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Homeowners, Building Owners Shouldn't Procrastinate with Water Pipe Leaks, Expert Says

Local leak expert shares tips and advice for Fix-a-Leak Week

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (Grassroots Newswire) March 3, 2010 - To encourage people to investigate possible water leakage on their property, American Leak Detection is commemorating Fix-a-Leak Week.

Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the national awareness campaign takes place from March 15 to 21 and is designed to be a designated time to check properties for plumbing, pool, fixture, and irrigation system leaks. According to Stan Berenbaum, president of American Leak Detection, annoying water leaks occur indoors as well as outdoors.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you often hear "drip, drip" or the continuous sound of water when nothing is turned on?
2. Do your walls or floors have wet, spongy, moist, or discolored areas or hot spots when nothing has been spilled?
3. Does your water meter reading change or move when you aren't using any water?
4. Do you lose 1/8" of water or more in your pool in a 24-hour period?

If you have answered "yes" to any of these questions, your home or commercial building is may be suffering from a water pipe leak.

"We have found that many people know they have leaks, but procrastinate to get them fixed - either because they don't have time to address them, or because they feel they will be expensive to fix," said Berenbaum. "The problem with that is the longer they wait, the worse the leak gets, and the more expensive it is to fix."

For example, look at the following scenarios that could happen if you procrastinate in addressing water pipe leaks:

• Floor buckling. You may have a leak if you notice that your floor is warping and/or buckling. This is a sure sign that a serious leak has taken its toll on your property. The longer you wait, the more severe the buckling will be and it could severely damage your floor.
• Flooding. Many leaks can be found simply by looking on the floors of your property, because drips lead to puddles. If puddles are unaddressed, they can lead to a flooded bathroom, kitchen, or basement.
• Mold exposure. Water pipe leaks are common culprits of undetected mold. In fact, by the time the leak is discovered, the mold has already had an opportunity to grow in the same hard-to-find places. Mold exposure could lead to a number of health issues, including aggravation to asthma, skin rashes, and nasal congestion.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if your family's water bill exceeds 12,000 gallons per month, chances are you have a leak or two. However, even by doing the usual checks around the property, the leaks can remain undetected by the naked eye.

• Silent leaks. Many times, we don't think of the water service line running from the main line on the street to our property. An unseen leak the size of a pinhead in an underground service line can waste 360,000 gallons of water per year, enough to fill 12,000 bathtubs to the overflow mark.
• Leak drips. A leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of water in 30 days. A dripping faucet/hose bib can lose up to 180 gallons a month or 2,160 gallons per year.
• Leaks inside and out. If water lines on your property are leaking, you might be able to tell by reading your water meter. Check this by turning off all the water inside the property. Then, check your meter's current reading. Wait 30 minutes, and then check it again. If the meter reading has changed, there is a leak lurking somewhere in your property.

"By taking a few simple steps to detect leaks before they turn into major problems, people can prevent property damage and save bundles of money," Berenbaum said.

American Leak Detection utilizes specially trained experts and quality equipment to detect leaks before they require major home repairs. The company implements its own proprietary methods and technology to ensure the most non-invasive leak detection possible.

For more information about American Leak Detection, The Original Leak Specialists, please visit www.AmericanLeakDetection.com.