Water Leaks And Water Seepages: How To Prevent & Resolve?

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If you own a home, chances of you experiencing issues with water leaks and water seepages are likely to occur at some point. (Of course, we hope you will not) 

This article piqued your interest as you may be facing this troublesome situation at your residence, and wondering whether you should be responsible for this case on your own or if it should be handled by your building management. 

There’s no need to fret! In this article, we’ll explain why this issue exists, how to solve it, and how to prevent it.

5 Reasons Behind Water Leaks and Water Seepages

High Water Pressure

Your home’s water pipes will be at risk of breaking if they are subjected to greater pressures for longer than they were built to withstand. The average water pressure is approximately 60 psi. Alternatively, water pressure in the home that is more than 80 psi may cause significant damage to the pipes, including the formation of multiple pinholes through which water would leak.

Stale Water Pipes

Water leaks out of the pipes gradually corrode and develop many fractures from constant use. Water leaks can also be caused by the foundation or structure of the house shifting due to the effects of weather or other natural factors. The connections in the plumbing system may weaken or fail and as a result, lead to water leakage. Water can slowly seep under your home’s foundation at a rate of several drips per second, or it might pour in at a rate that’s concerning per day. Water pipes can be severely damaged by water leaks, therefore early detection and replacement are essential.

Sediment And Rust

The water heater is usually installed in the foundation or the ceiling of the home, which are normally out of sight. Consequently, we are not aware of a leak in the water heater until it causes problems. It is possible for silt and rust to build up in the tank of the water heater over time, and this can accelerate the unit’s deterioration. Another reason that causes water leaks is the residue also has the potential to block the built-in filters and faucets.

Obstruction in Plumbing System

Because of the increased pressure, water pipes in the restroom, bathroom, sink taps, and water lines might be damaged or overflowed. When a blockage is bad enough, it can cause water to support the drainage pipe. The caulking and seals at the joints of the water pipe will deteriorate if the water is allowed to stay there for an extended period of time. But, always keep in mind that you shouldn’t risk doing any permanent harm to the pipes by trying to open them manually, or by using corrosive drain cleaners.

Inconsistent or Sudden Temperature Changes

Water leaks in the home can also be caused by sudden shifts in temperature, both upward and downward. Because sudden or unexpected shifts in temperature lead water pipelines to either aggressively compress or expand. Water pipes that carry water often break or split because of the extreme changes in temperature and harsh weather that occur.

How to Prevent Water Leaks and Water Seepages?

Water leaks should be avoided right from the early stage of planning and building phases during the development by the building and property developer. Moreover, If you’re a building manager of your condominium, you might be interested in these suggestions for reducing the frequency with which water leaks and seepages in a condo. Here is how we can lower the possibility of water leaks and seepage occurrence.

Using Water Hammer Arrestors

It is important to install water hammer arrestors to prevent water pipe breaks caused by water pounding, another prevalent cause of plumbing failures and water piping materials with high quality and mechanical strength, robust connecting mechanisms, and resistance to erosion should be chosen for pipes.

Ensure Water Tank Rooms are Well Ventilated

Areas with high concentrations of chlorine gases, such as those containing pumps and water tanks, must have adequate ventilation. Ageing of the compressors and water pipe connections can happen in these rooms if there isn’t enough ventilation.

Inspect Water Pressure Regularly

Lowering the water pressure requires regular care and repair of the taps. Reduced water pressure is a common problem and headache for every Malaysian homeowner, but it may be easily remedied with proper water pressure management.

Following are the guidelines for water pressure set out by the Malaysian government’s Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN):

P/S: All distribution water pipes must be under 30m head.

Check Consistently

In order to reduce downtime brought on by building leaks and the subsequent damages that result from them, it is important to keep track of the water pressure and schedule renovations before the end of the building’s life span and decrement of a building value.

How to Detect Water Leaks and Water Seepages?

If you discover a water stain in a spot of your house that you have overlooked, you should not be alarmed. It is more likely that the water stain is an old issue, but the leak has already been fixed. 

