Hidden Water Damage - Leaky Sinks, Tubs, and Showers

Water leaks are often easy to see (slow drips, soggy drywall, etc…), however, what about the leaks that occur in the not too easy to spot places like under the sink, shower or faucet? When was the last time you looked under your sink to inspect it for leaks? Or used a moisture meter to test for leaks inside walls? If you're not careful to check around your home and examine your water bill for evidence of leaks, you could end up having an expensive leak or – even worse – a major repair. Fix that Leak Fixing a sink, faucet or shower with a hidden leak can be an expensive job. While the cost of the problem will depend on the various issues, repairs can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Why? Water leaks are usually caused by worn out or damaged plumbing, which means that fixing them requires a plumber...and plumbers aren't exactly inexpensive. You often can't get a plumber to come and look at your problem for less than $100, not counting the time it will take he or she to complete the repair. Additionally, a leak inside a wall will often require removing drywall to get access to the system, which means you've got a drywall repair to add to the plumber's invoice. Finally, there's a good possibility that a hidden leak will cause the formation of mold. While some varieties of mold are generally regarded as harmless, it's difficult to determine what kind of mold might be growing inside your home. If it's a toxic mold – or if it could be toxic mold – removal is required. As you can imagine, ripping out and replacing more drywall and/or studs to remove mold is expensive. How Much Water is Lost? Besides the repair, what about all the water that is lost due to leaks? Let’s look at a drip from a leaky faucet. Here is a chart to estimate how much water you might lose in a month from that faucet: 30 drops per minute = 54 gallons per month 60 drops per minute = 113 gallons per month 120 drops per minute = 237 gallons per month 1/2" stream of water = 1,014 gallons per month 1-1/2" stream of water = 2,202 gallons per month How Expensive is Tap Water Anyway? The average price of water in the U.S. is cheap - about $3.50 per 1,000 gallons. This means that, even if you have a couple of slowly leaking faucets and a slowly dripping tub, you might only spend a few dollars a year on wasted water. This is likely why so many people ignore a leaking sink. However, it's not enough to consider the direct costs to you when evaluating the cost of a leak. In many areas, water is a precious commodity that is in short supply. If you've got a leak in your home – even if it's just a slowly dripping sink - you're wasting water your community can't necessarily replace. There's also the fact that many communities have graduated pricing for water. If your leaking faucets, toilets, and tubs increase your consumption a few thousand gallons a month, that could move you into a completely different rate bracket. Finally, in addition to the cost of wasted water to you and your community, a long-term drip can damage a tube or sink by creating non-repairable discoloration deposit spots and even hairline cracks. If you've got a sink with that kind of damage, the only solution is to buy a new sink...and that's not exactly cheap. Figure you'll spend at least a couple hundred dollars for a basic repair, even more if you've got a bathroom vanity or kitchen counter with a premium counter top. Add it all together and it's easy to see how water leaks – whether hidden or in plain sight – can cost homeowners a small fortune. Keep a close eye on your water bill, and if you ever smell even a hint of mold, it's a good idea to get a moisture meter and do a little checking. Better safe than sorry. Author Miguel Salcido writes informative articles for PremierVanities.com, your online source for designer single and double bathroom vanities.