Signs You Have A Leak

Some plumbing problems are obvious. Issues like blocked toilets, slow drains, and broken water heaters are hard to ignore. Other plumbing problems, like leaks, can be much more elusive. They can develop out of sight, in walls, floors, and ceilings, persisting for some time—and causing damage—before they’re noticed.

To make sure you don’t overlook a leak, here are some common warning signs of water leaks in homes.

If you notice any of these signs you have a leak, contact Sewer Surgeon ASAP for expert leak detection and repair service!

INCREASE IN YOUR WATER BILL

Have your water bills suddenly spiked? If so, you could have a leak somewhere in your home. To make sure the spike isn’t due to a seasonal change, compare your current water bills to those from the same month last year.

WATER METER CONTINUOUSLY TICKING

Is your water meter continuously running even though you’re not using water in or outside of your home? This is another red flag that you could have a leak.

MOULD & MILDEW

Leaks often cause damp spots on floors, walls, and/or ceilings. These damp spots can give rise to mould and the musty odours that come with it. If you find that you have a musty smell around the home, regardless of how often you clean your home, you may have a leaking pipe.

FOUNDATION CRACKS

As your home settles over time, cracks can start to develop in various places. If, however, you begin to notice foundation cracks suddenly developing, you could have a leak. The water that continually seeps out of your pipes can weaken a home’s structural components, which can cause cracks in the foundation, walls, and other areas.

WET SPOTS

Visually inspect the area near sinks, tubs, and toilets. Do you see wet spots? Or is the floor around these plumbing features discoloured? If so, take it as a warning sign that you could have a leaking pipe.

NOTICE WARNING SIGNS OF LEAKS? CONTACT SEWER SURGEON!

At Sewer Surgeon, we’ve seen and fixed all types of leaks. That makes our plumbers experts when it comes to efficient leak detection and repair. Plus, we offer same day and emergency service at no extra cost, and we have flexible financing options (with approved credit).

Those are just some of the reasons why we’ve been a leading plumbing company in Sydney for a combined experience of 64 years!

To schedule leak detection and repair service at your Sydney property, simply call 1 300 734 677 or contact Sewer Surgeon online now!

What To Do When Your Hot Water Heater Leaks

Water heaters, whether gas or electric, will last you about 8 to 12 years if you take good care of them.

Even so, there’s always a chance your water heater could leak. If it does, the good news is that most small water heater leaks can be patched up pretty easily.

There are several things you can do before you call a plumber to make it even easier!

WHY IS MY WATER HEATER LEAKING?

The leading causes of water heater leaks include

Broken drain valves: These will cause water leaks from the bottom of the tank. They’re easily fixed by replacing the broken drain valve.

• Corrosion: Sediment buildup can cause corrosion, cracking, and holes in the bottom of the tank. When this happens, it’s usually time for water heater replacement.
• Loose water line connections: Normal wear and tear can loosen the inlet or outlet water lines, causing leaks. This problem can usually be fixed by tightening or replacing the loose, worn water lines.
• Broken temperature/pressure valves: As their name suggests, these valves monitor and regulate the temperature and pressure inside water heaters. When they break, they can cause water leaks from the sides of a water heater tank.

Of course, various other things can cause water heater leaks—and, sometimes, these leaks are the result of multiple issues. The best way to determine what’s causing your water heater leak and get the best solution for fixing it is by contacting a professional, like the trusted plumbers at Sewer Surgeon.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DISCOVER A WATER HEATER LEAK: 5 STEPS TO TAKE

If your water heater is leaking, take these five steps

1. Cut the power: This is the very first thing you should do when you find a hot water leak. To turn off the energy source leading to gas water heater

2. Find your thermostat. You should see a little knob with three settings: ON, OFF, and PILOT. Switch it to OFF or PILOT to shut off the gas and make the heater safe to work on

3. Electric water heater: Go to your breaker panel and find the breaker labeled “water heater.” Turn it off to cut the power to your unit.

4. Shut off the water: Turn off the water by finding the cold water line leading to your water heater. There should be a valve on the line; turn it to the right until it closes. This will cut off the water and allow you to move on to the next step.

5. Drain the water tank: If you have a tank (standard) water heater, draining your water heater is the most essential step. It also happens to be the most involved! To drain your water heater tank.

