Leaking pipes are not problems only for old houses, although older homes definitely want to keep a sharp eye out for them. Newer homes can have problems as well, caused often by faulty installation and sometimes just by the way materials work together. The first step is to spot the leaks; the next step is to fix them. Some are easy DIY projects, but others will require a professional.
First, when you are concerned about leaking pipes or drains, look for the signs:
- Discoloration on the
ceiling below the drain/pipes or in the walls - An odor that doesn’t
belong - Dampness that persists
If you have leaking pipes under your sink, you might have a
persistent odor, and you might feel dampness when you touch the flooring. If you
are like most people, you rarely move all those cleaners and boxes under your
sink, so you might not even know something is damp. Move a few and look for
stains. Your window cleaner won’t leave a stain on its own, but it will if the
pipe above it is leaking.
You may also see bubbling or staining in your paint—ceiling or
walls—beneath the drain of a shower or toilet or beneath where the pipes
run. That is a sure sign that you have a
leak.
If the problem is a toilet, it may just be that it isn’t seated and
sealed properly, a task you can do yourself or call a plumber for. The same goes for drains in showers: if you
have a one-piece shower floor, it flexes when you step into it, which can cause
the drain to become loose from the sealant.
Pipes behind walls are not a DIY for most people, and some don’t
want to deal with leaking pipes or drains anywhere. If you are in that category, we are always
available to help.