On the other hand, there are circumstances in which the presence of a dried water stain may suggest that the floor above is vacant at the present time. On the other hand, if a water stain has all of a sudden emerged whether it is on your ceiling, wall or other spots of your home throughout the course of the previous night, this almost certainly indicates that there is an ongoing leak somewhere. In this situation, you need to keep an eye on the location where the water is leaking and immediately begin taking action for it. Next, we are going to take you through the whole steps to tackle this issue.

3 Steps to Deal with Water Leaks and Water Seepages?

Take photos or videos of the leaking spot to obtain evidence.

When you have found the spot of the leak, it is important to capture a significant number of images on your smartphone at the time the leak is occurring. Because it can be easier for you to show the water leak evidence to the professionals.

Depending on how often the source of water is used, water leaks can be quite temperamental. Therefore, when your management office comes to investigate the leak with their plumber, the leak may not be present at the time of the inspection. Because of this, they may be unable to identify the source of the leak. Thus, the importance of recording videos or taking pictures.

Inform Building Managers

The Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC) of your condo’s primary function is to mediate communication between the involved parties and to employ and assign a professional technician (i.e plumbers) to determine the source of the leak and the probable cause.

Find out the Actual Source of the Issue

For stratified property residents, there could be multiple reasons for the leaking issues. If you notice a leak from a ceiling or unit upstairs that you assume is caused by your neighbours above you, make sure to check other rooms and spaces in your houses too. A sewerage pipe or inter-pipes leaking could be happening in some cases which the management might overlook. Then, you might find the actual source of the issues. 

5 Common Water Leaks and Water Seepages You Should Be Aware Of

Toilets/Bathrooms

Toilets and bathrooms are susceptible to water damage due to leaks. It is possible that you will not always detect leakage in a toilet since a toilet is frequently moist. Leaks may frequently appear in unexpected locations, including showerheads and taps. Most of the time, they can be remedied by just tightening certain joints, but since these leaks may also occur in the cement, you need to have some repair work done on it.

Dry Yard/Laundry (Washing Machine Area)

Most homes feature a laundry room or dry yard with a sink and plumbing for a washing machine. Even these joints have the potential to leak. Additionally, if the filter in the washing machine’s drain pump isn’t frequently emptied, it might become clogged and cause the water of your washing machine to overflow all over your place. To prevent coins and other tiny objects from becoming stuck in your water pipes, the drain pump filter will collect them if you forget them in a clothing item. Nevertheless, there’s also the possibility of water accumulation. It’s easy to miss them since they collect primarily in the area beneath the washer. It also can  lead to water damage if not addressed.

厨房

Because of its closeness to the water supply, the kitchen serves as a communal space like the bathroom. Small leaks can occur in appliances that use water, like water filters and dishwashers, but the primary source of the problem is usually a broken pipe or a leaking faucet beneath the sink. These leaks are simple to spot, and their origin may be swiftly determined.

Ceiling

The most typical location and if we’re being honest, probably the most annoying too because of how blatantly visible the water leak damage is. Painting over the water stain might seem like an easy fix but, you will need to do some cleaning, undercoat and priming before painting over the stains. Leaks are particularly likely to occur in the ceilings of bathrooms and kitchens due to their proximity to plumbing. Water damage from a roof may affect any ceiling material around your home.

The Piping Area of the Air Conditioning (AC) System

It’s wonderful that air conditioning is often included in the price of newer project developments. However, AC pipes are typically concealed in cement walls or ceilings for aesthetic purposes. Leaking water from these pipes might appear as a mark on your walls and ceiling.

In a Nutshell

In conclusion, with proper prevention and regular checking every year, one of the biggest issues of maintaining a home can be resolved. However, don’t ignore this underlying issue. There is a high possibility of water leakage leading to damage to your furniture and fixtures and the possible collapse of ceilings. Thus, if you ever face such a problem in your apartment, you should always contact your building management body of your residence, follow their instructions, and let them tackle your frustration, resulting in a rapid resolution.