The pipes in your home serve an important purpose, but you’re still probably glad you cannot see them. Keeping the pipes hidden from view has aesthetic value, as plumbing pipes wouldn’t really add to your décor, and it’s nice to make use of all that extra space in the walls and around the structure of the home. However, this does present a problem.
With the plumbing pipes hidden from view, you cannot really see when something is wrong with them, such as a water leak, but some problems would be hard to spot anyway. You’ll have to look for some other signs of plumbing trouble, or schedule a plumbing inspection, to know when your pipes are in jeopardy. Look out for these common piping problems!
Water Leaks
A breach in the pipes can range from a minor trickle out of a pinhole leak to a stream of water bursting from the pipes. Of course, you’ll notice the latter, if water bursts from your sink or spills out underneath the counter. But a minor leak won’t always show itself.
Even a light trickle of water from a pipe behind a wall can do major damage if you don’t address it soon enough. Water damage can wreak havoc for the structure of your home, and it can cause mold to develop in your living space—which means a potential health hazard. The signs of a water leak can be subtle, but it’s important to watch out for them.
- A musty smell around the home
- Low water pressure
- Dark spots on walls or ceilings
- Cracks in the foundation of your home
Corrosion
Corrosion is often the cause of a water leak, but you should try to catch it before it destroys your plumbing. The reaction of iron and water from the steel pipes slowly wears down pipes until they are filled with leaks. There’s no way to stop corrosion, so you’ll need to replace pipes that start to wear down in this way.
You might see rust flakes in your water supply if your pipes are corroding, but this isn’t always evident. We recommend scheduling inspections for your piping regularly if your pipes are over about 50 years old, or if you know they are made of galvanized steel.
Mineral Buildup
Most homes have some amount of mineral content coming in through their water supplies. Minerals like calcium and magnesium enter the pipes and move into your home, but thankfully, they don’t tend to pose any health risk. You probably know that calcium is typically good for your health when it’s found in your food, but it can be bad in other ways.
These minerals leave behind deposits, which may appear in your home in a few ways. You might notice problems like these:
- A white, green, or yellow buildup on the drains and faucets.
- Excessive soap scum in the tub, since these minerals make it harder for soap to dissolve.
- Water spots on dishes.
- Soap left behind after a load of laundry.
But the major damage is done in the pipes. The same residue you might find on the outside of your plumbing fixtures could be inside the pipes. And that reduces the pipe volume, lowering water pressure. A water softener can help to resolve this, but you’ll need a trained plumber to install it for you.
For plumbing services in New Port Richey, FL, call the experts at Continental Plumbing Services, LLC.