Leaky pipes, leaky faucets-they're more than just irritating. Depending on the situation, an innocent-looking leak can be wasting three to 15 gallons of water every day. A leaking pipe hidden behind a wall can leak undetected for months, attracting insects or worse, and providing a breeding ground for dangerous molds and mildnew buildup. Some molds are highly toxic and threatening to human life.

Leaks in walls are especially difficult to detect in newer homes because walls are often built with foils and/or plastic linings, or moisture barriers, which might enable a leak to persist for months before it is detected.

Your best bet is to keep a close eye on your water bills and note any unusual spike in usage.

It is important to fix a leaky faucet, whether it's in a sink, shower, tub or connected to a hose. Your best bet is to study the fixture, write down any markings or identification codes on the facuet, and give us a call.

Pipe leaks are a bit more tricky. Some people think the best way to fix a pinhole leak in a copper water pipe is to solder it. But we don't recommend that solution. Some day, that patch will fail. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next year, but some day-or night, or right after you leave for vacation...In addition, soldering copper pipes is extremely tricky and dangerous. More than one homeowner has set his house on fire trying to solder water pipes.

A leaking pipe eventually needs attention from a professional, the sooner the better. Here are some temporary measures you can use to patch the leak until the professionals arrive. First, shut off the main water supply to the house. Then, find the lowest faucet in the house and open it to drain out the piping. Epoxy compound might hold for a while. Dry the pipe and clean the area with steel wool and apply the epoxy according to product directions.

You might prefer just to wrap the pipe tightly in black electrical tape. Wrap the tape to travel several inches along the pipe in both directions away from the leak. Or, try tightening a pipe clamp around a rubber collar to stop the leak. In a pinch, you can clamp layers of cloth and wood blocks over the hole with a c-clamp. With any of these stopgap fixes, work gently. If you use too much force there is a great danger of breaking your piping. Just be sure to give us a call as soon as possible to schedule a permanent repair.

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