How to Find a Water Leak inside a Wall

It’s always smart to be vigilant when it comes to safeguarding your home. Whether you’re protecting your home against pests, fires, or a possible water leak, keeping a close eye on things is always key.

Water leaks, in particular, can be hard to deal with because they can be difficult to detect. You may not even be aware that something is wrong until lasting damage is already in your home. By that point, you may already have hefty repair or renovation bills in your future.

Don’t allow water damage to remain undetected for an extended period of time. Act right away so that you can protect your home more effectively.

Learn more about the causes, effects, and signs of water leakage in your walls by reading on. You can also pick up some valuable tips for detecting water leaks by continuing with this article.

The Causes of Water Leakage in Your Walls

Leaks don’t spring up in your walls spontaneously. There are legitimate reasons why those leaks emerged.

You can address some of the causes behind water leaks beforehand to prevent them from becoming a real problem, while others may remain undetected until they start causing issues.

Natural Wear and Tear

Houses age and the same goes for the components inside them. That means that your plumbing system also gradually weakens as the months and years go by.

It’s hard to do anything about that. You can invest in better plumbing materials while construction is taking place or have your pipes regularly inspected, but time will still eventually catch up to them.

Hopefully, though, you won’t need to deal with your pipes leaking due to wear and tear anytime in the near future.

Too Much Frozen Water in Your Pipes

There’s a reason home repair experts recommend checking your heating unit and insulating your pipes ahead of the winter season. The freezing temperatures that become the norm during that time of the year can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, with the pipes becoming particularly vulnerable.

Water that flows into your pipes during the winter is likely to freeze. Once that happens, the ice may prove too much to hold for your pipes. That, in turn, could cause cracks to form.

Clogging in the Pipes

Over the course of many months, all kinds of debris may fall into your pipes. Smaller leaves and twigs are the most common culprits.

Most of the time, those small items will pass through your pipes with no issue. In some cases, though, they may get stuck in your pipes causing clogs to form.

A blockage can lead to the water accumulating in one spot and increased pressure on the pipes. Like with excess ice, high water pressure can also cause cracks.

Water Pressure Is Set Too High

Clogging is not the only reason your water pressure may increase. While power-washing a part of your home, you may have turned up the water pressure. You may have also forgotten to turn it back to normal once you finish.

Consistently subjecting your pipes to high water pressure will quickly lead to them sustaining lasting damage. Make sure to check on your water pressure regularly to be safe.

Repairs Were Not Carried Out Properly

One more reason your pipes are leaking could simply be because they were not handled properly before. If you entrusted your plumbing repairs to inexperienced workers, leaks are more likely to show up in the future.

Whenever the need for repairs pops up, it’s always wise to call on the experienced professionals for help. Along with addressing the current plumbing issue, they can also prevent other ones from emerging.

The Effects of Water Leaking Inside Your Walls

You probably already know that water damage is bad news for your walls, but are you aware of how damaging it can be? Water damage can do more than make your home uncomfortable. It can also have lasting effects that impact your bank account.

Your Home’s Structural Integrity May Be Compromised

Arguably the most concerning side effect of water leakage is the damage that it can do the structural integrity of your home. Beyond changing the appearance of your walls, prolonged exposure to moisture can also affect the raw materials used to construct your home.

Wooden panels used in your walls may soon rot due to the water and metal components present, and they may succumb to corrosion. The deterioration of those materials could lead to bigger problems emerging in the future.

You may need to replace sections of your home’s walls. If the deterioration is particularly bad, complete renovation may be required.

Mold and Mildew May Start to Grow

Certain fungi thrive in moist locations, with mold and mildew being among the most common examples. The problem with having mold and mildew growing in your walls is that they can be damaging in more ways than one.

Their continued growth could damage certain portions of your wall. On top of that, they can cause health issues too.

Pests May Start to Invade Your Home

Mold and mildew are not the only intruders you need to worry about if your pipes are leaking. Pests love moist environments, and they could flock to your home.

Cockroaches, mosquitoes, and termites are only some examples of pests that are quite fond of moist environments. By not checking for potential leaks, you could effectively turn your home into an environment that is more accommodating to pests.

You May Need to Pay Bigger Utility Bills

Water leakage can also lead to you paying higher utility bills.

Apart from paying for water that is only going to waste, you may also pay higher electric or gas bills because your home’s temperature regulation is off. Over time, those bills can pile up and make a big dent in your bank account.

Your Home’s Value May Suffer

Let’s say that after inspecting the damage the water leak has done to your home, you figure that it’s best to cut your losses and sell your home now, instead of paying for costly repairs.

The problem there is you may have to sell at a loss. Even in a best-case scenario, you may not make much of a profit from selling your home if it has sustained significant water damage.

The Signs of Water Leakage inside Your Walls

Now that you know more about how damaging water leakage can be, it’s time for you to act and protect your home more effectively. You can start by looking out for the signs of water leakage.

Listed below are some of the most prominent signs.

Your Walls Look Different

The easiest way to tell if you have a water leak inside your walls is to look at them. The appearance of the wall will change if it’s affected by a leak.

Some things to look for include discoloration. Paint or wallpaper applied to a wall may start to warp and change due to the water. Bubbles and tears may also start to form on the surface on the wall if there’s a leak present.

Puddles of Water Are Forming near Your Walls

Aside from looking at your walls, you can also detect a water leak by shifting your focus downward. Puddles of water tend to form near walls with leaks.

You may need to pull up the carpeting to get a better look at where the puddles are forming.

You Can Hear Dripping Sounds Inside Your Home

While enjoying a quiet afternoon at home, you may find yourself disturbed by dripping sounds. After checking the faucets and the shower, you may come up with nothing and assume that you were imagining things.

