A leak is one of the most common problems you might run into during home maintenance. Perhaps you have a faucet or plumbing fixture that has sprung a little, controllable leak, or perhaps you’ve noticed a little dripping from the ceiling when the weather is particularly bad. Sometimes, you might feel tempted to think that it’s not too urgent and can wait until you take care of other things, but the truth is that even a small leak can do a lot more damage than you might think. Here are some reasons you should never ignore one.
Photo by Kritsada Seekham
Your Water Bills Will Get Higher
First and foremost, you’re going to have to deal with higher water bills if the leak is coming from your plumbing. If there’s a continuous leak, even a small one, it can very quickly get expensive because your water will be consistently running. This can waste hundreds or even thousands of litres in a year. Aside from an extra expense adding up over time, this can also affect your water pressure, meaning that your plumbing fixtures and appliances may not work as well.
The Risk Of Water Damage
If the water from a leak is allowed to reach your housing materials at all, then it can gradually cause significant water damage throughout the home. Even if you wipe it up, it might have already started seeping into the walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture beneath your notice. This can cause the materials in the home to start to weaken, eventually becoming unstable and at risk of collapsing. Even if you catch it before that, replacing water-damaged materials can still be very expensive, so you should do what you can to prevent it.
Mould And Mildew Growth
Wherever there is the risk of water damage and higher levels of moisture in general, you’re a lot more likely ot see the spread of mould and mildew, as well. Persistent moisture is the number one precursor to mould, especially if it’s in damp, dark spaces such as under the sink or behind walls. Once it begins to spread, it can be difficult to remove, as well. Maintaining a mould-free home is important for the health of everyone in there, but, much like water damage, it can also begin to deteriorate your housing materials as well. By fixing leaks quickly, you greatly reduce your chances of a mould infestation.
Leaks Often Get Bigger
If you allow a leak to persist, there’s a good chance that it’s going to get worse over time and do more damage to the source. A plumbing leak can get worse as the condition of your pipes deteriorates due to the constant movement of water through their weak spots, for instance. Similarly, a hole in your roof might get worse and worse, as water wears its way through, or begins to affect the supporting structure beneath.
The costs of letting a leak linger before you fix it can become a serious burden on your household finances if you let it. So don’t let it.
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