You don’t have to be a plumber to take care of leaks in your home quickly and efficiently, at least until the plumbers or professionals can get there to fix the underlying issue. But when a leak starts, or when you notice a leak in your home, you have to act fast.
Identify the Type of Leak
The first thing that you ought to do is to identify the type of leak you have and you can take the necessary steps to correct and stop the leak.
Non-damaging but costly leaks: A non-damaging leak maybe a sprinkler, or running toilet. These leaks are not damaging your home, but the longer they continue without being fixed, the most they will cost you. If you come across any of these leaks, you need to know where to start. If the leaks are identified as non-damaging, then there is a great possibility that you can handle the situation by yourself.
Minimal damage but can worsen over time: Minimal leaks in your home include leaking faucets, leaking showerheads, and leaking water heaters. Though not causing major damage, over time they will eat away at the structure of your home and cause serious damage. In the first instance that you are not able to suppress the leak on your own, call a professional plumber right away to avoid any more damage to your home.
Significant damage that can destroy your home: Significant leaks in your home need to be resolved quickly because they are actively destroying your home now. When it becomes overwhelming to address the issue of significant damage due to leaks, you have to be prompt to call for help. A plumber can fix these issues. You may also need to call a contractor to repair any damage after the leak has been fixed.
Common Places to Check for Leaks In Your Home
If you think you have a leak or you notice some damage caused by leaks, but you cannot find the leak, you should begin by checking in the most common areas that leaks are caused.
You may see damage or notice that your water bill increases suddenly, which could be a sign that there are leaks in your home that you are not aware of or leaks that have not yet caused enough damage to be easily noticeable.
Here are a few of the common places that leaks will occur in your home.
Water supply line: If the leaks happened between the meter and your home, it can be hard to tell. That is because the supply pipe buried at least 3ft below the surface. In this case, the water utility company must be informed. Call a professional plumber to do all repair works.
Leaks on the faucet, shower, and tub: These can often be easy to repair, but there are types of faucet that require unique methods. Such would include ball types, cartridge types, ceramic discs, and compression valves. Repairing this promptly will save you a lot of money even if you are just experiencing 1 drop every 2 seconds.
Toilet leaks: Among the most common sources of leaks is the toilet, which usually goes unnoticed. That is because such leaks can be often silent and hidden from view. You can remove the tank lid and inspect the flush mechanisms. If you notice the water level in the tank to be on top of the overflow tube, then you may have a leaking problem. These may be because of some reasons, such as the following.
- Water level adjusted too high
- Damaged float that prevented the refill valve from shutting off
- The refill valve is worn out and needs replacement
If you come across these types of leaking issues, you should contact a professional plumber to do the job. Do not attempt to fix the issue if you are not sure about what is causing the leaks. Otherwise, you will end up spending more on repairs than what is actually needed in the first place.
Who Pays to Repair Damage Caused by Leaks In Your Home
Your homeowner’s insurance should cover water damage caused by leaks in your home. Though most insurance will primarily cover leaks that were sudden and severe and not leaks that were gradual and caused damage over a period of time.
However, it’s worth remembering that the insurance company is interested in reaching an agreement that would pay you what they deem fair but what could be a lot less than you need to fix the damage.
Knowing when it’s time to hire a lawyer for your property damage claim can make all the difference.
We recommend speaking with a property damage lawyer and having them send an inspector to review the water damage in your home.
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About the Author
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.