Everyone dreads dealing with plumbing issues, especially leaky pipes. Whether it’s the pipes under the sink, behind the wall or running across your basement ceiling, leaky pipes can mean big disaster for your home and your wallet. Here are some things you can do before you call the plumber.

Find the Source of the Leaky Pipe

In most homes, the plumbing is hard to see. The pipes are usually placed behind walls, above ceilings and under floors. This can mean that a pipe has been leaking for some time before you become aware of it. To make sure you don’t have a small leak working its way to becoming a big problem, look for these signs.

Dampness or Water Spots
Dampness or water spots on floors, walls or ceilings can be a good sign that you have a leaky pipe.
Moisture Changes
Look for signs of condensation on your windows or even just an increase in humidity in your home. These can both point to a hard-to-find leak.
Warping
Areas of warped floors can also signify a leak. Check underneath sink cabinets as these are common areas of warping from leaky pipes.

Handle What You Can

There are lots of DIY fixes for leaking pipes, but nothing works better than calling the plumber. Of course, you will try to do some damage control while you wait for the plumber to arrive, such as trying to stop the water flow by using plumbing tape or using some kind of sealant. Unfortunately, by doing these things you aren’t fixing the problem, instead you could be making it worse. The best thing you can do is turn off the water to the house and call the plumber. By trying to fix it yourself while the leak is small, you’re creating a bigger and more costly problem later on.

Water and mold damage can cost more to fix than the leaking pipe. So don’t risk the consequences of not taking care of your plumbing. Call the plumber and set up a routine maintenance schedule and put your leaking pipe fears to rest.