01 Dec A complete guide to water leaks (including how to spot them)

Water leaks can appear seemingly out of nowhere with no prior warning, causing costly and unsightly damage to your property. More than just inconvenient, water leaks can also be dangerous depending on where they are situated and the severity of the leak. They can disrupt the electricals of your building and risk its structural integrity all while unnecessarily driving up your water bill and causing your facilities to malfunction.

This is why it’s so important to understand water leaks, including how you can prevent them, how to spot them and what to do if you have one. This complete guide has been compiled by the experts at Fidato Services, so carry on reading to find out more.

How can you tell if you have a water leak?

There are a few telltale signs of a water leak. Some of them are more obvious than others, with many only becoming apparent once you know what you are looking for. For example, more obvious signs include water dripping from unexpected places, appliances malfunctioning, water pooling on the floor or patches of dampness appearing on walls or ceilings.

But you should also be looking for rust on fixtures or water stains on the paintwork inside of your property, which could appear as light discolouration. People often ignore these, assuming they are simply signs of ageing. Always be aware of any mould or mildew build up and use your nose to detect musty odours with no other obvious cause. Another less obvious cause of a potential water leak could be condensation appearing between window panes, or etched glazing.

What should you do if you think you have a water leak?

If you have a severe water leak that has the potential to cause flooding or damage, stop using all water appliances in your home, turn off your water supply if possible and call an emergency plumber right away.

If you have spotted any of the signs listed above but aren’t sure if it is a leak, contact a professional such as Fidato Services. We can conduct an inspection and provide you with a dilapidation report, which will outline the condition of the property and alert you to any potential issues with the infrastructure, including water damage or leaks.

We use advanced technology and are experienced in dealing with leaks, so rest assured we’ll be able to find the source of the problem, no matter how hidden or small it may be. We can alert you to issues with the building you may not have even known were there and save you money on water bills and damage rectification.

What steps are involved in fixing the leak?

But what exactly does Fidato do to resolve water leakage problems? First of all, we perform a comprehensive visual check on the external facades of your building and look for signs of ingress, particularly around potential entry points, window frames and doorways. We’ll take a close look at anything you alert us to and watch out for additional stains or rust around cracked panels, chips or spalling. We will check all sealants to ensure that they are still functioning as they should and haven’t deteriorated, dried and debonded. We will also inspect curtainwalls and glass balustrades, which can show signs of influx through cracked or loose seals and gaskets.

Following the inspection, we go through a process of elimination to determine the entry point. This involves using advanced technology and equipment to find where the water is originating from, even if this is concealed within walls or underground, or coming from a tiny crack in a roof tile.

We do everything we can to try and find the entry point and if this fails, we will conduct a flood test. This is the controlled, safe flooding of the suspected area with water for approximately 20 minutes. This is the last resort but is a highly effective method of locating even the smallest of weak points in a building structure that could be letting water in.

We keep our clients updated at every step of the way so that they understand what we are doing and why, and how we are tackling their water leak in the best possible way. We work as fast and as thoroughly as we can to ensure minimal disruption to you.

How can water leaks damage your building structure?

Excess water and moisture in the structure of a property can cause foundational damage that will get worse over time if not addressed. Materials become weaker and more prone to damage from extreme weather, especially roofs. Moreover, the property will be more likely to flood if there is an undetected leak, which could make it uninhabitable. The longer these issues go unaddressed, the longer they will take to repair and the more expensive they become to resolve. Serious structural damage could require meticulous intervention and replacement of materials.

What’s more, excess moisture in walls and floors results in mould and mildew growth, especially in the warm Australian summer climate. These are not just unsightly and smelly but can even cause respiratory health issues that will have a detrimental effect on anyone living or working on the property.

Early detection and prevention is the best method to avoid severe water damage, which is why a regular maintenance plan for your building is important.

Get in contact

If you suspect a water leak on your property, no matter how big or small, get in contact with Fidato Services today. We can help to detect leaks and prevent them with comprehensive maintenance assistance on buildings of any size. Use our contact form or call us on 1800 343 286 to get a free quote from our friendly team.