Is Your Home Sitting on a Plumbing Time Bomb? Here's How to Tell

Homeowners don't tend to worry about their water supply lines until disaster strikes.

And by then, the damage is done – and that emergency repair bill is already skyrocketing.

Water supply line repair can be tricky because most of the signs are noticeable long before it turns into a plumbing catastrophe. Well, before it's too late they're noticeable.

Let's get into…

What you’ll discover:

1. What Most Homes Have in Common

2. Signs Your Pipes Need To Be Repaired

3. 4 Reasons Water Supply Lines Fail

4. 4 Tell-Tale Signs You Should Repair Your Water Supply Line

What Most Homes Have in Common

Hidden beneath almost every home in America is an army of water supply lines you've never seen – and likely never thought about.

Well, that should change.

When it comes to aging underground plumbing, it's the classic 'out of sight, out of mind' headache homeowners wish they could forget. Buried water supply lines can corrode, shift and crack for years without detection. By the time they start showing obvious signs of wear -- like a wet patch in the lawn, a high water bill, or lower water pressure -- the damage is often much worse than it appears.

Enough toilets have gotten flushed over leaking underground water supply lines for this to be a big problem. In fact, an estimated 14,000 homeowners deal with some type of water damage in their home every day. And sewer leak damage isn't cheap either. According to This Old House, water damage and freezing claims now make up 22.6% of all home insurance claims with the average payout costing homeowners over $15,000.

Yikes.

…

Signs Your Pipes Need To Be Repaired

Here's the issue with underground plumbing and buried water supply lines...

Most of the destruction occurs out of sight. Somewhere underground or inside your walls.

But your house will tell you something's wrong if you know what to look for.

These are the signs you shouldn't ignore: (Read: Water Supply Line Repair)

• Water Bill Keeps Increasing – If you haven't changed your water usage habits but your bill keeps going up, you may have a leaky water supply line.

• Brown or Orange Water – If your water looks dirty or discolored when it comes out of your tap, you likely have corroded pipes. This is especially true if your home was built with iron supply lines decades ago.

• Low Water Pressure – If your entire home experiences low water pressure, your supply line may be to blame. Note: If it's just one faucet, skip to the next bullet point.

• A Wet Patch in The Yard – Having areas of your lawn that stay soggy or are extra green compared to the rest of your yard could be a sign of a leaking underground pipe.

• Running Water Sounds When Everything Is Off – This tip can't be stressed enough. If water can be heard flowing through pipes when everything is turned off, shut off the water at the main valve until a professional can take a look.

Here's the thing to remember…

One of these signs? Case for concern.

Multiple warning signs? Immediate concern.

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4 Reasons Water Supply Lines Fail

Knowing why water supply lines fail can help spot potential problems before they get out of control.

Age.

Many homes in America were built hundreds of years ago and still use the same water supply lines. As piping ages, it becomes weaker and weaker until it simply can't take it anymore. Take cast iron pipes for example – one of the oldest types of supply piping. Cast iron was widely used in residential construction prior to the 1970s and continues to fail at alarming rates across the U.S. today. A recent study done by Utah State University found that 86% of all cast iron pipe currently in service is over 50 years old.

Yep. Most of those pipes should have already been repaired or replaced.

Movement.

Water supply lines aren't immune to Mother Nature. Clay soil and extreme temperature changes cause the ground above to contract and expand. As the ground moves, so do the pipes buried underneath. Movement over time causes cracks to appear along piping, joints to separate, and in extreme cases, complete breaks.

Trees.

Trees and plant roots naturally seek out sources of water. One small leak or hairline crack in a supply line and tree roots nearby will find it. Once they do, expect that leak to become a lot bigger.

Corrosion.

Depending on where you live, hard water can cause minerals to build up in your pipes. This results in restricted flow and weakens pipe structure.

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4 Tell-Tale Signs You Should Repair Your Water Supply Line

Now we're getting into the tricky part.

How do you know when to bite the bullet and schedule water supply line repair?

Sure, brown water and visible leaks make the decision easy. It's usually knowing that your yard is extra green or your water pressure has decreased slightly that cause homeowners to hesitate.

Don't.

Putting off water supply line repair almost always leads to more damage – and more money out of your pocket.

Ask yourself these questions:

• How old is the home's plumbing?

• Has water pressure dropped in the past year?

• Are water bills increasing without explanation?

• Is there rust coming from faucets?

• Are there wet spots near plumbing in the yard?

If the answer is yes to two or more of these questions, it may be time to have the water supply inspected by a professional.

A lot of plumbing companies offer water leak detection services using special cameras they run along the supply line. Not only does this allow them to see what's happening underground without digging up the house, but it gives a clear idea of what needs to be done.

Don't wait until the water supply line bursts. By the time a problem with underground pipes becomes obvious, the average household suffers through major structural damage, mould problems, and a giant hole in their wallet that could have been avoided.

Studies have shown that hidden leaks can cost the average household nearly 10,000 gallons of wasted water every year.

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Alright, Here's The Bottom Line

A water supply line isn't going to sprout warning flags the moment it starts to go bad.

It's going to creep up through the warning signs listed above – plenty of time to sit back, relax, and ignore the problem.

Until it's too late.

The right way to handle potential water supply line issues is to:

• Know the plumbing and be mindful of any changes.

• Monitor the water bill and search for the signs above.

• Have a professional assess the home with a camera inspection.

• Nip water supply line repair in the bud.

Again, it's always easier (and cheaper) to repair a small leak than an entire pipe full of standing water.