Detecting & fixing pipe leaks

Leaking pipes can cause mayhem, whether a slow steady leak that rots a patch of carpet or floorboards before it's detected, or a sudden, dramatic flow of water that requires emergency attention. There are key measures that you can take to detect and remedy a problem before it turns into a significant expense - or worse causes damage to other parts of your home. Solving any leak issue in the first instance, particularly if you are renovating, is the best practice.

Detecting pipe leaks

Leaking pipes can be hard to spot, particularly slow, small leaks. Water may be oozing out of one place, running along a pipe for some distance and appearing somewhere entirely different. Check for mouldy areas, or areas that simply look or smell damp. It may be necessary to remove floor coverings (carpet, lino, etc), or wall boards to reveal the source of a leak.

It's just as important to check the integrity of other structures that have been subjected to damp for a period of time (floorboards or walls, for example) as it is to repair actual leaks. Such items may have seriously rotted and therefore need replacing.

For the really elusive leaks you'll almost certainly need a professional plumber with specialised detection equipment. If you're particularly confident with DIY plumbing you might resent the expense, however professional plumbing equipment can very effectively minimise damage to your home.

A simple method: Checking for leaking pipes

A simple way to check for a leak is to turn off all water usage in the house for an hour, noting the reading of the house's water meter at the beginning of the hour. If the meter shows any water usage at the end of the hour, you almost certainly have a leak somewhere. On the other hand, very tiny leaks may not be detected in this way, so, obviously, the longer you can leave your water disconnected, the more effective the test will be at identifying problems.

Checking the toilet is also a great place to start, as many leaks originate here. Check all of your toilet's internal seals, as well as the external plumbing fixtures.

What to do with leaking pipes

Simple, easily accessed leaks can be repaired by the homeowner, but care should be taken to check the effectiveness of a repair before resealing the area. There are a few key steps to follow if you do decide to DIY leak fix:

• Once the leak has been identified, clear the area around the pipe, and clean the pipe thoroughly
• Turn off the mains water to your home
• Joins are common sites of leakage. For a join leak, undo the join, clean it thoroughly, and repair with plumber's tape around the seal before rejoining. Check that parts are the correct size, and that corrosion on metal pipes or cracks on plastic ones have not compromised the join
• For cracks or holes in metal or plastic pipes, purchase the correct putty, sealant and tape from a hardware outlet or plumbing supplier, and carefully reseal the damage

If you're in any doubt you can seek the advice of the Master Plumber's of Australia (MPA). The MPA website offers links to each state plumbing association, all of which offer information for regulations, installation and technical standards.

In the interest of prevention (always preferable to cure), you can avoid leaking pipes in the first place by ensuring that all building and renovation work is undertaken by a licenced plumber or experienced home handyperson tackling only appropriate jobs. Failing avoidance, detecting and repairing leaks early can save a great deal of hassle and expense.