MENU
A mysterious puddle on the floor or some bubbling ceiling overhead can cause full-blown panic in a homeowner. The worry of unseen damage behind the walls, and obscene potential repair costs and increased insurance rates would worry anyone. Beyond getting upset and pulling out your hair, there are some productive things to do if you notice water that shouldn’t be there.
Here’s what to do if there is water leakage in your house.
If you notice some tell-take bubbling or discoloration in a ceiling below a bathroom, then there’s a good chance there’s a leak in the shower, sink, or toilet. Head on up there and take a look. It could just be that come caulking has deteriorated and needs to be re-sealed, or that someone in the household hasn’t been using the shower curtain properly. If you’re lucky, the problem will lie with one of those easily fixable issues.
If those aren’t causing the problem, then you may have to cut a hole in the drywall and run the water to see what’s going on. If you see a lot of water, meaning it’s not in the pipes, then you may have a bigger issue, depending on how long it’s been happening. A repair for this may involve replacing all your tiles and drywall, along with repairing the defective plumbing, to avoid further damage.
There are times when the seals on plumbing fixtures wear down and deteriorate. It doesn’t have to be under the sink, either. It can happen with anything that involves using water in your home.
Luckily, if your tap or fixtures spring a leak, you should be able to fix it easily with a wrench and a screwdriver, and perhaps a replacement part or two.
Water in your basement can be especially frightening. It’s always tough to tell where it might be coming from, since the basement is the lowest point in the house and water will flow towards it. Unfortunately, water in the basement may mean there is damage to your foundation.
To properly fix it, there may be extensive work involved. A trench would be dug around the house, exposing the foundation. Then, the foundation would be repaired and a sealant placed over it to protect water from seeping in.
It’s possible to fix minor cracks from the inside using an epoxy sealant after removing any drywall to find the crack, but this method is often temporary and only puts off the more extensive and expensive repairs.
If there is warped or damaged drywall in a top-floor ceiling or the attic, there may be a leak in the roof. This is a tough one because again it might just repair a small repair, or it might be time for a whole new roof.
A leaking roof can damage the insulation or cause mold. If your roof is 20 years old or more, it’s probably time to just replace the whole thing. If not, it could just mean replacing a few pieces.
Panicking is never a good idea, even when you find a leak in your home. Make sure you know what to do when water starts dripping.