The reason why you were unable to spot anything could be that you weren’t looking in the right places. Leaks could be why you’re hearing those dripping sounds. The water may already be squeezing out of your pipes and dripping through your walls.

Unusual Odors

You already know that mold and mildew may start to grow in your home due to water leakage. Mold and mildew can make its presence felt by changing the appearance of your walls and releasing a distinct odor.

The odor smells musty, and it’s hard to miss.

Unusually High Utility Bills

As noted earlier, your utility bills may become more expensive if you have a leak because water is being wasted constantly and requires more energy to make your home comfortable.

If you notice your bills spike, you may need to check for leaks.

How to Detect Water Leaks in Your Home

Looking for the signs of a water leak is one thing. Pinpointing the reason behind a leak is a different matter altogether.

Depending on what is causing the leak, finding it can prove to be a challenge. The following tips can make things easier for you, however.

Perform a Test to Determine the Nature of the Leak

Leaks can sometimes be by entryways leading into your home such as overloaded gutters and downspouts, or there could be broken pipes buried in the ground. It’s also possible that the leak is your indoor plumbing.

To help you figure things out, you can perform a relatively simple test.

Start by turning off the water sources inside your home. Next, look at your water meter and write down the number shown.

After taking note of the number, wait for three hours, go back to your water meter and check if the number still matches what you wrote down. If the number has changed, you may have a problem with your indoor plumbing system.

Make Use of Gadgets

Finding out the nature of the leak doesn’t mean that you will pinpoint its origin right away. If you want to get a better idea of where the water is coming from, you may need to enlist the help of some gadgets.

Thermal cameras and moisture meters are particularly helpful.

Remove a Portion of Your Wall

Probably the most direct way to look for a leak in your walls involves removing a portion of it. Take a portion of the drywall out and take a look behind it to see if there’s a leak.

Using this method of leak detection does come with some risks, though.

Even if you’ve noticed that a particular section of your wall is discolored, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the water leak is directly behind it. Water may be trickling down to that spot from a different location. Plus, going with this method also means intentionally damaging your walls.

Only turn to this method of detection if the water leak has gotten worse.

How to Repair Water Leaks

More often than not, addressing a water leak will take a good amount of work. Sure, you can try and flush your pipes or remove foreign objects lodged in them manually, but those are preventative measures.

Using caulking and sealants will allow you to patch up the cracks, but that may not be good enough if the pipes are too weak.

The reality is that repairing broken pipes is no easy feat. Basic home repair experience may not be enough if you’re trying to fix or replace broken pipes.

In that scenario, the best thing you can do is to contact the professionals and ask them to take on the work for you.

Some homeowners are understandably hesitant to call on others to handle repairs, but their labor is more than worth it. The relatively small payment you make now can lead to huge savings in the future.

Folks in need of urgent home repair can get in touch with Best San Diego Leak Detection right now to have their problems expertly addressed.

April 28, 2020

Posted By: Bill Brink

Categories:

• Plumbing

What to Do if You Notice Your Water Heater Leaking

The water heater leaking is one of those potential problems many homeowners don’t think about often.

Since the water heater is often located somewhere in the home that people rarely frequent, many of us tend to fall into that “out of sight, out of mind” trap. We only become aware there’s a problem with the water heater when it becomes painfully obvious that something’s wrong.

At that point, it may already be too late to prevent serious damage from being done to your home.

We don’t want homeowners to constantly have issues with the water heaters they have. This article will shine a brighter light on that oft-used appliance and also discuss the things you can do to ensure that it doesn’t become a source of problems.

The Reasons Why Your Water Heater Is Leaking

Let’s first focus on why water heaters tend to leak. This probably won’t surprise you, but there are reasons why water heaters spring a leak.

Gradual Aging

Just like any other piece of equipment inside your home, water heaters are susceptible to the deteriorating effects of aging. Compared to many of the other appliances you use, though, these water heaters can be quite durable.

They can continuously function with no issue for up to ten years, and that’s true even if you barely do anything to maintain them.

Still, ten years can fly by in a hurry, and you may lose track of how old your heater is. Should this appliance start to malfunction, it may be worth your time to check out its receipt and see exactly when you purchased it. That may offer some insight into why it’s acting up.

The Hot and Cold Inlets and Outlets

Because of where they are on the water heater, the hot and cold inlets and outlets are more susceptible to damage compared to its other components. Check on these if you’ve noticed that your heater is starting to leak.

 The Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve

There are several reasons why your water heater’s temperature and pressure relief valve could be causing the leak.

If the valve deals with too much pressure, it could start malfunctioning. The problem could also stem from the water heater raising the water’s temperature excessively. That can lead to damage to the temperature and pressure relief valve.

The Drain Valve

Since they designed the drain valve to get rid of any sediment that makes its way into the water heater, you should expect it to drip at least a little. However, there’s a significant difference between regular dripping and a full-blown leak. Make sure that the drain valve is not releasing any more than it should because that could grow into a real problem sooner rather than later.

The Water Tank

Consider it a big problem if the reason your water heater is leaking is because of the tank itself. You cannot resolve that quickly, and it may take a lot of money to address. The only real upside here is that you will know right away if there’s something wrong with the water tank because you’ll be seeing flooding instead of only leaking.

The Telltale Signs That Your Water Heater Is About to Leak

Unless your tank has a big hole in it, chances are you won’t notice there’s a leak right away. Inspecting your water heater now and then is a wise move, but the vast majority of homeowners don’t do that often enough.

The good news is that you don’t need to perform a thorough inspection of your water heater regularly to find out that it’s broken. You can keep an eye out for some of the symptoms of a broken water heater that we note below.

The Water Quality Has Changed

A lot of people prefer taking hot water showers in the morning. Some are capable of tolerating freezing cold water hitting their body that early, but others cannot handle it.

