News

Have you ever wondered about the potential cause of plumbing leaks? Whether you’re looking to work out why your property’s plumbing seems to be leaking, or if you’re trying to find ways to keep your plumbing in top condition, there are several potential causes of plumbing leaks you could think about. Fortunately, our team of professional plumbers are on hand today to help with this; we’ll consider the causes of plumbing leaks and why they might be an issue for your home or commercial property so you can find the best solutions overall. Here at Heat Tec, we are experts at all things plumbers from leaking and boilers to gas safety, if you find yourself with a link, contact our great team today. 

What Causes Plumbing Leaks?

There are several notable causes of plumbing leaks that you may want to consider, and being aware of these may help you take further steps for your property. As such, we’ve outlined some of the common causes of plumbing leaks as follows to help you understand a little more about what’s going on with your property’s pipes.

A Word of Caution

It’s worth mentioning here that if you detect a plumbing leak within your own home or business premises, you should get professional support from an experienced local plumber rather than attempting to fix the issue on your own. Hiring a professional plumber can offer surprisingly good value-for-money, in many cases – and can prevent the leak from getting any worse.

Common Causes of Plumbing Leaks

There are many common causes of plumbing leaks. Naturally, these can vary in severity (and the associated cost to repair the issue). With this in mind, if you suspect a leak in your plumbing systems, the following causes could be to blame.

#1 Broken Seals

One of the most common causes for leaking pipes in a property (fortunately, usually one of the easiest to fix) is a broken or damaged seal. Indeed, not all pipework within your property is a continuous pipe; as such, appliances commonly need to be attached to the plumbing system with sealants. However, sealants can degrade for several reasons, and time is one of the most common. Once the sealant has impaired enough, this can result in leaks in your property’s plumbing.

#2 Corrosion

Corrosion is a second common cause of plumbing leaks within properties. However, the level of corrosion within a property’s piping will often depend on the age and material of the pipes. Indeed, while brass pipes may be able to last for anywhere up to 70 years, galvanised steel pipes may only be able to offer a fraction of that durability at around 20 years.

The type of water your property is supplied with also impacts the likelihood of corrosion. Indeed, if the pH and mineral content within the water are off-balance, the pipes may degrade and corrode at a faster rate.

Rust and corrosion can eat away at your pipes with enough time, eventually resulting in a leak. If you suspect this may be the case for your property’s plumbing, you should call your local plumber to get the piping replaced (corroded pipework sadly cannot be fixed). 

#3 Underground Activity

Many of your property’s pipes are located underground – and these supply the entirety of your house. As such, an underground leak can be hugely costly and may also result in structural damage to your property’s foundations over time. Unfortunately, they are also among the most expensive issues to fix due to the difficult access to these systems.

There are many potential underground activity causes for leaking plumbing. The possible reasons are numerous, from flooding to minor earthquakes and even pressure from tree or plant roots. Having looked after properties in Sevenoaks, Bromely, Croydon and throughout the south, for many years there is very little we are yet to have come across when it comes to underground activity. 

#4 Poor Pipe Laying

If you notice that your pipes appear to be leaking despite being new or relatively new, the issue may lie in the installation itself. Indeed, modern homes especially tend to be built under very tight time and budget restrictions; as such, it’s not uncommon for inexperienced plumbers, rushed off their feet already, to accidentally lay a pipe incorrectly. In turn, this can cause a leak, which may worsen with time. 

We highly recommend that you call out a professional local plumber as soon as you notice a leak that fits this description. The sooner it’s fixed and put back in place, the sooner the risk of damage can be removed.

Get Professional Plumber Support for your Property

If you detect a plumbing leak within your property, please don’t leave things to chance! Over time, plumbing leaks can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your home. That aside, they can also represent massive inconveniences and wasted water, which puts your water bill far higher than it needs to be!

Whatever the case might be for your property, your local professional plumber will be there to help you find the most suitable solution for your plumbing woes. So, reach out today to find the support you need – it might just change how you look at plumbing problems!