Everything You Need to Know About Ottawa Leak Repair

If you’re wondering why your energy bills seem to be getting more expensive than normal despite making efforts to cut back, it could be because you have a leak somewhere. A leak isn’t something that always gets noticed easily or is oftentimes something that’s neglected. Sometimes it takes burst pipes before these leaks ever receive attention.

Addressing household leaks before they cause any damage is important for saving you money and giving you peace of mind. It's no big challenge for your licensed plumber to provide you with efficient plumbing leak repair! You want to make sure they choose an expert who is able to properly identify plumbing issues and apply a suitable solution to make sure everything is in working order. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa is all geared up and at your service!

Identifying Different Types of Leaks in Ottawa, ON

Identifying early signs is important as untreated leaks will lead to moisture and water damage if left alone and can eventually lead to more serious problems. Since a leak isn’t always as easy to identify as a dripping faucet, we’ve made a list of places we recommend checking for leaks. If you find a pool of liquid near any of these, that’s a pretty sure sign something is wrong. Having an experienced plumber for leak repair, in Ottawa ON homeowners can rest assured knowing that any problem will be dealt with straight away.

Faucets and Other Bathroom Fixtures

Dripping toilet tanks are silent killers because as they make no noise, it’s easy for them to go unnoticed until you face damage in your house that destroys woodwork, flooring, or ceiling present below it. This type of leak is most often identifiable by liquid behind your fixture or your toilet seems to be mysteriously flushing on its own.

Don’t let a leaky faucet drive you nuts. This probably can be easy to repair and shouldn’t be left for weeks before dealing with it.

To spot a toilet leak, you can put a bit of dye in the tank. If after five minutes some dye has bled into the bowl, you’ll know it’s a damaged flapper rather than a pipe issue.

Pipes

A pipe’s first section just below any drain is a common source of leakage. Not detecting this in time can worsen and eventually lead to property damage. Ottawa leak repair is needed when you have any damaged pipe, and especially when you have one that has been increasing your energy bill. As there are many pipes in your Ottawa home, if you don’t see noticeable leaks in other areas, you’ll need a professional Ottawa plumber to find the culprit.

To test for general leaks, you can write down the numbers on your water meter or look for a leak detection light if yours has one, then turn off your shut-off valve. After an hour or so, turn the water back on to see if the numbers have changed. If they have, you may have a leak on your hands. A detection light will show if the leak is inside or outside your house.

Mildew:

Small amounts of mildew in showers are signs of moisture problems, but if you see it outside the tub area, you may need leak repair. Ottawa ON property owners should look out for moisture issues that might be inside walls and vents or under the floor too. If a room smells musty, there’s likely liquid sitting in one place and beginning to stagnate, producing an unpleasant odor. Repairs may need to include removal and replacement of those damaged materials too.

Stained and Damaged Ceilings, Walls, and Floors:

You may notice subtle-looking spots on a white ceiling or a full outline of a watermark on a wall. It may start off as a barely noticeable discolored stain, but if you don't investigate it, you'll end up with significant damage like a sagging ceiling. Wet spots outside your Ottawa home next to your house or lawn are also common. Strange green patches of the lawn also indicate you need leak repair. Property owners need to address this issue with their expert plumbers immediately.

Water Heaters

You can often hear inconsistent water movement before any sign of water damage is apparent. If you hear rushing or dripping while standing beside your water heater, follow the sound and search for visual confirmation that calls for leak repair.

Ottawa ON homeowners should regularly inspect their traditional water heater that utilizes a tank to provide heated water to their taps and showerheads. Tanks are filled with hot water 24/7 and deal with varying temperatures. These heaters offer a perfect recipe for a decaying seal and eventual leakage. Periodic maintenance and minor repairs could help your unit meet its life expectancy.

The most common cause of a tank leak is a faulty pressure release valve. These valves are engineered to leak when they sense excess pressure in your lines. If your valve isn’t defective, an excess water leak could be occurring due to unusual water pressure settings in your house or by temperatures being set too high. Water leak repair is fairly common on tanks.

Hose/Sprinkler Leaks

Hoses and irrigation systems may need Ottawa leak repair from time to time. A hose leak simply requires replacing the hold or the fixture itself. Irrigation systems could have issues with the sprinkler head or an underground line. An expert Ottawa plumber may be the best person to call for these kinds of plumbing issues. They’ll offer efficient repairs or parts replacement.

Impact of Leaks

Leaks can have many impacts on your Ottawa home. Two major common outcomes are water damage leading to costly repairs. Broken fixtures could cause mold or damage to the interior parts of your home in Ottawa. This means expensive replacements due to resting water causing problems to whatever it touches.

Another impact is higher energy bills, whether your toilet is continuously flushing liquid back into the sewer line or a leaking pipe is hemorrhaging water into the lawn. This adds up over time and is a pain point for Ottawa homeowners looking to manage or reduce their energy bills. A simple visit from a knowledgeable Ottawa plumber means a cheap visit with small repairs that will save you small amounts that build up over time and save you from any larger repairs.

What Causes Leaks?

