Leaky Pipe Causes and Solutions
A leaky pipe is one of the most common plumbing issues a homeowner will face! From a dripping faucet to a frozen pipe, a leaky pipe can go from annoying to treacherous fairly quickly without proper care and maintenance.
Learn more about what causes leaky pipes and how you can prevent them from happening. We walk you through when you should DIY this kind of plumbing project, and when you should call a professional plumber for help.
What Causes Leaky Pipes?
First, we want to share some reasons your household pipes start to leak. There are many reasons a pipe starts leaking in your home from environmental changes to simply the pipes aging. Like anything in your home, your pipes will need maintenance and upkeep over the years. These are the top causes and what you can do to prevent them from happening to you.
Corrosion in Older Pipes
If your home is older and has an older plumbing unit, there may be corrosion in the pipes that leads to leaking. Unfortunately, as your home’s pipes age, a leak may occur. If your home is older, have it looked at by a professional plumber.
Extreme Temperature Drops
As the harshest part of winter approaches the Twin Cities metro, we will experience extreme temperature drops into the negatives. This environment change is tough on our home’s pipes and can cause leaks. Follow our tips for steam cleaning a frozen pipe.
High Water Pressure
If your water pressure settings are too high, the fast water stream might cause damage to pipes as it shoots through your plumbing system. Check your water pressure settings and set it to 45-80 psi for optimal water pressure.
Natural House Shifting
As time goes on, the foundation of your home naturally shifts. While this is usually not too much of an issue, over time, this natural shifting can wreak havoc on your plumbing system.
Worn Out Joints
If you notice a leak under your kitchen sink or your bathroom faucet starts dripping, it might be due to a worn-out joint. This important piece of plumbing wears out over time and will need to be replaced.
When Should You Call a Professional for a Leaky Pipe?
Depending on the severity of a leaky pipe, it’s tough to decide if you should tackle it yourself or call a professional. First, always diagnose and fix a leaky pipe as soon as possible. A slow drip may seem harmless but left too long can cause more damage.
You need to be confident in diagnosing the leaky pipe and knowing the correct way to fix the issue to resolve it for good. If you are confident in diagnosing your leaky pipe, make sure to use the correct plumbing tools, and never use anything homemade.
If you’re unsure or want a professional to look at your leaky pipe, call One Hour Rooter. We are your trusted plumber in the Twin Cities Metro area. Call us at 612-354-8984 if you need help with any plumbing issue.
