Hot Water Heaters

• Most water heater failures develop as they age or nearing their end of life expectancy, and the tank begins to rust or wear away. A deteriorated tank usually leads to a leak or a sudden burst due to years of sediment building up in the bottom. Water heaters that are not installed correctly can also leak prematurely, leading to early replacement.
  
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  Leak Detection: Nothing beats regular maintenance. Just like other parts of your plumbing, severe issues with the water heater are prevented with regular maintenance; this includes an inspection of the water heater’s anode rod and flushing sediment from the tank. To check if your hot water heater is the source of a water leak, disconnect the drain pipe and use your hearing senses for a hissing sound. You can also look for pooling water underneath the tank. If you hear water rushing or dripping while you stand alongside your water heater, follow the sound and look for visual confirmation of a leak. If you can hear water, but no leak is evident, there’s likely a break inside the tank. This can occur as a result of normal wear and tear and the only sensible solution is a replacement water heater.
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        Toilets

• Of all areas in the house that a leak can develop, the toilet is the messiest. Toilet leaks can come from the tank or water supply, but the most damaging leaks occur at the wax ring and flanger. Cracks on the tank or the bowl, corroded pipes that lead from your wall to your toilet, loose or worn-out seal at the base, misadjusted flush valve assembly and worn out flapper are common reasons a toilet can develop a leak. 
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• Leak Detection: A leaky toilet can have a major impact on your bill, so make it a habit to check toilets for any leaks and inspect the pipes that run from the wall to your toilet. When pipes running behind walls burst or begin to leak, the water will crawl its way through the walls and produce wet spots that can be damaging to your home’s foundation. Be watchful for any pooling water around the base of your toilet too, this will tell you that you might have loose or worn-out toilet parts. Toilet making sounds even if not used, or water trickling down the sides of the toilet bowl after it’s been flushed are also some of your telltale signs.
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        Gutters 

• Not all water damage sources happen inside the house. A gutter filled with an overwhelming volume of leaves sticks from broken tree limbs, dirt, and other debris can cause water to flow and seep into your home’s foundation; this is the common cause of basement flooding. Sometimes the size of the gutter you’ve installed is also the reason it overflows. If they are simply too small, they won’t be able to handle a massive amount of rainwater flowing down the roof during a heavy rainstorm.
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• Leak Detection: Manage to check for choked downspouts and leaks in the basement. Trim your trees or regularly clean your gutters to prevent this. If your gutter is too small against the amount of rain you’re getting every year, consider replacing them.
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        Sump Pump 

• Whilst sump pumps are effective in removing excess rainwater away from home, they can fail and create the risk for basement flooding, especially after a heavy storm. If the water level reaches a certain point it can’t handle, the sump pump automatically turns on and expels the excess rainwater from your basement to prevent flooding. Many sump pumps have check valves that sense escalating water and pressure. Over time the valve can develop leaks either due to loose connections to the pipes or a failing internal valve. 
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• Leak Detection: Inspect the centre connection of the check valve for a water leak. The part where the pipes connect to the valve is usually the spot where leaks occur. Use your senses to feel around that area for moisture or dripping water. If you want your sump pump to handle whatever Mother Nature brings and to prevent it from future failure, an annual check-up is recommended. After winter is the best time to do this when you’re prepping your home for spring storms. 
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        Downspouts

• A well-conditioned downspout defends your home against foundational damage. Ever wonder in what way? Rainwater runoff expelled from downspouts right at the base of your exterior walls can make the water pools and soaks into the soil. It can over time work its way into the foundation, resulting in leaks against the wall. To prevent this, direct the rainwater away from the house by installing a downspout diverter. Downspout diverter fits onto the bottom of downspouts and unfurls to dispatch water several feet away from the house.
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• Leak Detection: A missing mulch or soil erosion near the downspout is a sign that it is not effectively directing the water away from the foundation of your home. Paint peeling around your downspout is also another sign of improper draining. Check all downspout segments if they are securely attached. If you have downspout strainers, make sure that it is not crowded with leaves or debris. A stormwater pipe relining specialist will be able to tell you easily if they are in place and working as expected.
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        Water Pipes

• Especially on the days where water can hit freezing point, pipe bursts are an extremely common issue as the water expands and adds overwhelming pressure to stressed pipes. But even on regular days, the pipe is bound to fail either due to normal wear and tear, age, or improper usage. Drainpipe, sewer pipe and stormwater pipe when clogged with debris can eventually develop leaks. 
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• Leak Detection: The easiest way to verify a pipe leak is to check your water meter. However, this device only verifies large leaks. Even when small leaks are detected, this does not have the function to tell you where the exact location is. If you’re concerned you might have pipe leaks, we can definitely help.