy911.com/about-us/news/how-long-does-it-take-for-a-leak-to-cause-water-damage/#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways,the%20need%20for%20quick%20action
ii How to Identify and Repair Leaks in Pitched Roofs UK, https://www.tauntonprestigeroofing.co.uk/blog/how-to-identify-and-repair-leaks-in-pitched-roofs-uk/
