How a “Minor” Water Leak Can Result in a Major Water Damage Disaster

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Carrollton dispels myths relating to supposedly minor water leaks.

The water damage restoration team at SERVPRO of Carrollton wants homeowners, property managers, and business owners to realize there is no such thing as a “minor” water leak.

The Myth of the “Minor” Water Leak

There is nothing “minor” about a minor water leak. A seemingly insignificant drip under the bathroom sink can expand into a major water damage disaster.

1. Over time, a small leak adds up to a large quantity of water. One drop of water per second per day is a little over a gallon of water. A fine stream of water flowing at a rate of one gallon per hour wastes 720 gallons over a month.
2. A small, unnoticed leak can cause a significant water damage disaster. A minor roof leak can collapse a ceiling, while a dripping pipe in the basement can lead to a black mold infestation. An occasional leak in the bathroom can cause wood rot to the extent that the toilet eventually falls through the floor.
3. A small leak can add up to a large sum of money in water damage restoration costs and wasted water. According to HomeAdvisor, “The average homeowner spends between $1,210 and $5,158 to restore or repair water damage, with an average of $3,183.” 
4. A minor water leak can keep a thirsty colony of termites thriving in the hot, dry Texas summer months.
5. A home inspection provides the opportunity to discover water damage from a minor water leak. When a home goes on the market, the damage can reduce the house’s selling price by thousands of dollars.

As soon as a “minor” water leak is discovered, it needs to be immediately repaired. Delays in taking care of even the smallest leak, a pinhole leak, can have serious consequences.

Causes of Minor Water Leaks

Some causes or sources of leaks only yield small amounts of water. A defective seal may only release an intermittent drop of water from a sink drain. A loose plumbing connection may permit a narrow stream of water to flow from the joint. The HVAC condensate pan may leak very slowly at first, but as the rust corrodes the pan, the flow may increase.

Over time, copper pipes can corrode and develop pinhole leaks, which are difficult to detect because the water flow is so minute. Excessive water pressure can push small amounts of water through weak plumbing joints that otherwise would not leak under normal water pressures. Sudden and dramatic changes in air temperature can weaken joints and pipe connections leading to small leaks. These leaks may disappear when temperatures return to normal.

Homeowners must be vigilant of and attentive to the signs of small water leaks. When a leak is discovered and immediately repaired, the damage may be minimal.

Detection: The Main Problem With Minor Leaks

Minor leaks are so tiny that they escape notice until enough water has escaped to attract the homeowner’s attention. A plumbing connection emitting one drop of water per second will deposit a little over a gallon of water per day somewhere in or under a home. It may take a day or two for the homeowner to spot the evidence of the leak. A wet spot on the floor, a water stain on the ceiling, or a musty smell in the laundry room may hint at a problem. A dripping or hissing sound may be a telltale sign of a tiny leak somewhere in the house.

Leaks may be hidden behind a wall, under the floor, inside a sink cabinet, in the attic, or under a tub or shower stall. Over time, the leak will eventually reveal itself, but the damage will already be done. Peeling paint, warped flooring, ruined sheetrock, rotting wood, a wobbly toilet, a musty smell, mildew, and blotches of mold leave evidence of a clandestine leak.

On the other hand, a burst supply line can hardly go unnoticed by the homeowner. Water spews out at 7 gallons per minute under high pressure. The collision of the water with a wall, the floor, or the appliance makes a loud hissing noise. In minutes, dozens of gallons of water are streaming across the floor or cascading from the ceiling. The evidence is hard to miss.

For water damage cleanup and restoration, trust the knowledgeable, experienced, and certified professionals at SERVPRO of Carrollton. Contact SERVPRO of Carrollton to learn more about water damage cleanup services in Farmers Branch, TX. The office can be reached by email at office@SERVPRO10952.com or by phone at (972) 446-0383.