Water leak detection services for home owners

All water leaks are costing you money, right now or in the future in at least two of ways:

  1. Higher water bill: have you noticed that your water bill has gone up without any significant changes to your household routine?
  2. Water damage: depending on the size of the leak and its location water can travel far and have serious damaging consequences to your property. Some of this water damage is visible such as stains and mould on gyprock ceilings and walls, paint blistering or peeling off the walls, stained and damp flooring and carpet, bowed timber floor boards, rotten skirting boards. However, more serious damage can be caused by an unattended leak to the building’s structural frame such as timber bearings and joists, parapet walls and lead flashings.

Storms have a lot to answer for when it comes to water damage to property. It is during this heavy downpours that issues are accentuated and become a lot more obvious. Over 90% of water damage is actually not pipework related. It is therefore good practice to be familiar with your Building and Home Contents insurance policy to understand what you are covered for.

Floods account for 40% of natural disasters.

– NRMA The Help Economy report, 2022.

prepare

What are the most common sources of water leaks causing water damage?

There are many and varied sources that can cause water leaks,  a burst water pipe or a leaky tap are  obvious ones. Less obvious, but incredibly common and often invisible are the following:

  • Waterproofing membrane failure in: shower recess, bathroom floors, outdoor tiled decks
  • Leaky tapware including mixers and the shower breech
  • Hydrostatic pressure is commonly experienced within properties that have been built below ground level. The water proofing in these dwellings is often sub-optimal and during heavy rain moisture is absorbed from the ground causing flooring damage for example.This extra moisture can also cause efflorescence (salty like minerals coming off the walls).
  • Building structures such as parapet walls and flashings that have not been appropriately sealed
  • Outdoor deck sliding doors, these are too often not sealed properly and water penetrates the home much to the owner’s surprise and distress.