Now, you don’t necessarily need to worry about cold water raining down on you if your water heater is leaking, but you may notice that the water coming out is lukewarm instead of hot.

There’s a tendency to shrug off this anomaly and think of it as a byproduct of a colder than usual morning, but it could be an indicator that your water heater isn’t working correctly.

You can also get a hint of how well your heater is working by checking out if the water has rust particles in it. This is an issue you may have detected already because some of the clothes you’re washing suddenly have rust marks on them.

To check if there is rust in the water, you can pour some into a clear glass and see how the liquid looks. While you shouldn’t do it intentionally, you may also notice the rusty water while showering as some droplets get near your face due to the unusual smell and taste.

Rusty water is a sign that rust is starting to accumulate inside your water heater. It may not be leaking yet, but it could happen shortly.

The Exterior of the Water Heater Looks Rusty

Speaking of rust, you don’t need to detect it in the water to know that your heater could have problems sometime in the near future. You can also take a look at the exterior heater and see if rust has started to accumulate on it.

Rust showing up on the tank is a pretty good sign that there is a leak somewhere. Take the time to look at the burner units, too; they are similarly prone to rust.

The Water Heater Is Producing Noticeable Noise

Sediment piling up inside the water heater is inevitable. For a long time, that sediment will not make its presence known. Eventually, though, the sediment will harden and start to cause some noise whenever the water heater is in action.

If you’re trying to figure out if there’s something wrong with the heater, listening to it could work.

Puddles of Water Are Forming around the Water Heater

This is an obvious thing, but yes, if you’re starting to notice there are puddles of water forming around the heater, you should take that as a sign there’s a leak.

More often than not, the puddle of water indicating the leak will be directly under the heater.

How to Fix a Broken Water Heater

You now recognize the symptoms and can determine your water heater is leaking. So, what should you do next?

Here are some tips for how you should go about addressing the problem of your leaking water heater.

Detect Precisely Where the Leak Is

Even if you already know that the water heater is leaking, it’s important to remember that you cannot fix all leaks the same way.  As we noted above, the leak could be due to faulty connections, valves, or even the tank itself.

Before you implement any repairs, focus first on detecting the leak.

See where the water accumulates, clean it up, then check again the following day to see if more water is there. That should tell you where a potential tank leak is.

As for the valves, nothing beats a close inspection to see if they are all sealed or causing water to drip out.

Turn Off the Power and Drain the Tank

Once you’ve determined that there is a leak and you’ve found where it is, go ahead and shut off your water heater.

You should shut electric water heaters down by using the circuit breaker box. Find the breaker that goes to your water and shut it off. You need to be thorough because you never want to be in a position where you could be standing in water while some electricity is still flowing through the wiring.

Gas heaters are easier to turn off because flicking the switch will do.

Once you’ve managed to completely shut down the water heater, you can proceed to drain the tank. Use either a hose or container to catch the water to keep your basement floor from turning into a riverbed.

Close Off the Water Supply

With the tank now empty, you can get to work on closing the water supply.

Look for the cold water shut off valve first. As long as you’re certain you can reach that valve safely, you can turn it off yourself. Doing that should be enough to prevent more water from pouring into the heater.

If the heater’s cold water shut off valve is located in a difficult spot, you can target your home’s main water valve instead.

Address the Problem Areas

It’s now time for the actual repairs, and they can range from being rather simple to remarkably complicated.

If the issue is related to cold and hot water inlets and outlets, you could resolve the problem yourself.

Check out the connections and see if there are any spots where they are loose. Bust out your wrench and tighten them. Doing that should be enough to get rid of your leaking issue.

Things won’t be quite as easy if the issues plaguing your water heater are related to the valves. There may be something off with the water pressure, but the issue could also be a broken valve.

In that case, you will need to replace the valve.

You could try to do that yourself, but if you lack the experience, you may end up making things worse. This is the point where you should strongly consider reaching out to the skilled and experienced professionals who handle these repairs all the time.

Lastly, if the tank itself already has a sizable hole in it, repairs may no longer work. You may need to invest in a replacement water heater at that point.

How to Maintain Your Water Heater

Regardless of whether you decided to repair your water heater or replace it completely, it’s in your best interest to maintain it better moving forward.

Thankfully, proper water heater maintenance is not a demanding task.

One thing you should always do is to keep an eye on the anode or sacrificial rod. This component of the water heater is responsible for gathering any debris inside the tank. Check on that semi-regularly to see if it still works properly.

You will probably need to replace it after two to three years.

Flushing the water tank of the heater is also something you should do if you want to prolong the life of this appliance. The process of flushing the tank is simple enough. Do it once per year to keep your water heater in good shape.

The Benefits of Maintaining Your Water Heater

Aside from prolonging the life of your water heater, maintenance is also important because it allows the appliance to work more efficiently. You’re getting more for your money if you take the time to maintain the appliance.

Taking the effort to maintain your water heater can save your home basement from damage.

The thing about the damages that stem from leakage is it isn’t always visible right away. By the time you start to notice, it may be too late, and you could find yourself on the hook for a hefty repair bill.

Invest your time in maintenance to avoid making that unnecessary payment.

Call the Professionals to Fix Your Water Heater Problems Properly

Fixing the water heater, yourself is worth trying, but if the repairs get a bit too technical, seeking some assistance may be necessary. Get in touch with the plumbing professionals at Best San Diego Leak Detection to have all your water heater problems addressed promptly and properly. You can also reach out if you have other plumbing-related issues you want them to address.

February 26, 2020

Posted By: Bill Brink

Categories:

• Plumbing

Telltale Signs You Have a Damaged Sewer Pipe

The sewer pipe installed in your home has what can only be described as a thankless job.

