Are Plumbing Leaks Always a Bad Thing?

A small leak in your property’s plumbing system may not seem like a big issue in the grand scheme of things, but even a small amount of water can do a huge amount of damage. In fact, low level leaks can often be more damaging than plumbing floods (though neither are positive).  

Plumbing Leaks Increase Humidity 

Small plumbing leaks can cause a serious amount of damage over time, but they tend to be less likely to cause widespread water damage to a property’s furnishings and structures. Instead, they are a little more insidious in nature. Low-level leaks (for example, leaks from the joining point between pipes and appliances) are notorious for causing indirect damage to a property by increasing relative humidity and causing localized dampness. What’s more, they generally have time to do damage because they go unnoticed for longer than plumbing floods.  

The issues most associated with small leaks and the associated increases in humidity in a home are mold formation, wood rot, pest infestation, and cosmetic damage like staining or warping. These may seem like small issues, but things like mold and wood rot can have serious repercussions when they are allowed to grow unchecked. Mold, for example, can be very damaging to your health, while wood rot can lead to localized structural collapse.  

Plumbing Floods Do Serious Damage  

Plumbing floods, by contrast, are far more immediately destructive than small leaks and can cause immediate collapses in weakened structures, especially if the main line is ruptured. Even when the results are not this dramatic, however, they can still lead to serious issues like sagging flooring, rotting joists, and widespread damage to your furnishings and belongings.  

One of the only positives to a full-scale plumbing flood is the fact that it is immediately noticeable and therefore rarely has a chance to affect a home over a prolonged period. This means that the damage is usually far more contained, and the repair process is generally more compact and cost-effective than the repairs that are needed following a prolonged, low-level leak.