Despite Jupiter being a coastal area that is prone to hurricanes, tropical storms, and heavy winds, the most common causes of water damage and mold growth are undetected leaks in your home. Often, these leaks begin as small, subtle ones that are barely noticeable until it’s too late and the damage has been done. However, by knowing where you can check, you can offset costly and extensive damage. At All Dry Services, our Jupiter leak detection experts have compiled a list of the most common causes and locations of leaks in your house. Knowing these can help you prevent extensive flood damage and mold growth throughout your home.
THE KITCHEN
Aside from the bedroom and bathroom, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in your home. Housing multiple appliances that are hooked up to your home’s plumbing system, there are quite a few potential causes of leaks and water damage.
These include:
- A refrigerator with an ice maker: In order to produce ice, these refrigerators are hooked up to your home’s plumbing system via miniature hoses. Sometimes, the connection can become loose or the hose can spring a leak. Oftentimes, because the hose is hidden by your refrigerator, these issues go unnoticed until you go to grab ice, or the pooling water begins to seep out from underneath the fridge.
- A dishwasher: Much like the ice maker, your dishwasher is also connected to your plumbing system via a hose. Should this hose spring a leak, or the connection become too loose, you could be dealing with a messy plumbing problem. Additionally, if water ever starts to back up, it will eventually overflow through the door and water will begin to pool until the issue is fixed.
THE BATHROOM
Think of all the fixtures that use water in your bathroom. This means there are a multitude of possibilities for plumbing problems and leaks that can eventually lead to water damage and mold growth if left undetected or unattended.
THE SINK
Although designed for frequent use, the components of your sink can wear out which leads to leaks.
We recommend checking the following:
- The faucets and handles: While most of us are familiar with water dripping from the faucet, what many people don’t know is that this is could be the sign of a much larger plumbing issue or leak and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Additionally, your hot and cold water handles, which are connected to the faucet, can have water seep out beneath them.
- The drain: Because it exists underneath your counter, and probably in an area of your bathroom you don’t check or access too frequently, this can be a major contributor to water damage and mold growth if there’s something wrong with your drain.
- The bowl of your sink: If the bowl of your sink is cracked, water will eventually trickle through the cracks.
THE SHOWER
You don’t see all of the pipes and connections in your shower save for the faucet and shower head. This means that it is often difficult to catch a leak or burst pipe until it is too late and the damage has been done. However, knowing what to look for or where to check can help offset costly damage.
Our certified technicians recommend assessing:
- The drain: If your drain has become too loose, it will cause water to leak beneath your tub. Because the leak occurs in a place that’s not visible, it will lead to mold growth and can even cause structural damage.
- The shower head: Shower heads are some of the most commonly leaking fixtures in a home. Installing a high quality one can help prevent leaks, but it’s also important that you get in the habit of checking yours to ensure it’s not leaking after you’ve finished with your shower.
- The tiles and tub: If you have a standalone shower, chances are the contractors used a watertight tile and flooring. However, this makes it a bit more difficult to spot leaks. We recommend having your shower checked every two to three years to ensure there are no leaks coming through the grout.
THE TOILET
Much like your sink and your shower, your toilet also contains multiple components that can leak and contribute to water damage and mold growth.
It’s important that you check:
- If you have any loose connections: Make sure that the connections between the tank and the hoses running from the wall are tightened so that there are no possibilities for water to leak through. Additionally, it’s important that the bolts on the bottom of the bowl are tightened so water doesn’t seep out the bottom of your toilet.
- A broken or cracked flange seal: The bowl of your toilet is connected to your plumbing via a large pipe and this is coated in sealant. If the sealant is cracked, water will begin to leak through.
- A broken or cracked bowl or tank: Because these two components of your toilet house water, any break or crack will cause water to leak through.
BENEATH YOUR HOME
The plumbing system beneath your home is quite intricate and offers a wealth of possibilities for leaks. While the pipes and plumbing underneath your house can go close to 20 years without having any leaks or problems, it’s important to know what to check just in case.
The following things can contribute to water damage and mold growth:
- Corrosion: As your pipes age, scale can build up along the interior and corrode them. Soon, they become so corroded that water will seep out. However, because they exist beneath your home, it’s more difficult to catch when these problems occur. Soon, excessive flooding and water damage or mold growth occurs.
- Weakened connections: There are many factors that can cause loose connections in the plumbing beneath your home: shifting foundation, strong winds, or even flooding due to a hurricane or heavy rains. This can cause water to leak through your pipes.
ALL DRY SERVICES IS HERE FOR YOU
At All Dry Services, our technicians are available 24/7 to assist with any water damage or mold remediation you need. We also offer leak detection services to help you identify what’s causing any excess water to pool in your home.
Just give us a call at (561) 662-4525 or contact us online.