• Find the drain valve near the bottom of your water heater and attach a garden hose to it.Run the hose to a floor drain or sump pit.
• With the hose in place, open the valve (on older hot water heaters, this may look like an ordinary spigot; on newer systems, there’s a drain stem with a slot for a screwdriver).
• NOTE: Once you open the drain valve, you may notice the water either doesn’t flow or doesn’t flow very well. This is because there’s a vacuum in the water heater.
• To break the vacuum, open any hot water faucet in your home. This will let air into the water tank and allow it to drain more easily. Once you establish a good flow, the whole tank should drain in about an hour.
• Once the water heater is drained, contact Sewer Surgeon for water heating repair service! We’ll find the location of the water heater leak and take care of it quickly.

Plus, we offer 24-hour emergency water heater service at zero extra cost, and we have flexible financing options. That makes it easier and more convenient than ever to get the service and water heater repairs you need whenever you need them!

SCHEDULE WATER HEATER REPAIR SERVICE: CONTACT SEWER SURGEON!

The expert plumbers at Sewer Surgeon can diagnose and repair any type of water heater leak or problem. Whether you have a gas or electric system, or a tank or tankless water heater, we’re ready to provide the highest-quality service to restore your water heater and your reliable access to hot water!

Call 1300 734 677 or contact Sewer Surgeon online now to schedule water heater repair service.

We’re proud to be the team locals trust for first-class plumbing services and solutions throughout Sydney. Simply contact us to experience our excellence for yourself!

How To Patch A Leaky Pipe While You Wait For The Plumber

Oh no — you found a leaky pipe and there’s water dripping everywhere! What do you do? Rather than panicking in a state of shock, take a deep breath and apply a patch to give you some time between now and when the plumber arrives. In order to patch a leaky pipe, make sure you.

1. Stop the Flow of Water

Before you do anything, the water supply valve for that specific pipe must be shut off. If you’re unsure of which valve to turn off, you can always turn off the main shutoff valve until the plumber arrives. Once the water is off, turn on the closest faucet to the leak to drain the remaining water from the pipe

2. Clear Out the Area

Now that the water supply has been turned off and the leak has been halted (for the moment), use this time to clean up the immediate area. Wipe off and dry the leaky pipe itself, clean off surrounding cabinets and fixtures, mop up the floor, and remove any surrounding items to prevent them from becoming damaged.

3. Prep the Pipe

Before you can apply your temporary patch to the leaky pipe, you’re going to want to prepare the damaged area. Using a file or piece of rough sandpaper, smooth out the leaky area to ensure there is no rust, limescale, or rough edges. Doing so will help your patch be more effective in case you have to turn the water back on before the plumber arrives.

4. Apply Water Pipe Epoxy

The easiest way to patch a leak is with plumber’s epoxy, which can be picked up at your local hardware store. Rip off an adequate piece of the epoxy and begin working it in your hands until it’s mixed and ready for application. Shape the epoxy so it will cover the entire gap in the pipe and press down to apply it. Once it has been applied, smooth out the edges and allow it to settle for as long as the instructions say.

Why risk having your home sustain further damage when you can apply a quick and easy patch to your leaky pipe? When you need a local plumber to quickly fix a leaky pipe (or even find a leak you might suspect), you can rely on Sewer Surgeon. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 1300 734 677

Water Leak Detection Tips

Did you know that your water metre can help you determine if you have a leak in your home?

Follow this easy 6 step process to see if you have a water leak in your home.

• Make sure all of your water-consuming appliances are turned off and closed tightly.  This includes ice-makers in refrigerators as well.
• Communicate with those that are inside the home to not use any water for roughly a half hour.
• Once your faucets and appliances have been shut off, locate your water meter in your home.
• Wait roughly 15-30 minutes.
• Return back to your water meter and check the needle’s position.  If it has changed, you may have a water leak somewhere in your home.

Of course, various other things can cause water heater leaks—and, sometimes, these leaks are the result of multiple issues. The best way to determine what’s causing your water heater leak and get the best solution for fixing it is by contacting a professional, like the trusted plumbers at Sewer Surgeon.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DISCOVER A WATER HEATER LEAK: 5 STEPS TO TAKE

If your water heater is leaking, take these five steps

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