A tiny underground water leak can cause a lot of damage to your property. You should never underestimate a plumbing issue in your home or business because you may not know of the extent or severity of the problem on your hands. In general, you need a professional plumber for water leak detection and to then handle any necessary repairs. However, there are certain steps you can take to stop the leak and prevent any potential water damage in the meantime.
Below are some measures you can take to stop an underground water leak and mitigate damage to your property. These measures are useful and doable without any special skill or knowledge.
Steps To Stop An Underground Water Leak
There are 4 main steps you can take to stop an underground water leak. If you enjoy DIY projects, these steps should be relatively easy for you. Even following one of the steps provided below can save your property from serious water damage, and costly clean-ups and restoration. Taking the necessary step or action, as soon as possible, is the best way to safeguard your property and interests.
1). Shut Off Water Supply At The Main Control Valve
This is a really important step. Shutting off the water supply at the main control valve can help stop the leak and prevent more water from entering your home’s foundation if the leak occurs after the main control valve. You can easily determine whether the underground leak is occurring in a water line within your property and not in the mainline by first closing the main control valve.
2). Open The Sewer/Exit Line
Locate your sewer exit and open the plug on the house-side of the trap. This will allow the water from the leak to flow into the sewer instead of remaining in your house or property. It’s always a good idea for homeowners to familiarise themselves with the plumbing infrastructure in their homes, such as control valve and sewer exit, in the event a water-leak emergency occurs.
3). Install A Clamp Around The Leak
Before the pipe or waterline is replaced, you may need to install a clamp around the leaking or damaged section of the pipe in order to prevent water damage. You’ll need a C-clamp sleeve that’s about the same diameter as the water pipe. The rubber layer on the inside will create a water-tight seal over the leak, forcing the water to flow through the pipes instead of out of the hole or crack. You’ll need to tighten the clamp bolts to ensure the leak is properly sealed. Installing a clamp is a temporary but effective solution for an underground water leak before permanent repair is done.
4). Install A Sump Pump
A sump is a piece of plumbing equipment that goes under the floor of your foundation or basement. Sump pumps collect moisture, either groundwater or water from a leak, and remove it from your property. Sump pumps are typically used for flood protection. Underground water leaks are one of the main causes of flooding in residential and commercial properties. Sump pumps come with discharge hoses that can be connected to any number of outlets.
Contact A Professional Plumber
After taking the above steps, the only thing left to do is to call in a plumber to fix the actual leak. A plumber will assess the situation and offer a solution to stop, fix and prevent the leak from occurring again.
An experienced plumber will be able to identify the location and cause of the leak if you didn’t manage to do this yourself. One of the most important things to identify is that the leak is not coming from a neighbour’s pipe or the mainline. Whatever the source of the leak, a professional plumber will be able to guide you on what needs to be done to fix it.
If you suspect you have a water leak, please call us at Water Leak Detection for a free consultation today on 1300 425 325 or leave an inquiry on our website.
