How to Inspect Your Home for Water Damage
Water damage can be as minor as a light stain on your wall or ceiling or as dangerous as full rot. Even that light stain can pose a problem if the water itself isn’t stopped. If you catch the water stain or damp patch early and stop the source, then it’s as easy as painting over to make it look new again. If that patch only grows, however, and you do nothing about it, the rot can become unfixable over time. You’ll need to rip out the entire wall and have it entirely replaced. In the worst-case scenario, a leak can even condemn a home.
That’s why it’s so important to catch any leaks or water damage early and fix them immediately so you don’t have to worry about structural damage. Small issues are so easy to fix, so catch water damage when it’s small by using this guide:
Check around your walls, ceiling, and floor for any tell-tale signs of water damage. This can look like yellow staining or even mould. Of course, it isn’t just leaks that make it through your walls that matter. You’ll also want to check the seals around your wet areas. If the caulk or sealant exhibits signs of mould, especially if it’s growing underneath, you will need to remove that sealant and redo it. Sometimes, something as careless as not pressing the seal between tiles can leave a significant gap. Though the water damage here isn’t likely to cause structural damage, it can start corroding your fixtures and doesn’t look great.
One of the easiest ways to check for a leak somewhere in your home (especially one you can’t see) is to check your water meter or pressure gauge. If the water meter keeps ticking up, even though all your water systems are off, then you have a leak somewhere. If you can’t find the source, then bring in a top plumber in St Albans to help you find and fix the leak for good.
If you know exactly where the leak is, then you can use a variety of short-term fixes to stop the leak while you wait for your plumber to arrive. The first is, of course, to turn off your water supply. You may even want to flush all of your toilets to remove as much water from the pipes as possible. From there, you can make short-term fixes, like using plumber’s putty, which you can find at almost any DIY or home improvement store. You can also use a pipe repair clamp, repair spray, or rubber tape. Keep in mind that these are not permanent fixes, but they can help you out by blocking the leak until a professional can come in. Doing this lets you avoid emergency call-out fees so you can fix your leak as quickly yet cost-effectively as possible.