Small leaks can turn into a water damage flooded home in Central Houston?

We all know that some floods become national disasters. Flash floods happen when a year’s worth of rain pours down in just a short period of time, which can devastate homes and sweep away cars. These are what one thinks of as floods, but even small leaks from your plumbing system could turn into a flooded home.

Split washing machine hoses, burst pipes or overflowing toilets don’t warrant calling in a national disaster response team, but a water leak can still be extremely inconvenient and costly to repair.

What kinds of Small Leaks are the Most Likely to Turn into Big Leaks in Central Houston?

Your home contains a network of plumbing fixtures and pipes and that can be ticking time bombs. As soon as you notice a leak of any size, you should have it repaired it immediately because there is no designated time that it takes for a small leak to turn into a flooded home.

These are the types of leaks that have potential to flood your home:

Water heater corrosion: Your water heater tank usually won’t fail all at once, and it's more common for a small leak to develop where the tank is at its weakest. Once unnoticed, a corroded water heater could easily flood your basement if the tank bursts.

Ice-maker hoses: Even though the ice maker in your fridge is convenient, the hose that supplies the water could fail or come loose, letting slowly dripping water onto the floor below. This slow, steady dripping, may not be noticed for weeks or months while the floor cavity could fill with water until the drywall finally gives way and dumps a flood of water into the basement.

Washing machine or dishwasher hose failure: Because the water supply hoses for these appliances are under pressure, they tend to fail after ten years or so. These type failures are usually gradual, starting with a small leak on the kitchen or laundry room floor until it completely splits and creates a flood.

Ruptured Pipes: Main water supply lines in your home can rust and corrode over time, creating tiny pinhole leaks. Sometimes ruptures occur without warning, causing a flooded home.

Can You Prevent a Small Leak from Flooding Your Home?

If found and corrected quickly, small leaks are no big deal.

You should have your plumbing fixtures and pipes maintained annually: You will gain peace of mind, knowing that the plumbing, water heater, appliances, and fixtures are all working as they should with an inexpensive visit from a plumber.

You can detect leaks by watching your water meter readings: If you want to know if you have hidden leaks, go outside and read your water meter, refrain from using any water for at least two hours, and then read your water meter again. If the water meter number has changed, you have a leak and can start searching for it.

Shut off your home’s main water supply: If you have a small leak, shut off the water supply before a small leak grows into a big leak to minimize water damage.

A small leak may still end up flooding your home despite your best efforts. If you have a leak, contact Restoration 1 Central Houston for fast, professional help cleaning up the mess and getting your life back in order.