leaky pipe

Leaky pipes are a real worry for homeowners. From mysterious drips to puddles forming in the front yard, most homeowners will encounter a leaky pipe at least once in their lifetime.

The biggest issue with water leaks is being able to find where they started in the first place. This can be tricky when pipework is concealed. Fortunately, an experienced plumber will easily be able to detect this.

There are a lot of reasons why a pipe may begin to leak, such as:

Extremely high water pressure 

  • Some locations can have water pressure higher than 1000kpa – this should be reduced at the entry to the property with a Pressure Limiting Valve. 300-500kpa is a normal pressure range.
  • A pipe under stress from high water pressure for a sustained period of time is prone to leakage.

Cracks

  • If you live in an older property, then your pipes may be cracked simply because they are old and have been exposed to minor movement over many years. Depending on the type of pipes on your property, many will need to be replaced when they are around 50 years old.

Corrosion

  • Corroded pipes are also prone to leakage. Apart from age, pipes may corrode due to pH levels, water temperature, velocity, and oxygen content.

Clogged Drains: 

  • A build up of hair, grease, debris or objects in your drainage pipes can cause your pipe to block. It’s also not uncommon for small objects to become accidentally flushed down the drain and become lodged in your pipes.  These small blockages in turn can cause back-ups. Back-ups increase the pressure in your drainage pipes and these can eventually cause pipe leaks that can be difficult to locate, particularly if they are underground. A sign of a blockage is that your drains start to take longer than normal to clear. 
  •  In this situation, it is best not to use chemical drain cleaners. While they may help clear the blockage, they can also eat away at the pipe causing corrosion and therefore in the long run be a more expensive fix.

Renovations

  • If you have been doing a bit of home renovations and screwing nails into the wall, it can be easy to inadvertently hit a water pipe and cause a pipe leak.  While most homeowners don’t know exactly where the pipework is in their home, if you are renovating and have a few unplastered walls, it’s a good idea to take photos of the pipework so you know what areas to avoid if you want to hang shelves, cabinets or even pictures.

Bad workmanship

  • While this is less common, hiring an unqualified plumber or doing the job yourself might also inadvertently cause a pipe leak. In this instance, it is normally that the joints are not tight enough or done correctly. Perhaps the wrong material has been used.  While it’s tempting to try and do the work yourself, it is best to use a licensed plumber.  

Tree Roots 

  • Not all leaks start inside the building. Some, like tree roots protruding into pipework, start outside. The root system of some trees are very deep and spread as far as the width of the tree. If you have trees close to your home, it’s possible that a tree root may make its way into the drainage pipe and cause a water leak. 

Broken Seals

  • Seals are placed on appliances that are connected to water to create a watertight connection. When appliances, like a dishwasher, age the seal can break down or degrade over time. A sure sign of this is when you notice a puddle of water near your appliance. It could be a sure sign that you have a broken seal. 

While it might be tempting to fix this yourself, its best left to a professional.

We have a standardised leak detection service and are available 24/7.

If you have a plumbing problem, don’t hesitate to give our professionals at Salmon Plumbing in Brisbane a call. Our experienced team of plumbers are qualified to take on any commercial and residential plumbing issue, including leaky pipes, burst pipes, roof leaks, and other emergencies.

We invite you to contact us online or give us a call on (07) 3862 2600.