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The best way to respond to a water leak

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07-02-2020

We may all depend on water for life, but there are also times when it can be a major inconvenience, or even a source of significant headaches. A water leak is the perfect example of such a problem, given the major damage it can cause to the fabric of a property, including its wallpaper, carpets and plasterwork – to say nothing of the risk it can also pose to electrical items. 

How will you know water is leaking in your property? 

One of the most unfortunate things about water leaks is that they can often go unnoticed until substantial damage has already been caused. So, it's helpful to know a few things about how you can detect a water leak in your home, and where the leak in question may be coming from. 

First of all, it is important to distinguish between the very different implications of a minor water leak, and a major one. Minor leaks, for instance, are associated with relatively minor effects, such as staining or a small amount of water penetration, and minimal property damage, such as staining to the walls or ceilings and non-permanent damage to furniture. 

Another characteristic aspect of a minor water leak is that the leaking in question is likely to be intermittent and containable. By contrast, a major water leak tends to involve water running in the property that cannot be contained, and where there is no let-up of flow. 

Major leaks also often entail water running persistently through electrical fittings, and waste water – also frequently referred to as 'dirty water' – causing permanent damage to the property's fabric. 

How you can check for a leak – and respond appropriately 

If you have a water meter in your property, checking for a leak could be as straightforward a process as making a note of the meter reading, not using any water for the next 30 minutes or so, and then looking at the meter reading again. An unchanged reading suggests no leak in the property; an increased reading, however, does indicate that water may be leaking somewhere in your home.

On the other hand, your property may not have a water meter – in which case, a more thorough search may be needed to determine whether a leak has occurred. Telltale signs could include damp patches or mould on the ceiling or walls, rust or water stains on floors and carpets, and/or a reduction in water pressure. 

Once you have figured out that a leak is, indeed, happening, steps that you might take include switching off the water at the stop tap, which you are likely to find under the kitchen sink or in the loft or airing cupboard, and switching off the electrics if there is a risk of water damage. 

One other step that we would advise you to take, of course, is calling a plumber! Sure enough, our own Clapham, Dorking, Camden, Weybridge and Brentford plumbers – to name just a few of the London areas we work in – can be on hand to help if you do realise or suspect that water is leaking in your property.  

In this situation, don't wait any longer for the problem to get worse. Instead, call the PGS Plumbers team, on 0203 370 0066, to request our highly rated rapid-response service, as provided by qualified and experienced professionals. 

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