A leak in a pipe underground may seem much less worrying for a homeowner than a pipe that is leaking in the home somewhere. And while the damage to property is much less when the pipe is underground, there are a number of studies that show there are surprising effects of underground water leaks that mean the sooner the leak is detected, the better.
Damage to the street
With the changing climate in recent years, our roads and streets have taken a lot of heavy damage and potholes are a common sight – as well as council workers fixing them! Underground leaks, however, can be just as damaging as a bad winter or stormy autumn because they release a large amount of water in one place over a short time.
This can result in damage to the street, pavement or even a driveway or path outside the home. Water will find the weakest spots so even if the leak is within the property, experts know that it could still cause problems on the street outside. Most homeowners will not realise this and believe it will not affect them; this may not always be the case and is good reason for homeowners to have leak inspection performed by an expert.
Structural damage
Another danger from escaping water is the structural damage that it can cause. There are lots of stories about basements filling with water or tunnels or conduits filling up with water. While these are the extreme, it is very possible that even a slow leak on a pipe can cause structural damage to buildings if left unchecked.
While seemingly less extreme, water leaks can be a starting point for damp problems. A discoloured patch on the wall or some peeling wallpaper may seem like a small problem, but it can quickly escalate. Damp allows mould to grow and the homeowner could then face a condition like black mould that can affect health. Or a condition such as wet or dry rot that can cause serious structural damage. The effects of water leaks are overlooked and underestimated, which is why it is important to stress the damage it can cause when speaking to customers.
Other effects of water leaks
Underground water leaks can lead to increased costs for homeowners and for businesses. Leaking pipes can even be a health risk. This is because leaking water pipes not only wastes the cleaned and purified water that was being brought to the property but sucks in some dirty, contaminated water that is then processed into the system. This contaminated water can lead to stomach upsets and other health problems.
Water leak detection
Water leaks can be a problem for home and business owners, which is why the Ferret Leak Locator is a strong investment into your company and could expand your client base. If homeowners think they may have a leak and have noticed usage is increasing for no reason, then it is important to explain that this could be a costly situation and you could essentially be saving them money in the future.
Ferret Technology provide professional leak detection equipment that can help speed up your job times and enable you to fit more jobs in within the day. Keep your customers notified about the effects of underground water leaks so they know to come straight to you in future! Get in touch with us by calling us on 0800 292 2835, or fill in our contact form and we will get back to you.