Water leaks can be stressful to deal with at the best of times. Whether you've noticed a drop of water coming from the ceiling above you or there are wet stains on the side of your wall, it's important that water leaks are never ignored. Leaking pipes are one of the most significant issues that a homeowner or property manager can face - and action should be taken immediately.
Water leaks that are left for long periods of time without being detected or treated can lead to a number of issues, with one of the most serious being structural damage to the building. When a water leakage is left long enough to cause structural damage to a building, simple and affordable plumbing repairs soon turn into major and expensive construction issues.
In this article, we're going to take a look at how water leakages can cause structural damage to a building, along with the most appropriate treatments leak specialists use to fix water leakages. We also take a look at other structural damage issues and their causes, such as woodworm, rot and weak foundations. Read on for more information.
Water leaks
As soon as you've spotted the signs of a water leak, it's time to act immediately. If left undetected and untreated, water leaks can cause myriad issues within a property, including the growth of mould and the discolouration of walls and ceilings. The most worrying consequence, however, is structural damage. Structural damage can make your property unsafe to live in, not to mention drive down your property's value and put you under financial stress - but what do water leaks have to do with it?
When water leaks go undetected, they can threaten the structural integrity of supporting beams, walls and ceilings. When drywall and other building materials absorb too much water, they begin to weaken and warp. Over time, cracks and holes will likely develop. These will be made even more vulnerable by the development of mould and mildew. This is the worst-case scenario - but it does happen.
House leak repair advice
If you've spotted a water leak, seek professional advice instantly. The first step is to hire a water leak detection company to find the source of the leak. Using the latest leak detection equipment, they'll be able to identify where the water leak is stemming from without causing further damage to your home. From here, your water leak detection company will be able to judge the severity of the issue and recommend a resolution.
Depending on the severity of the problem and where the water is coming from, different techniques are needed to fix a leak. You should always turn the water off at the mains and then drain the pipes before dealing with water leaks, as the drains should be dry first. Then, common fixes include sealing with epoxy putty or pipe clamps. If resealing the pipe won't work, part of the pipe may be cut away and replaced altogether.
No matter what, you should always leave water leak detection and pipe repair to the experts. Pipes follow a complicated system and you aren't likely to source the root of the issue without damaging your property further. This isn't a time for DIY - leave water leak fix services to the experts.
Woodworm
Woodworm is another common cause of structural damage. This is where wood-boring insects lay their eggs in small crevices in timber, which can develop into larger holes and gaps in the wood as the insects hatch and tunnel deeper for food.
Woodworm is a common issue affecting timber and can have a serious impact on the structural integrity of wooden beams and frames. The damage can also be long-lasting so it's important to have it treated as soon as it's identified. Fortunately, due to the holes left by the wood-boring beetles, woodworm can often be identified quickly.
The damage caused by woodworm depends on the type of beetle responsible and how quickly the issue is spotted. If left unchecked and untreated, woodworm can cause significant damage to wooden beams, especially those suffering from damp. In some cases, you will need to have supporting beams replaced altogether. Once you've spotted the telltale signs of woodworm, it's time to take action.
How to treat woodworm
Again, it's always best to call the experts when dealing with woodworm. As there are so many different wood-boring beetles responsible for causing woodworm, the treatment required varies according to circumstances. If the affected timber frame is difficult to reach, trying to treat it yourself is likely to cause more damage.
However, there are quick, temporary fixes to consider trying if the timber is accessible to you or if woodworm has affected your flooring, skirting boards or window frames. These include applying woodworm treatment sprays to the surface of the timber or injecting gels to penetrate the wood. You should also take care of any damp within your property as moisture build-ups can attract wood-boring insects.
Remember - if your home is struggling with damp, you may have a water leak on your hands. Call a water leak detection company to see if there's a problem and have it dealt with as quickly as possible.
Dry and wet rot
Dry and wet rot are two types of fungi which destroy wood and cause significant damage to wooden structures over time. They both attack timber but there's one major difference: wet rot requires higher moisture content in the timber to grow and survive. As a result, wet rot is more localised than dry rot, as it tends to stay in areas where damp is prevalent. Dry rot, on the other hand, can spread from the affected area to attack timber and other types of material.
Because of this, dry rot is the more serious form of decay, but they should both be treated as soon as they've been identified. If left untreated, dry and wet rot can seriously weaken timber beams, joists, floorboards and other structures, leaving them vulnerable to other problems and threatening the structural integrity of your house.
How to treat dry and wet rot
As wet rot is more localised then dry rot, it is easier to treat. Typically, you will need to remove and replace any timber or other materials that have been damaged. If you catch the wet rot quickly, you may be able to simply repair the affected timber. Then, you will need to treat the area with a fungal treatment to kill the rot and prevent any further decay.
Treating dry rot is a different story. As it can spread quickly, identifying the full extent of the damage caused by dry rot is a job for the professionals. They will need to strip out any timber affected by the dry rot (which could be a lot, depending on the severity of the issue) while minimising any further damage to the structural integrity of the house. Then, a more aggressive fungal treatment will be applied once the timber has been repaired and dried correctly.
Subsidence
Subsidence is a serious problem that can severely affect the structural integrity of a building. This is where the ground below a property starts to sink, typically on a gradient. As a result, one side of a property will sink more than the other, creating a tilted effect. As you might expect, this can leave a building very vulnerable to structural damage; home subsidence can cause cracked walls, warped door and window frames and cracked joints where an extension has been built.
Once you've spotted the telltale signs of subsidence, you must call a professional company to deal with the issue. This certainly isn't the time to try your hand at DIY.
How to deal with home subsidence
Identifying and fixing home subsidence can take months, and sometimes even up to a year. There are no quick fixes - this is a serious issue that requires a serious solution. One option is underpinning, which is a process of using metal rods to strengthen the foundations of a building. By driving metal rods into the earth underneath the home, piling specialists can create a sturdy foundation to correct the effects of subsidence.
Stop water leaks from damaging your London home with leak detection services from Leak Tracers Direct
Spotted the telltale signs of a water leak in your home? It's time to call the team at Leak Tracers Direct. The first step towards repairing the damage is identifying the issue - which is what we specialise in. Using only the latest leak detection technology, our team of leak engineers will find the root of the problem quickly, efficiently and without causing further damage to your property.
We understand that water leaks can be stressful to deal with, which is why we go above and beyond to offer a hassle-free service. We'll even assist with your insurance claim to minimise financial stress and give you one less thing to worry about.
For more information about our leak detection services, get in touch with the London-based Leak Tracers Direct team. We're always happy to help.