Per TrenchlessPedia, sewer pipes work as the “conduit for the elimination of waste materials,” which is a nicer way of saying that they are the elements of your home that are in charge of getting the nasty and unpleasant bits out. Sewer pipes specifically handle the wastewater and the other pieces of debris that may be suspended in it.

Sewer pipes are made out of different materials.

The Spruce notes that sewage pipes in older homes – those built before the 1950s – may feature materials such as cast iron, clay, and even a fiber conduit more often referred to as Orangeburg. Newer homes tend to feature ABS and PVC pipes, though you will still see cast iron pipes installed today.

The reason why cast iron pipes have stuck around for so long is because they are remarkably strong. You don’t have to worry about overloading these pipes because they can handle pressure just fine.

If you have a cast iron sewer pipe installed in the home you bought or knew enough to get one added during the construction process, then consider yourself lucky. Leakage is a serious issue when it comes to sewer pipes and it can affect your home, everyone inside it, and everything around it quite significantly.

Listed below are the telltale signs that your sewer pipe has sustained damage and they also double as the reasons why you should seriously consider hiring a leak detection service.

Water is Moving Down the Drain Slower

Let’s start with the signs that will manifest themselves inside your home. One in particular that you may notice quickly is the water draining noticeably slower than it did previously.

If you’ve been in your home for an extended period of time, you will be able to tell right away if the water is circling the drain slower than it used to. The issue here is that many homeowners may end up shrugging off this abnormality. They may just write it off as a result of a small clog in the pipe that will clear up soon enough.

Yes, while a minor blockage may be an issue that can take care of itself, if those happen frequently enough, they can wreak havoc on your sewer pipe. That’s especially true if you use chemical cleaners on them because those can damage the pipes.

Monitor the slow draining first and see if it persists.

Gurgling Sounds are Coming from the Toilet

One of the signs telling you something is wrong with your sewer pipe can register itself as a curious sound. After the toilet has been flushed, you may hear a kind of gurgling sound rising from the drain.

While the gurgling sound on its own can already be quite disturbing, the potential ramifications of it can be even more upsetting. That gurgling sound could be an indicator that there is sewer gas trapped in the pipe. More often than not, the gas ends up getting trapped because the venting system itself has been blocked.

Instead of going out the usual exit, the sewer gas has to take a detour via the toilet bowl. Gurgling sounds coming from your toilet are not indicative of a broken pipe per se, but they can be indicative of a clogged pipe. If that clog persists, it could end up damaging the pipe.

White Deposits Appear Around Drains

As a result of the water in bathtubs, toilets, and sinks draining slower than usual, you may notice something unusual on them. To be more specific, you may find white-colored mineral deposits on the surfaces of those aforementioned fixtures.

In the grand scheme of things, white deposits are not going to be much of a problem for you. They can be cleaned up easily enough after all. Still, it would be in your best interests to take note of them as they can be telling you that something is wrong.

Water Levels in the Toilets are Changing on Their Own

This symptom of a damaged sewer pipe is tougher to pin down mainly because it could also be a sign that your toilet is malfunctioning. What we’re talking about here are changing water levels in toilets.

If there’s something wrong with your toilet, the problem could show up in the form of its standing water either being abnormally high or appearing abnormally low. The water level may also change even if no one used the toilet.

Again, this issue could be related to the toilet, but there’s also a chance that it is caused by a damaged sewer pipe.

The Smell of Sewerage is Permeating Your Home

Now we’re getting to the tell-tale signs that you’re going to have a tough time ignoring. One of the aforementioned signs is one that will register right away because of how unpleasant it is.

As soon as you start to notice the smell of sewerage in your home, you need to take that as a sign that there is something very wrong with your pipes. Sewer systems are designed to be airtight because of the rank odor they may release if they are left even slightly open. You shouldn’t even detect a whiff of sewage if the pipes and the system itself are all intact.

For those unaware of what sewer gas smells like, it has an odor that can be compared to a rotten age. Sewer gas smells that way because it contains hydrogen sulfide.

By the way, if you think that sewer gas is no big deal and that you can worry about it later since it’s just lingering in the basement, that is not the case. According to Angie’s List, prolonged exposure to sewer gas can lead to you suffering from headaches, sinus infections, bouts of dizziness, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Pets may also be adversely affected by the sewer gas.

Take action right away on that unpleasant odor because it can be problematic to your home and everyone inside of it.

Mold is Starting to Grow

Another sign that could be hinting at a damaged pipe is mold. Because the mold fungus is capable of growing on all kinds of surfaces, you may not see its presence as a sign of trouble right away.

The key thing to note here is that mold requires moisture in order to thrive. That’s why you need to take it as a clear sign that there is something wrong if you notice it growing along the spot where the sewer pipe is supposed to be.

Similar to the sewer gas, you need to take action right away if you start to notice the presence of mold in your home.

Reactions to the presence of mold can vary.

Some may suffer from a mild allergic reaction that can lead to a runny nose or a rash. However, those who have a serious mold allergy can suffer from an asthma attack and shortness of breath, according to Web MD.

Infants and elderly individuals inside the home may also be adversely affected by mold so get rid of it and its root cause as soon as you can.

Pest Infestations

Buckle up because this next tell-tale sign is somehow more unpleasant than the last two.

Think for a moment about what you can usually see in a sewer. Obviously, you can find different kinds of waste there and water as well. But don’t forget about the pests that often lurk in the dark corners of city sewers.

Examples of the little critters that love calling the sewer home include cockroaches, flies, and rats.

You may not worry much about those pests if they are just chilling out in the city sewers, but do know that they can get into your home if there is a crack in your sewer pipe. They don’t need much space to get inside your pipe and eventually inside your home too.

