Sure, you use your bathroom to shower and wash up – however, that doesn’t mean that it should be wet 24/7!
If it is, then you’ve got a problem – specifically, a leak.
Water leaks that are ignored or left unfixed don’t just waste water – they can also potentially cause major structural damage that can bring result in a major headache.
Luckily, this can be avoided if you pick up on a leak early enough!
How? We’re glad you asked – today, our emergency plumber in Hampton will walk you through the signs of a bathroom leak (and what we can do to help!)
How to detect water leaks in the bathroom
Early and timely detection – these two elements are crucial if you want to protect your bathroom (and your home) from the negative consequences of water leaks in your bathroom.
Not just that, but you’ll also:
- Saves water
- Cut down your water bill
- Avoid costly repairs later
There’s just one question: how do you detect a leak anyway? Especially when most of your pipes are tucked away in your crawl space, in your walls or under your floors?
Sign 1: mould and mildew
Does your bathroom have that distinctive mould smell?
Have you noticed a dank atmosphere that isn’t going away, no matter how long you leave the fan on or keep the windows open?
Can you see the tell-tale black marks in the corners of your bathroom?
If so, you could have a leak!
Mould and mildew thrive in damp and dark areas. The crawl spaces in your bathroom walls have the ‘dark’ part of the equation covered already – a leaky pipe adds the requisite dampness.
It may be relatively normal for you to see small spots of moulds or a bit of mildew in the grout and tiles of your bathroom..
However, if moulds and mildew are popping up in the walls and ceiling, then this is a clear sign of a water leak!
The first thing you should do is call a professional mould cleaner to remove the mould and mildew – the second, is call a plumber in Hampton to fix the bathroom leak that’s causing it.
Sign 2: damaged bathroom walls and ceilings
Not all bathroom walls are tiled – many are plain plaster.
And as we all know, plaster and water don’t mix.
A stained or warped wall is a clear sign of water leak in your bathroom. If you see paint bubbles, breaking and warping of pain in the wall, then it is possible that there’s a pipe directly underneath or behind which has sprung a leak!
In some cases, leaks in a ceiling pipe can drip onto the plaster in your ceiling, causing it to sag as the water accumulates.
Worst-case scenario, your structural integrity may be affected.
If you notice unexplainable droplets on your ceiling or walls, you’ll want to call an emergency plumber ASAP – you could have a leak on your hands.
Sign 3: stains
Before your bathroom walls and ceilings start demonstrating signs of waterlogging and sagging, they often stain first.
Have you noticed a suspicious new stain or discoloured patch in your walls or ceiling? If so, that’s a precursor to sign number 2.
Dark, brown, or copper-like colour stains on your home’s ceiling or walls are a clear sign of water leak in your bathroom.
Just as with sign number 2, our Hampton plumbers can identify the source of the leak and fix it for you, restoring your bathroom – all you’ll have to do is paint over it afterwards.
Sign 4: smelly and stagnant water
Bathrooms shouldn’t smell! (Well, not always!) If yours does however, then there are two common suspects:
- A faulty bathroom fan
- A leak somewhere
So you’ve replaced or cleaned out your fan, and the scent still lingers. In these cases, it’s time to call a Hampton plumber!
Unpleasant smells may be the result of stagnant water. Hidden leaks can often be accompanied by bad odours, especially when the water has accumulated.
This smell could be even worse if the leak is with your toilet!
How to fix water leaks in the bathroom
Identify the source of the water leak
The first step in fixing a leak? Finding out where it is, and locating the root cause.
Some of the more common trouble spots include:
- Bathtubs
- Bathroom floors
- Drains
- Tiles
- Toilet
- Taps
- Sinks
While some of these are obvious, others are a tad harder to pick out, requiring the expertise of our emergency plumbers.
Check for damaged silicone and grout
When checking for leaks, make sure that you check for cracks and damaged silicone on shower enclosures and even in tile grout in both your floors and walls.
Damage to these can allow water leaks to seep into your bathroom – luckily for you, they can also help you isolate the location of the leak.
As for fixing, we suggest leaving that step to a pro!
Contact a professional immediately
Once you’re aware of any water leaks in your bathroom and where they’re located, the next thing to do is to contact a plumber in Hampton to fix it for you!
Just tell us where you’ve managed to track the leak down to – we’ll do the rest for you.
While it’s tempting to DIY, the only way to ensure the leak doesn’t return is to ensure that it’s fixed properly the first time. And that means by an experienced, licensed plumber.
Call an emergency plumber in Hampton the moment you detect a bathroom leak!
Plumbing is an important fixture in your bathroom – you don’t want to get it wrong.
That’s why it’s so important that you leave plumbing repairs to someone who knows their stuff!
In addition to providing emergency plumbing repairs, our team of plumbers in Hampton can also carry out routine plumbing inspection reports.
During these inspections, we’ll evaluate the health of your plumbing and fix any leaks we find on-the-spot.
Fix bathroom leaks and save yourself the headache – call our Hampton plumbers today on 1300 156 650 or fill in the form to request a quote.
You can also visit us for plumbers in Melbourne: pop into our headquarters at 9/22 George St Sandringham, VIC 3191, if you prefer a more hands-on approach.