Plumbing leaks happen in both new and old homes. Often, plumbing leaks can feel as if they appeared out of the blue. However, that is not the case. The truth is that plumbing leaks have a few common causes, and there are some things you can do to prevent plumbing leaks before they happen and steps you should take once a plumbing leak occurs.

#1: Plumbing Leaks Are Not Random

It may seem like plumbing leaks are random, but they are not. There are usually a few common causes behind most plumbing leaks.

First, you may have a broken seal. Seals are installed where the water flows from the pipes into an appliance. Over time, these seals can wear out, causing water to leak out of the appliance instead of flow into it.

Second, the pipes may corrode from the inside. This can happen when you have extremely high water pressure or when you have hard water in your home. As the pipe rusts from the inside, it will eventually fail, causing water to come through a weak point in the pipe.

Third, when clogs occur inside the pipe, they can put excessive pressure on the walls and seals on the pipe. The pressure can become too much and can cause breaks in the pipe walls or seals.

#2: Plumbing Leaks Can Be Prevented

Not all plumbing leaks can be prevented, but many can.

One way to protect your pipes is by not using chemical drain cleaners on your pipes. They get rid of clogs, but they can eat away at the inside of your pipes and seals, causing them to fail and leak.

Another way to protect against leaks is by making sure you are careful with what you put down your pipes. Clogs can put a lot of pressure on the walls of your pipes and cause leaks to develop.

You can also protect your pipes by using natural cleaning methods, such as baking soda and vinegar or natural enzymes, to eat up and fight against clogs.

Additionally, every once in a while, just tighten up the fittings on your plumbing, as they can get loose over time.

#3: Properly Address Leaks

When a leak occurs, you should adequately address it. If the fitting is loose, use a plumber's wrench to tighten it up. You should keep a plumber's wrench in your toolbox. If a seal seems to have degraded, turn off the water to that appliance, and replace the seal or have a plumber replace the seal. If the actual pipe itself is broken, you can temporarily tape it up with some plumbing tape. Then, bring in a professional plumber to replace the damaged pipe, and check the integrity of the other pipes in your home as well.

Plumbing leaks are not completely random; they occur as a result of seals and pipes wearing down and fittings getting loose. However, you can work to prevent plumbing leaks by taking care of your pipes. If a plumbing leak occurs, bring in a professional to handle damaged pipes and broken seals. If you have questions, contact a local plumbing service.