Remember that these citizens of the sewer have the ability to carry different diseases. They should not be welcomed in your home.

Count avoiding a pest infestation as just one more reason why you should look for and quickly fix a broken sewer pipe.

The Blades of Grass near Your Home Suddenly Look Greener

The telltale signs of a damaged sewer pipe can show up outside your home too. To find out if you have a broken pipe, take a closer look at the grass located near where the pipe should be.

What you’re specifically checking here is the condition of the grass. Does it look noticeably greener and healthier than it did previously even though you’re not doing anything different when it comes to lawn care?

Sadly, the explanation for your lawn looking better could be your sewer pipe being busted.

Note that water is not the only thing that may be springing forth from the busted pipe. The different substances in the wastewater may come out too and many of them can actually be beneficial to plants.

The next time you see a patch of grass near your home looking unusually healthy and green, take a closer look and see if there may be more to it.

Soft Spots and/or Holes in Your Yard

While having healthier grass is kind of a positive side effect of having a leaky sewer pipe, you should know that a bigger problem can stem from that.

If you allow the water from the pipe to continually seep into the soil, the ground itself can soften up. Allow that to continue even longer and you may start to create holes in your yard by just stepping on the ground.

Softened soil is problematic, and not just because of its poor appearance.

You can also end up twisting your ankle if your foot gets caught in one of those holes. On top of that, holes in the ground can serve as nests for the aforementioned pests that may make their way to your home via the damaged pipe.

Given the potential problems that can come from having softened soil in your yard, you need to act swiftly to address that issue.

Cracks Forming in the Asphalt and/or Your Foundation

Hopefully, it never reaches this point, but yes, broken sewer pipes can also be the reason behind why cracks have formed in your driveway or in the foundation of your house.

Since the water coming from the busted pipe is softening up the soil so much, you shouldn’t be surprised if the foundation of your home gets weaker. After all, the solid ground you built your house on has now turned to mush.

The foundation may first appear uneven because of the softened ground, but if enough time passes, the cracks will show up.

This is probably the number one reason why you should fix a broken sewer pipe right away. As costly and inconvenient as it may be to address that problem, just think of how much you will need to spend if the foundation of your home is severely damaged.

What Causes Sewer Pipes to Break?

There are two main reasons why the sewer pipes in your home may break.

The first one is because of clogging. The pressure that starts to build around the spot where the blockage is can lead to pressure building. All that pressure can then cause a portion of the pipe to burst.

The second reason is aging. Sewer pipes may last for a long time, but they won’t last forever. Natural wear and tear have a way of damaging them to the point where they can no longer work as intended.

If you are starting to sense that there may be something wrong with your pipe, do not hesitate to sign up for leak repair.

Contact Best San Diego Leak Detection and Fix Your Sewer Pipe Problem Right Away

Leaky sewer pipes are not just unpleasant to have in your home, they can pose a serious threat to your health too. Take action as soon as you can if you suspect you have a leaky sewer pipe.

Call Best San Diego Leak Detection and allow them to help with your sewer pipe-related problems.

December 19, 2019

Posted By: Bill Brink

Categories:

• Plumbing

What to do if You Smell a Gas Leak

When used and installed correctly, natural gas is convenient and safe. But gas leaks can happen in even the best systems. These leaks can lead to physical symptoms, and carbon monoxide poisoning is a danger if it goes unchecked. Both people and animals can fall victim to gas leak symptoms.

The American Gas Association estimates that there are over 71 million commercial, industrial, and residential premises throughout the United States that use natural gas. Since natural gas is very flammable, gas leaks increase explosion and fire risks.

If you suspect a gas leak, you must take steps to protect yourself and your family immediately. Leave the premises and call the local fire department, 911, or your utility company’s emergency number. We’ll tell you about gas leak symptoms, signs, causes, and what to do if you discover a gas leak on your premises.

Causes of Gas Leaks

Gas leaks can appear unexpectedly and cause a lot of damage to the underlying pipes. These leaks can threaten the well-being and safety of your family and friends inside your house. For these reasons, you must take immediate action if you believe you have a gas leak. The most common gas leak causes include:

Appliances 

There’s a very good chance that you have an appliance or two in your home that uses propane or natural gas to operate. Popular appliances include your gas dryer, fireplace, stove, or water heater. Over time, the seals that connect and hold your home’s piping to these appliances can corrode and wear out. This corrosion and the breaking down of these seals and pipes can lead to gas leaks in your home or business.

Lack of Ventilation

Any appliance that generates heat and is experiencing a malfunction can create and emit higher levels of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of combustion.

Larger items, like heating systems for your home, may generate carbon monoxide. But these appliances can eliminate it with a chimney or exhaust fan. If the chimney gets clogged or the exhaust fan stops working, carbon monoxide can start to fill up your home. Carbon monoxide is odorless, and this makes it hard to detect. Monitoring for it continually is essential, however, as it can be deadly.

Poor Piping

There is a maze of crisscrossing pipes under your home. These pipes bring gas into your appliances’ pipe connectors. Over time, this piping system can erode or become faulty. The pipes can disconnect and wear out, or they can become disconnected because of external forces like surrounding tree roots. Poor piping is very common in older homes, and this can allow gas to start to seep inside.

How to Detect Gas Leaks

Fortunately, there are several ways you can detect gas leaks. The following signs could be indicators that you have an active gas leak in or around your home. If you’re not sure, you’ll want to call in professionals just to be safe.

Listen 

• You hear a whistling sound coming from the general area of your gas lines.
• There is a hissing or roaring noise by your appliances.

