How a Minor Nashville Plumbing Leak Can Become a Major Problem

Most Nashville homeowners have experienced a slow pipe leak at some point in their lives. The typical solution is to caulk the spot or call the local 24 hour plumber in Nashville. Yet some homeowners ignore and forget about their slow leaks, thinking that the problem couldn't possibly turn into anything significant. This is a dangerous mentality to have, as a slow drip could easily lead to one of these home hazards:

Mold Growth

Puddles of water left by drips are perfect breeding grounds for mold, especially in humid areas like Nashville.
Mold is a type of fungus that releases allergenic spores. Anyone who breathes in these spores is at risk of suffering from lung infections, wheezing, rash, hives, and possibly even cancer from certain strains. The golden rule to remember about mold is this: it takes just 24 hours to start growing in the right conditions. If you notice mold growing around a leak, clean it up right away with soapy water and again with bleach.

Rotting Wood

Many homes are built with pipes that run adjacent to their wooden support beams and framework. This makes sense from a construction standpoint, but not so much from a safety standpoint. If a pipe springs a leak and soaks a nearby wooden beam, the wood will begin to rot and become either crumbly and brittle or soft and sponge-like. Either way, the effects of rot compromise wood’s structural integrity, and your entire home could collapse if it is allowed to continue unchecked.

Wasted Water

As water drips from your Nashville plumbing leak, your utility meter will continue to register it as usage and your monthly water bill will reflect that. When a leak goes unchecked, untold gallons of water can be wasted. This is not only bad for your bank account; it’s a waste of a precious resource. Even in the nation’s rainiest regions, water conservation is important. The next time you notice a leak, consider that the water being wasted will not just be a few drops if you ignore the problem. A single leaky faucet could waste thousands of gallons over the course of a year.

No matter how big or small a leak may be, it’s better to be safe than sorry. For more great information on the plumbing problems you can encounter in Nashville and their solutions, please feel free to visit our website or take a look at our “Ask the Experts” page.