There are many causes for water damage, and even minor leaks should concern homeowners. If you’re used to renting, you’re probably accustomed to your landlord or property owner handling issues like leaks, but when you own your home, you’ll need to handle issues like this on your own. This can be confusing and intimidating for anyone who has never been responsible for these types of repairs before. Fortunately, there is plenty of information available on and offline that can help you understand what steps to take. Read on to learn more about how you should manage a minor water leak.
How can you repair a minor water leak?
While many homeowners think they can handle minor water leaks on their own, it’s always best to have a professional inspect any potential source of water damage in your home. What you think is a small leak could actually be a sign of a much larger problem, and trying to repair it on your own could cause more extensive damage. Leaks can also be caused by environmental factors, storm damage, or malfunctioning appliances. It can sometimes take some professional expertise to identify what is causing your water leak.
If the source of the leak is your HVAC system, you should have a technician come in and inspect it immediately. Regular preventive maintenance on your system is the best way to prevent issues like leaks or breakdowns. You should always have the system evaluated by a technician once annually and change your filters at least every 90 days. If you’re experiencing consistent issues and breakdowns with your HVAC and the system is over 10 years old, you may need to look into a replacement.
There are several signs of water damage that you should keep an eye out for. Dark or wet spots on your walls and ceilings are an obvious indicator of a potential problem. You may also notice that your paint has cracks, bubbles, or is flaking off. Unexplained puddles or pooling water are another clear sign that something is wrong. You may even hear the sound of dripping or running water without knowing what the reason for it is, which can also cause suspiciously high utility bills.
What are the health risks associated with water damage?
Water damage can create significant risks to the health of anyone living in your household. In standing water, for example, microorganisms can grow and multiply quickly. They can be a fertile breeding ground for all kinds of viruses and bacteria, which can become airborne. In an outdoor environment, the open-air can disperse the pathogens with minimal risk. Indoors, can be concentrated and cause illness when they are inhaled.
Water in your home can also encourage the growth of toxic mold. It can also convert dormant mold spores into an active and growing mold. This can occur even within just a few hours of flooding. Even after the water itself is removed, the process of mold growth will continue. The presence of mold can trigger severe allergic reactions, as well as create conditions that could cause a risk of more serious symptoms.
Given how serious the impact of water damage can be, it’s always worthwhile to investigate even small leaks. Problems that seem minor to you can end up turning into more significant damage that is more expensive to repair. The negative effects on your health should also be a reason to put dealing with a water leak at the top of your priority list. Though it may involve paying for a professional repair, it’s always best to let a professional handle any issues that could potentially affect the condition of your health and your home.