Look 

• You can see a damaged connection leading to your natural gas appliance.
• Debris, dirt, or water get blown into the air around the gas line.
• There is a random dry patch of grass in your yard when everywhere else is moist.
• You see an explosion or fire near the pipeline.
• An earthquake, flood, fire, or other disasters can cause exposed pipelines.
• Your gas bill is much higher than normal.

Smell

• A sulfur-like odor hangs in the air.

Be Wary of Relying on Just Smell

Although many people say gas has a distinctive odor that can make a gas leak easy to recognize, there are reasons why you may not be able to smell it. They include:

• Having a diminished sense of smell.
• You’re experiencing a phenomenon called odor fatigue. This is a temporary, normal inability to smell an odor after you’ve been around it for a while.
• You have a common cold, allergies, or a sinus infection.
• You routinely use alcohol, tobacco, certain medications, or drugs.
• Other odors hide or mask the gas odor.
  Soil or pipe conditions have caused a phenomenon called odor fade

Understanding Odor Fade

Chemical or physical processes can cause natural gas to lose its smell, making it undetectable. Absorption, adsorption, oxidation, or a combination of all three can cause odor fade. The following situations are more likely to bring about odor fade:

• You have natural gas piping systems that use a higher amount of pressure, and the natural gas flow can be intermittent or limited.
• You have new, steel piping that wasn’t made to handle odorized natural gas.
• There is mill scale, rust, air, moisture, pipe thread compound, cutting oil, condensates, liquids, or other substances masking it.

Signs of Gas Leaks

While small gas leaks may not come with physical symptoms or a smell, you might notice:

• Bubbles in water
• Damaged gas pipe
• Dead houseplants
• Hissing or whistling sound near a gas line
• Smell of sulfur or rotten eggs
• White cloud or dust cloud near a gas line

Your gas bills may go up because some gas escapes from appliances or gas lines into your home or business.

Physical Symptoms of Gas Leaks

As the gas leaks into the home, the oxygen levels in the air will drop. The reduced oxygen levels are what cause the physical symptoms associated with exposure to gas leaks. These physical symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Blistering or pale skin following direct contact with the gas
• Chest pains
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Drowsiness or fatigue
  Eye and throat irritation
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headaches
• Mood changes and swings, including depression
• Nausea
• Nosebleeds
• Reduced appetite
• Ringing in the ears

Gas Leak Exposure Symptoms in Pets

Your pets are more susceptible to developing symptoms of gas leak exposure. This susceptibility is due to their smaller size and higher sensitivity levels. If you own pets and suspect a gas leak, you should keep an eye on:

• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Disorientation
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Mood or behavior changes
• Red or watering eyes
• Sore throat
• Unconsciousness
• Vomiting

In extreme exposure cases, your pet could even die from too much exposure to gas.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Although typical gas leak exposure symptoms can be severe, carbon monoxide poisoning is even more deadly. Carbon monoxide poisoning can mirror the signs of a gas leak. You can end up with carbon monoxide emissions when gas doesn’t completely burn.

Exposure can be fatal if you don’t treat it. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found that 5,149 people died in the United States between 1999 and 2010 from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. There are several symptoms to look for, and they include:

• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle control loss
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pink skin and bright red lips

What to Do if You Suspect a Gas Leak

If you suspect your home has a gas leak, it’s critical that you immediately evacuate every person and all of your pets from the building. You want to leave the doors open to keep the gas from building up in the home. Call the local fire department, 911, or your utility company’s emergency hotline number. Make sure you’re outside the house before you make this call. Using your phone can ignite the gas and set off an explosion.

Animals and people displaying symptoms of gas exposure require immediate treatment. If the symptoms are severe, make sure you detail this in your 911 call. Ask if the operator will dispatch an ambulance, or take them straight to your local emergency department. If you’re taking your pets to the emergency vet, call ahead and tell them why you’re coming.

You may suspect a gas leak but have trouble confirming it right away. If this is the case, you should make a note of any symptoms you experience when you leave and enter the property. Symptoms that come back when you go into the house and disappear when you leave could indicate a gas leak. It could also indicate carbon monoxide poisoning or mold poisoning.

If you go into your home or building and you can smell gas, turn off your gas pilot light right away. Go around and open all of your windows. Step outside and call your utility company. The utility company will most likely dispatch a certified technician to inspect your home. They’ll bring equipment that monitors the gas levels in the air.

Things You Should Never Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak

There are things you should do in the event of a gas leak, and there are things you should never do. Even if you haven’t confirmed the gas leak in your home yet, you should never:

• Allow the situation to go unreported
• Attempt to repair the leak
• Keep the doors and windows closed
• Search for the source of the leak
• Switch lights or household appliances on or off
• Use a phone inside the home
• Use sources of ignition like candles, lighters, or matches

What to Do After You Have a Gas Leak

A certified technician will usually confirm a gas leak using an adjusted electronic gas analyzer. The technician will check your outside gas lines and appliances for leaks or faults. When they find the leak, they’ll repair it right away. Once they fix it, you should:

• Air out the house for a few hours before going back inside
• Install or check your carbon monoxide alarms
• Wait until you get the official notification to go back into the building

Typically, gas leak symptoms won’t impact your health if you had low exposure levels and had someone fix it quickly. However, having long-term exposure to a gas leak can result in symptoms that won’t go away, including respiratory problems, depression, or mood-related issues. It’s a good idea to check with your doctor after you have exposure to gas, especially if you have long-term problems. With the proper treatment, your symptoms can resolve or improve.

Preventing Gas Leaks

Fortunately, it’s possible to prevent gas leaks from happening. All it takes is a little time and dedication, but it’s worth it to keep everyone safe. Top prevention tips include:

Educate Yourself 

People should make a point to learn about the symptoms that come with gas leaks. You want to teach your children and family members about staying safe around natural gas. Everyone should know what to do if they suspect or confirm a gas leak. You may even want to write down a plan and what to look for with gas leaks.

