Why You Should Fix Leaks At The First Sign Of A Problem Home Improvement Plumbing by Anita Ginsburg - March 4, 2015November 18, 2015 Why You Should Fix Leaks At The First Sign Of A Problem The roof on your house is meant to keep the water out. The gutters direct water run-off to the storm drains. The piping in the walls, floors, and ceiling takes the hot and cold water to your sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets. Sometimes there is a problem and you end up having either a roof or plumbing leak. Signs of leaks include wet patches on ceilings or walls and low pressure in the shower. Below are some of the reasons why you should fix leaks as soon as you find them. Image – http://www.oakleafeltd.com Wet Insulation Foam Insulating foam is most effective when dry. If leaked water gets into it, the insulating properties are lost since water is a good conductor of heat. If the seepage is extensive, you might have to replace a large area of foam. Wet foam also contributes to the next problem. Mold Mold is known to contribute to many health problems. It causes nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, and even skin irritation. In some cases, it has been known to cause extreme allergic reactions. If not treated quickly, mold can rapidly spread and become difficult to get rid of. Cracks Leaks which occur inside wall plastering eventually lead to cracks. Once these cracks start, they become progressively worse until they compromise the strength of the wall and eventually, the integrity of the entire house structure. Flooding Even something as simple as an overflowing toilet or leaky sink can cause flooding in your home. When this happens, your home can suffer major water in no time. This is a health hazard, and can be very costly to clean up. Roof Damage The rafters and trusses that support the roof are supposed to be completely dry for maximum strength. Any rain water leaking onto them causes serious damage. This can lead to the entire roof structure coming down since water damage can cause timber to break up. Electrical Short Circuits Water is a conductor of electricity. If a leak occurs in an area where there is electrical wiring, short circuits are bound to occur. These can lead to power outages, appliance damage, or even sparks that can cause dangerous fires. Moisture on electrical cables also generally corrodes and depreciates the wires. In order to avoid the above problems, you should get a proper design made for any new house you put up. You should then carry out regular maintenance using qualified personnel so as to keep these problems at bay. If you notice any leaks or plumbing problems, be sure to contact a professional to get it fixed right away. Informational credit to EZ Plumbing Inc.