3 Most Common Causes of Water Leaks in House

Today we will discuss about the most common causes of plumbing leaks & learn how water leak detection system can help.

Water leaks occur when the plumbing system gets old.

Such incidents also occur due to high water pressure, corrosion, and water hammer—a sudden spike of water flow when it changes the direction or stops the supply abruptly.

When you open a tap, water flows with maximum speed from its tank through the pipes and comes out of the faucet. Now, what if you close the tap?

3 Most Common Causes of Plumbing Leaks

Let’s discuss all the reasons in detail.

Water Hammer

If the water flow comes to a sudden stop, it shifts the momentum and dissipates energy known as hydraulic shock, which is also known as a water hammer.

Have you ever heard rattling or banging sounds from the pipes?

Well, it is the hammer of water that creates a lot of noise and disturbance sometimes. Above all, this shock deteriorates your plumbing system.

In the long run, water hammers can damage the valve and other fittings, ultimately destroying them.

Water hammers also cause pinhole leaks because it slowly degrades the pipelines and makes them thin. You can reduce the consequences of hydraulic shocks with the help of hammer arrestors (pressure regulating valves) or expansion tanks.

Extreme Pressure

A plumbing system cannot stand high pressure, especially if it’s primarily made of metals like copper or steel.

For instance, ice inside the pipes is very harmful. Once the water expands, it will crack the pipes. Stainless steel braided hoses are less prone to cracks when compared to rubber ones.

If you don’t want to see frozen pipes in this life, then try using cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubes for your plumbing system.

PEX made components are not freeze-proof, but they are robust and can withstand freezing points. This material can expand and collapse without any damage. It’s the reason PEX is better than copper in this case.

Corrosion

If the plumbing is old or it’s rusted, then there are high chances of leaks. The risks are even higher if the water is acidic.

Such an incident can occur even if you use galvanized steel plumbing because it’s also prone to rust. As you can easily understand, rust and corrosion can weaken the pipes, resulting in pinhole leakages.

Imagine, if these tiny leaks occur in a concealed area, what will happen?

For instance, if the water escapes behind the wall or in the basement, then it can cause mind-boggling damages before you notice anything.

However, a detection system can let you know about such leaks. So, you are safe from expensive house repair projects if there is a water inspector in place.