Ensure Good Ventilation 

You want to keep the areas around your gas equipment and gas-burning appliances unobstructed and clutter-free. This ensures the natural gas doesn’t build up in these spots. It’s also a good idea to air out your house or building regularly.

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

A carbon monoxide detector looks like a smoke alarm, and you can plug it into an outlet or install batteries. You want one on every floor of your home. Ideally, every bedroom in your home will have one installed too.

Keep a Fire Extinguisher Inside Your Home 

Gas leaks are highly flammable. You can ignite natural gas by a spark, and even making a phone call is enough to set it off. Have a least one fire extinguisher in your home, and have routine inspections. This fire extinguisher will help you react quickly if there is a fire.

Schedule Routine Inspections 

Every year, schedule routine inspections of all of your gas pipelines and gas-burning appliances. This service is usually free, and your utility company will send a certified technician out. Mark it on the calendar so you don’t forget to call.

Store Your Chemicals Carefully

Store all of your household chemicals like paint and cleaning supplies away from your gas lines and appliances. Make sure these chemicals are in a well-ventilated space that is clean and dry. Go through them once a year and get rid of any expired cleaners or chemicals you find.

Contact Best San Diego Leak Detection Today!

If you suspect that you have a gas leak in your home or business, contact us. Our certified technicians can come out, assess your property, and help fix any gas leaks we find.

November 19, 2019

Posted By: Bill Brink

Categories:

• Plumbing

How to Find a Water Leak Underground

Nearly every homeowner has to deal with a water leak at some time or another. It’s one thing to deal with a water leak that happens inside your home, but a slab leak is a different matter. This happens out of sight and deep underground, beneath your home’s foundation.

If your home has a basement or crawl space, your plumbing is fairly easy to access. These areas provide a foundation for your home while also creating a place for your plumbing. If your home doesn’t have either of these, it’s probably built on a concrete slab.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of structures. Homes built on slabs are less prone to flooding, mold growth, and gas leaks than those with basements or crawl spaces. They create a safer living environment. At the same time, concrete slabs are vulnerable to damage from natural events such as tree roots or earthquakes. Damage to the slab and the surrounding area can lead to damaged pipes or vice versa.

How Does a Concrete Slab Work?

When a builder begins home construction, they dig a trench and place the pipes for the plumbing in either gravel or sand. Next, they pour concrete into a mold to create the concrete slab. The concrete cures into a solid foundation that will support the house. The slab encases the plumbing lines, creating a formidable barrier between any leaks and the plumber who wants to repair them.

The pipes might be made of copper, galvanized steel, or cast iron, depending on the age of the home. Although these materials have different lifespans, all of them are prone to decay over time. Homes built since the 1980s are likely to have a moisture barrier to protect the slab in case of leaks. Any home built before that time probably can’t defend itself against the moisture.

Most Common Causes of a Slab Leak

Your home doesn’t have to be old for a slab leak to occur. There are several causes of damage to the pipes and/or the concrete slab. Some of the most common are:

• Improper Construction – If the pipes aren’t of good quality or they aren’t installed correctly, it can result in a pipe leak. The flow of water is abrasive and leads to corrosion, especially in copper pipes. In older homes, copper pipes have more corrosion and often have more severe damage. Never assume that the only option is to jackhammer through the concrete and replace the damaged pipe. Today’s trenchless pipelining technology makes it easier and more affordable to replace the damaged pipe with a new one without disrupting your property and your life.
• Abrasion– Abrasion doesn’t just happen from the inside; it can happen on the outside of the pipes, too. If they rub against gravel or concrete, or other pipes, the abrasion can eventually lead to leaks.
• Poor Water Quality– Water that is either hard or soft can lead to pipe corrosion. Acidic water typically leaves blue/green stains in the shower or sinks, emitting a chlorine-like smell. Hard water often causes mineral build-up on your water fixtures, makes your skin and clothes feel dry and itchy, and leaves water spots on dishes and glasses. The normal pH of water is 7.0 and it shouldn’t vary much in either direction. It’s a good idea to check the pH of your water regularly.
• Shifting Soil– The soil under the concrete slab can shift due to normal erosion, underground water, or events like an earthquake. If the change in the soil causes your house to move even slightly, it can cause enough pressure on the pipes to cause a leak. Often, the damage is extensive and results in severe water leaks.

All of these causes have one thing in common. They all lead to a slab leak over time. In some cases, the damage is limited to one area of a single pipe. In others, it might extend to multiple pipes and the integrity of the concrete slab.

Although the damage is underground and out-of-sight, there are signs that you can look for inside and outside of your house.

1. Damp Spots on the Floor

This is usually the first sign that you have a slab leak. You might find water or damp spots on your floor. If the hot water is leaking, it can also create warm spots on the floor. A barefoot walk through your home is a good way to discover where you might have leaking hot water lines.

2. You Hear Rushing Water

If you hear the sound of rushing water beneath the floor and you don’t have a faucet downstairs, it’s probably coming from a leaking pipe.

3. Mold and Mildew

Leaks can cause damp spots on the floor or in the ceiling. They result in mold and mildew that might give off a musty odor.

4. Low Water Pressure

When water is leaking in one spot, it takes water away from other outlets. If the shower or sink doesn’t have the same pressure it used to, it might mean the water is going somewhere else – such as a leak.

5. Soggy Spots Near the Home’s Foundation

Water that escapes from pipes encased within the slab might find its way out from under the slab and pool near your home.

6. Cracks in the Foundation

It’s normal for some cracks to occur in the foundation over time as a result of the house settling. Cracks caused by leaks occur suddenly. A slab leak that isn’t fixed can weaken the foundation and cause cracks in the foundation and walls.

