When you think of problems that occur in the household one of the most dire and difficult to deal with is a plumbing leak. As plumbing is mostly unseen, tucked behind the walls, beneath the floors and up in the ceilings, it can become an out-of-sight, out-of-mind problem for many homeowners. However, as houses age, and the plumbing is used regularly, problems are bound to come up. In today’s blog article we will be looking at some of the most likely causes for plumbing leaks in order to help you answer the question Why do Plumbing Leaks Happen?
Broken Seals
Probably the most common cause of plumbing leaks are broken seals. These are installed along with your piping to keep it watertight and are often made of softer and less resilient materials such as rubber or plastic. As time goes on the seals are often the first thing to wear down and break, causing leaks.
Rapid Temperature Changes
Suddenly going from hot temperatures to cold temperatures or the other way around can stress your pipes and can cause cracks and fractures to occur, causing leaks. Metal pipes are especially susceptible to leaks caused by extreme heat or cold as they expand and contract much more drastically than their plastic counterparts.
Water Pressure
Water Pressure is one of the main sources of stress on your pipes as it affects them every time you turn on the tap or take a shower. The faster and harder water moves through those pipes the more likely they are to be damaged and break down.
Deterioration of Piping
Pipes will deteriorate over time, whether it is simply from age and use or outside forces such as corrosive liquids or rust. These can degrade your pipes and create cracks and openings for leaks to occur. Newer pipes are more corrosion resistant than older pipes so the older your pipes the more likely you are to encounter pipe deterioration.
Blockages
Unaddressed clogs and blockages can increase water pressure and place a great deal of stress on the pipes. This can exacerbate existing issues and speed up the breakdown of your home plumbing.
While some of these are inevitable, Seals will break down over time, water will wear down the pipes and age will set in, you can head off many of these potential leaks with regular maintenance of your plumbing. To prevent leaks from occurring make sure that you are regularly making use of professional plumbers to check your pipes for any wear and tear and to clear any blockages that may be placing undue stress on your pipes. If you want any of these issues addressed, please feel free to contact 604FixLeaks for all of your leak detection, repair and plumbing restoration needs.
604FixLeak offers leak detection, plumbing repairs and restoration services in the Greater Vancouver area.
If you have any questions about this article or need some help with a leak in your home or office, call us today at (604) 349-5325.