There are many different variables. Natural degradation of seals and other parts of plumbing fixtures over time will lead to problems. Damage or things shifting can also knock parts loose, causing a leak. If left untreated, it could cause extensive damage, such as when failing to get slab leak repair results in foundation cracks that compromise your structural integrity and lead to further extensive repairs.

Pipes:

Broken seals are a common reason for leakage. Seals are installed near the appliances to keep everything watertight and degrade with time and repairs may not solve the problem.

Rust and corrosion will develop inside pipes over time. This is common with plumbing systems laid down more than ten years ago. The metal inside becomes brittle due to the development of rust and corrosion, which naturally leads to a cracked pipe. Corrosion is usually caused by high or low pH levels in your water or the long-term use of chemical cleaning products on the drain.

Clogged lines are often a sign you need drain cleaning or Ottawa leak repair. If you fail to properly maintain your lines, clogs can lead to burst pipes and other damages that include costly repairs.

Toilets:

The water-proof seals of toilets often break down over time. If you hear your toilet flushing on its own, it could be caused by a damaged flapper or a flush valve seal leak. Rather than seeking repair, you’ll likely need parts replacement. In the next section, we outline the best ways to diagnose which part of the toilet is responsible for the leak.

Drains:

Strands of hair, dirt, and debris can clog the water flow of your drains in Ottawa. Untreated clogs can create increased pressure within the drains, causing the water to strain your supply lines and result in damage.

Fats, oils, and grease being deposited into kitchen drains could also clog your drains and should be disposed of properly to avoid blockages.

How to Repair Leaks

With different water temperatures, pressures, and types of pipes, different methods can be used for Ottawa leak repair. If you want to repair your leak on your first try, trust our plumbing experts to get the job done.

Pipes:

Firstly, a common reason for a leak is a loose coupling nut connecting the pipes. If the area where the pipe joints continue to leak after you’ve tightened its coupling nut, the watertight seals in the pipe threads may be worn or no longer viable. Plumber’s tape is an effective sealant to provide emergency relief from any leaks. Its ease of application and flexibility of material make it useful for Ottawa leak repair on threads and fittings.

Plumber’s Tape:

• Unscrew the coupling nut joining the P trap with the pipe draining from your sink. Loosen the other coupling nut and move its P trap away from the draining pipe
• Wrap a length of plumbers tape around the threads of the pipe
• Move your P trap back into its original position with the draining pipe and reconnect any pipes with the coupling nut. Tighten both coupling nuts
• Run the tap to check if your seal holds
• For self-fusing silicone tape, wrap your tape around the pipe, stretching it as you make tight overlapping passes to cover the area where it’s leaking.

Epoxy putty:

Epoxy putty or pipe putty is a great temporary Ottawa leak repair method. This material is designed to harden at room temperature and seal the hole or crack.

• Turn off your house’s water supply
• Drain your damaged line and ensure that the area to be patched is clean and dry so your putty will properly adhere to the pipe
• Tear off enough putty to fully cover the surface around the leak
• Knead your putty until it is pliable enough for application
• Apply your putty to your pipe
• After it has fully cured, run the tap and check for leaks

Patch and clamp method:

You can use repair clamps with a neoprene rubber patch to make temporary repairs to larger ruptures in pipes

• Turn off the shut-off valve of that leaking pipe and dry the area around the hole to be patched
• Use a metal file to smooth any sharp edges that might cut through your patch
• Apply the patch and repair clamp so it evenly overlaps the damaged section of the pipe
• Tighten clamps to seal the leak
• Turn on the shut-off valve and check for leaks

Toilets:

• Check your connection bolts and tighten or replace them. Use a screwdriver to tighten these bolts from inside the tank and screw them downwards to create a perfect seal. If liquid gathers after 15 minutes, you can move on to replacing bolts and washers.
• If this doesn't fix the issue, your next step involves removing the toilet from its spot to access underneath it.
• Once flipped, use a putty knife to gently scrape away the old wax ring. All old wax must be cleaned out of any grooves and flange slots to make sure the new ring will have a good seal.
• Install your new wax ring over the flange (metal ring in place over the drain) and press gently into place
• Slide the tee bolts into any slots on the flange’s side
• Lift up your toilet and line up any holes on the base with the tee bolts and set it in place. Use your body weight to press down to create a watertight seal with the wax ring
• Replace any washers and nuts on either side and tighten until both fit snugly
• Replace any plastic caps over the bolts and reconnect your supply to check again for additional leaking

Why Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa for Leak Repair

Ottawa ON property owners could save themselves money and headaches by relying on our team of plumbing experts to fix damaged pipes early. Leaky pipes have been estimated to waste about 10,000 gallons of water per household per year, nearly 300 loads of laundry worth. Our excellent service guarantee means you can count on quality plumbing services in Ottawa.

Whether you’re in Ottawa or in surrounding areas like Gatineau, Nepean, or Kanata, we’re available 24/7 with no additional charges for service outside regular hours. That means a quick response to your plumbing emergency service by our experienced team.

If you’ve tried different parts of this guide only to be disappointed by a recurring leak, it might be time to bring in a professional Ottawa plumber for a thorough plumbing diagnosis and inspection service. If you want Ottawa leak repair services that bring a long-term solution or another type of plumbing repair, give Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa a call today to set up an appointment.