If you are facing water damage in your home due to a plumbing leak, it can easily become overwhelming. These are stressful events whether it has been caused by a pipe bursting suddenly or a slow leak you were unaware of. The first thing you’ll worry about is stopping the leak and preventing further damage to your home. With all the worries going through your mind when the water damage is discovered, the first step is to locate what type of plumbing leak you have.
What Type of Plumbing Leak Caused Water Damage?
There are different types of plumbing leaks, and not all will cause significant damage, just inconvenience. The bad thing about minimal plumbing leaks is they are going to worsen over time and potentially become major problems that will cost a lot of money. If you notice a leak, you should address the issue right away. Talk to the experts at Austin Fire & Flood and have the leak inspected and receive an estimate for repairing it.
These are the different types of plumbing leaks that can occur in a home:
Non-Damaging Plumbing Leaks
If you notice water leaking and need to determine the cause, you should turn off all faucets, hoses, and showers in your home. Shutting off the source of water will help determine where your plumbing issue is coming from.
Once you’ve shut off the water sources, check if there is still water leaking. Check your low-flow indicator on your water meter to determine if there is water being used even though you’ve shut down the main source. If your low-flow indicator is still spinning then you will learn there is still water running, which confirms you have a plumbing leak.
You start looking for the leaking culprit by first checking all toilets, and then appliances that use water one by one. After you’ve shut each one down independently, check the low flow indicator to see if it continues or stops spinning. If all these checks do not help you find the plumbing leak, you may want the help of a professional. Talk to the experts at Austin Fire & Flood for advice on your next step.
Minimal Damage Plumbing Leaks
If you learn there is a plumbing leak in your home and notice it has caused some damage, you should turn off the water source to your house before damages increase. If you’ve caught the leak early enough, you may be able to clean up the damage yourself. If the leak has been undetected for some time, there may already be mildew and mold growth. Cleanup of mildew and mold has to include a disinfectant to get rid of the growth and prevent it from re-growing. Mildew and mold growth in your living space can cause serious health issues. If you notice signs these growths have begun, you should talk to an expert, such as Austin Fire & Flood on how to make your living space safe again.
Major Damage Plumbing Leaks
If you have suffered an event that has caused major water damage to your home due to a plumbing leak or an act of nature, you have to act fast. Begin by shutting off all water sources to prevent further flooding if this is a plumbing issue. Contact a professional water damage restoration service, such as Austin Fire & Flood to schedule expert help in cleaning up the damages.
All damages should be documented including photos and videos to show proof of loss for this event. You will also need to contact your homeowner’s insurance company to report the event and begin the compensation process. If you can locate the source of the leak, you can report this to the professionals coming in to clean up your damages.
Do not begin any repairs until your insurance company has given you the approval to proceed, and do not attempt to fix plumbing issues until professionals have been able to access them.
Plumbing leaks can turn into major stressful events. If you know what to do ahead of time, it can save you a lot of anxiety and stress and prevent further damage to your home. Follow the steps above for the different types of plumbing leaks that can happen and contact Austin Fire & Flood if you have further questions or concerns about plumbing leaks.