Although it may seem simple to fix little things around your house, the fact of the matter is that there are a few professionals who really do work hard to make your life better. For instance, while you may be likely to paint your place on your own, even doing something as simple as switching out a toilet can be really challenging. I started thinking about how valuable professionals like plumbers were for my business, and I wanted to start a new blog that centered around how much a plumber can help to make your life better. Check out this website for tips on finding a talented plumber.
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If your home has a musty odor that you can't seem to find a reason for, you should consider the possibility of a pipe leak. A small leak that goes on for a long time can cause water damage and mold, and it's just as damaging as a sudden large leak. A small leak might even be worse because you have no idea it's lurking hidden behind a wall and doing water damage. Here are some signs of a water leak behind a wall and what a plumber can do about the problem.
Signs You Might Have A Water Leak Behind A Wall
Besides a musty odor that signals dampness and mold, you may notice discoloration on the wall above the baseboards when there's a plumbing leak behind a wall. If you have drywall, it may be swollen in the area from absorbing water. There might even be bubbles on the drywall that indicate it's been soaking up water. You could also notice a wet floor. The carpet near the wall might be soggy, and if the leak has been going on for a while, a large part of the carpet could be wet.
If you have vinyl planks or tile, water may be under the tile and causing them to get loose or pop up. A wood floor might warp out of shape as it soaks up water from the leak. These are all serious signs of a water leak somewhere in your home that you need to locate and fix before the water damage spreads.
How A Plumber Finds And Fixes A Hidden Leak
A plumber can use a variety of tools to find the pipe that's leaking, so it shouldn't be necessary to rip open a wall just to look around. You can't really judge where the leak is by looking at where the water is in your home, because water can flow into another room before it leaks out on the floor. Instead, a plumber can use things like a thermal camera, an ultrasonic listening device, or a borescope camera to narrow down the bad pipe's location.
Once the leak is located, it will be necessary to open the wall to reach the pipe. The repairs needed will depend on the nature of the problem and whether the pipe is cracked or if a joint is leaking. The plumber may repair the problem by cutting out and removing the damaged area of pipe and replacing it with a new pipe. An issue that might arise is when the pipe is so old that it can't be repaired because it is in bad shape. Then, the pipe may need to be replaced, which could entail more extensive work.
If it turns out the pipe cracked or developed a hole due to corrosion from old age, then you should be alert that the problem may be happening with other pipes in your home. Rather than waiting for signs of a leak, such as a musty odor, soggy carpet, and water stains on the walls, you may want to test your water meter regularly, because when all the faucets are off in your house, the meter will turn if there's a leak, and that alerts you to the problem early.
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