Even a small water leak can become a big problem. I know, because my home is the king of leaks. I don’t know what it is about a home that is more than a handful of years old, but water just seems to want to escape from pipes and other places and seek out anything it can to destroy. From collapsed ceilings to mushy yards to moldy cabinets, I have had more than my fair share of water disasters.
Here are some things you can watch out for in your home to prevent leaks, repair leaks, and fix water damage.
Leaky Home Repairs in the Attic
When I first got my house I had no idea what I was doing. I got it inspected, of course, but in reality I knew nothing about home repair or maintenance; which is why I freaked out when it started raining in my garage. Water dripped across the ceiling and onto the cars, and the ceiling drooped down in a disturbingly bubble-like fashion.
I evacuated the garage and inspected the attic, finding out that the air conditioning unit’s drain hose had become plugged, and the drip pan was overflowing. No matter how many air conditioning repair technicians I called, none could figure out how to get the unit to drain properly. They advised me to turn the unit off, but at 100 degrees-plus outside, how could I?
Eventually, part of the ceiling collapsed, and shortly thereafter, the problem was fixed. I was able to replace a section of the ceiling without a big problem, but it wasn’t something I would like to repeat.
This made it all the more frustrating when the downstairs bathroom ceiling started dripping too. With a surge of fear, I quickly called a plumber who let me know a drain pipe from the upstairs bathroom had cracked, allowing the water to drip through. We got that sealed and resolved before any major damage was done, thankfully.
Leaky Home Repairs in the Bathroom
Speaking of bathrooms, this is a hot spot for leaks of all kinds. For me, the biggest issue I have faced is with the downstairs bathtub. The faucet started to leak one day, and I thought it would be a simple repair. However, the faucet was too old to fix and needed to be replaced to stop the leak. The tile around the faucet had to be broken away to get to the pipes, and I was left with a huge hole in my shower.
After that, another disaster occurred, this one man-made. Never leave firecrackers and matches anywhere near your toilet. That auto-fill feature is killer! From wet carpets in the next room to a stinky replacement process, it was a hassle. Just for your future knowledge, it is not possible to repair a cracked toilet. Not even with lots and lots of waterproof tape.
As a home ages, it seems like the hot water pipes take the worst beating. I have had to replace the hot water pipes under both of my bathroom sinks. Thankful for WD-40, I was able to pry them off and replace them myself, as they simply screw on.
Water, Water Everywhere!
If you are having any issues with leaky pipes or ceilings, you’ll want to get it checked out ASAP. But don’t waste time calling around. Use TalkLocal to find the right professional in just minutes.
Author Bio: This is a guest post by Liz Nelson from WhiteFence.com. She is a freelance writer and blogger from Houston. Questions and comments can be sent to: liznelson17 @ gmail.com.
