Your water bill has been on the rise and you can put no reason to it? Or perhaps there is the sound of running water with all the faucets in the house shut off. You may even be put off by a musty odour in a room that was fresh not long ago.
These are telltale signs of a plumbing leak you cannot see. We at Alabama Home Pros are here to help homeowners in Montgomery, Prattville, Millbrook and Pike Road get ahead of such issues. A phone call to (334) 206-8878 and we will put you right as to what should be done.
Do not think a small leak will remain so. Water will make its way and in time you have rot, mold and the kind of damage that is costly to put right. Most leaks will let you know they are there well before they are a disaster; one only has to be observant.
A Water Bill That Will Not Stop Going Up
The evidence is often on paper. Unless your usage in the home has altered, an uptick in the bill means the water is being used elsewhere. Even an unobtrusive toilet leak runs through hundreds of gallons daily. Put your last couple of bills side by side for comparison; a month in and month out increase is a sure thing that water is getting away from you.
Running Water You Can Hear
Occasionally you will hear something your eyes do not. Make the house quiet and stand and listen. A soft hiss or trickle when nothing is on tells you water is in the pipes when it ought not to be. Best to put that to rest straight away. What you are hearing coming from behind a wall or under floor is likely a hard to access leak.
Discoloration, Warping and Stains
Water puts its mark on things. Be on the lookout for:
- Ceilings or walls with yellow or brown staining
- Wallpaper or paint that is peeling or has bubbled
- Flooring that is soft or warped
- Dampness on the carpeting or baseboards
- Rings of a darker colour that seem to be spreading
Moisture is where it should not be if you see any of this. The more it is left to itself the more it will harm the home’s structure.
Musty Smells of Mildew
One can be a good detective with one’s nose. Mold and mildew like the persistent moisture and bring with them an earthy, damp smell. Should you find a closet or bathroom is musty despite your best efforts to clean it, a leak could be at work below the surface.
You Are Experiencing Low Pressure
A leak in the line means less water makes it to the showerhead or faucet. If the city is not having problems and your pressure is down, the supply line is the likely culprit. A drop across the entire house is indicative of something more than a local issue confined to one fixture.
Mold Where It Does Not Belong
You expect to see some in the shower. Not on a hallway or bedroom wall. Growth in an area with no apparent source of water is usually because a hidden leak is keeping it damp.
Foundation Cracks
People are often taken aback by this. Under a slab a slow leak can move the soil and in turn exert itself on the foundation. In Montgomery with our wet and dry seasons you want to be mindful of this. Any new cracks in the foundation, a door that will not close properly or an uneven floor can be attributed to water in the wrong place.
The Cost of Delaying Action
There is a common thread to all the above: they will not improve. A minor drip becomes rotted framing and drywall you have to replace and a bill to match. Many a homeowner lets the damage become obvious and widespread, making for a more involved and dearer repair. An early catch is a simple matter.
We are a locally run operation out of Millbrook with an Alabama master plumber license (MP-3625). Our technicians are all licensed and certified and we are fully insured. We serve Montgomery and the towns around us with same-day service and estimates you can trust, backed by a 100 per cent guarantee. Our office is open 7 to 5 Monday to Friday but we are on hand 24/7 for an emergency.
Do not let the damage have its way. If you have seen these warning signs, get in touch with Alabama Home Pros at (334) 206-8878 and we will track down the source.