Slow leaks in your home may surprise you. You might not even realize they’re there at first. However, there are several things around the house that could leak without your knowledge, costing you quite a lot of money and doing damage to the property. Using these tips, you can spot out these leaks, call on a plumber to help you, and prevent further damage to the home and property.
Where Do Slow Leaks Occur in Homes?
Slow leaks can occur all over your home, but there are some places you should check more often than others. Remember, not all small leaks are visible, but you can hear them or see their effects on the wall or ceiling, such as:
- Behind the fridge in the water line
- Under the sink
- Under every shower or bathroom on the floor below
- Outdoor spigots
- Faucets
- Around your pressure relief valve (which will be close to an exterior wall where the water lines enter the house)
- Under toilets
- Inside toilets
- Near the shutoff valve for the toilet
- Outdoor fountains (the writer once encountered an apartment complex with an outdoor fountain that leaked for six months and racked up a $30,000 water bill)
How to Deal With Slow Leaks at Home
When you discover slow leaks at home, you have a few options at your disposal. If you’re a plumber, you don’t need to call anyone. If you aren’t a plumber (even if you have experience fixing things yourself), you should use these steps to deal with slow water leaks:
- Turn off the water to the house or to that area (toilet, sink, shower, etc.)
- (If you don’t have a water key for use outside the house, you can buy one at the hardware store or online)
- Set down towels to sop up water as it leaks
- Don’t take anything apart
- Call a plumber immediately (an emergency service if it’s the middle of the night)
- Stay away from these leaks so that you don’t get wet or make things worse
- If the leak is close to an electrical outlet or appliance, turn off the breaker for that area and get your flashlight
File a Homeowner’s Insurance Claim
You can file a homeowner’s insurance claim with your carrier right away. Reach out to our team for help filing the claim and collecting evidence to support the claim. You want to move quickly so that you can be remunerated as quickly as possible—especially if the carrier wishes to send an adjuster.
Stay Diligent Around the House
Check the areas around your home as often as you can for small leaks. You simply want to know that there aren’t any problems around the house. For example, it’s much easier to deal with a tiny leak today than noticing six months from now when it’s out of control.
Contact The Budde Agency or More Information on Water Damage at Home
Reach out to our team at The Budde Agency for more information on homeowners insurance and water damage at home. We’re happy to help you find a new policy, care for your home, and take steps to care for the property and keep it in good shape for many years to come.
