Prevent a Small Leak from Turning into a Big Flood

We aren’t always aware of a leak in our plumbing until the damage is done. Is there any way to detect a leak before it becomes a deluge, damaging your building’s structure, your belongings and your wallet? The key to flood prevention is leak detection, and detecting leaks means understanding why, how and where water leaks occur.

Leaks can occur as a result of natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, etc.), plumbing system and appliance failures, breakdown of our water heaters or sump pumps, freezing and bursting of water pipes and more. Often, we don’t even know that we have a leak until we’re standing in our basements ankle-deep in water or we feel water dripping our head from the ceiling above.

The accompanying infographic, How to Detect Water Leaks, offers a brief look at where leaks are most likely to occur and how we can find them before major damage occurs. While you may not be able to find all small leaks, especially when they are under appliances or behind walls, there are some things you can do.

Inspect and replace roofs and gutters, water heaters and sump pumps, toilets and appliances as they near the end of their useful life. Fix cracks as they appear. If you notice a wet spot on the ceiling, have it examined by a professional ASAP. Move appliances now and then to look for leaks underneath. Check under sinks and around the washing machine.

Do some research into automated devices and sensors that not only detect leaks 24/7, but that notify you as well! Some devices even turn off the water supply if they detect leaking. Going high tech helps lower the probability of major water damage — and your stress level!

This infographic was created by Alarm Detection Systems, an alarm company in Chicago