7. A High Water Bill

If your water bill suddenly goes up a lot for no known reason, you’re probably losing water somewhere in your home. You need to find out the source right away. Some causes of a high water bill are easy to explain. Others are due to an out-of-sight leak that is getting worse each day. Don’t wait until another month passes to see if things change. The problem might get worse and end up causing a lot more damage and an increasingly higher water bill.

Leaking Sewer Lines

Leaky sewer lines present an even more challenging issue. There aren’t as many clues to sewage leaks until there’s already damage to the foundation or the leak causes raised sections in your flooring. Sometimes a leaking sewer line leads to a phenomenon known as “heaving”, during which the slab swells and lifts the entire house.

What to Do If You Suspect a Slab Leak

When leaks occur under your home’s concrete slab, pinpointing the location isn’t always easy. Plumbers have modern tools that let them “see” the source of a leak without disrupting the foundation. Sonar listening devices, helium detection, and infrared cameras are valuable tools that pinpoint the site and the extent of damage to the pipe.

Once the plumber identifies the leak, they can determine whether re-plumbing or replacing the pipe is the best option. If the damage to the pipe is severe or if it is old, galvanized plumbing, you might need to replace the entire pipe. That means removing the finished flooring, jackhammering the concrete slap, and accessing the pipe. This process is expensive, and it makes a lot of mess.

Of the materials used for water beneath slabs, copper is the most common, especially in older homes. Copper often wears thin over time, resulting in pin leaks. Although there might only be a few pinholes in the pipe, the rest of the pipe is probably in a similar condition. Repairing the area with the leak is only a temporary fix. Eventually, other leaks will develop in the pipe. Re-piping provides a more lasting solution and prevents the need to break through the concrete slab when a future leak occurs.

If you do decide to repair the pipe instead of replacing it, the plumber will use a hacksaw or tubing cutter to remove the damaged area. They will then replace the pipe with new tubing and copper couplings and solder it into place. Next, they bury the pipe, replace the concrete, and repair the floor.

Repairing Sewer Lines

Like detecting the source of leaks, repairing leaks in a sewer line is more difficult than in a water line. It isn’t a job you should tackle yourself. It requires expertise about the types of pipes used and how to deal with issues involving exposure to human waste.

Sewer lines are also made of different materials depending on the age of the house. They might be cast iron or clay, while modern homes often have pipes made of PVC. The same types of couplings used for different types of sewer pipes aren’t recommended for use on sewer pipes under concrete slabs.

Hiring a professional to diagnose, locate, and repair or replace a slab leak is often the simplest and cheapest approach. They will explain your options including pipe relining when replacing the entire line isn’t necessary. They will help you find the best solution based on the specific situation and your budget.

How Much Does Slab Leak Repair Cost?

Cost is an important factor for most homeowners. When dealing with a slab repair, it’s important to consider the immediate costs and the potential future costs as well. Several factors determine the cost of repairing a slab leak. Different methods of repair involve a range of labor and expertise. One method requires excavations and the installation of a slab pier to raise the foundation. This method costs an average of $1,000 to $3,000. Another involves pouring a mixture into the space under the slab to restore its original position, and costs an average of $500 to $1,300. There’s may also be damage to the home flooring, walls, baseboards, and cabinets, all of which will contribute to the overall cost.

One of the first questions homeowners often ask about slab leak repair is whether it is covered by their homeowner’s insurance. Many homeowner insurance policies cover the repairs to flooring and other parts of the home caused by the leak, but not for the leak itself. Many people don’t foresee the probability of developing a slap leak that can damage the very foundation of their home. The time to see whether your insurance covers leaky pipe repairs of any kind is before they become a reality.

What You Need to Know About Slab Leaks

The most important to know about a slab leak is that the leaky pipe needs replaced as soon as possible. Over time, the area around the slab can erode and allow the concrete to crack or separate between the layers. A damaged foundation is a lot messier and expensive to deal with than a single leak.

The extent of the damage not only determines how extensive the job is; it also determines whether a non-invasive method of pipe repair will work. In the past, breaking through the slab was the only way to get to the pipe for repair or replacement. Sometimes the plumber could dig from outside the home. More often, they made the repair from inside the house causing a great deal of damage to the floor.

Today, modern methods of slab leak repair reduce the expense of labor and the time it takes to make these repairs. Trenchless slab leak repairs don’t cause damage to the foundation, the landscaping, or other areas of your home.

Pipelining replaces dig and replace methods by allowing the pipelining company to access the interior of the pipe through small access holes. You can use it with different repair methods for a homeowner friendly and environmentally-friendly solution. The new pipe cures in place and the process only takes a matter of hours. Once the plumber inspects the damaged pipe, they will advise you on whether pipelining is a viable solution for you.

Pipes that carry fresh or potable water are smaller in diameter than sewer pipes. Sometimes only portions of a pipe require repairs instead of an entire pipe replace. If pipe re-lining is an option, the plumber will need to remove existing debris. Also, corrosion or tree roots that narrow the pipe opening must be removed. Pipe bursting is another process used to replace pipes. The plumber will tell you whether either of these options will provide you with the best solution.

Contact Best San Diego Leak Detection Today

The first step to a successful slab leak repair is determining where the leak is located and how extensive the damage is. Best San Diego Leak Detection offers a 24-hour response team to provide an immediate response to signs of a leak at your home. We’re experts at detecting leaks and offer you the best options for your situation.

A slab leak is a serious situation that will only grow worse over time. Don’t risk letting a leak turn into more damage before you call for a repair. Contact us today by calling 800-738-5325 or emailing us to schedule an appointment or for more information about our services.

October 16, 2019

Posted By: Bill Brink

Categories:

• Plumbing