Five subtle signs of a water leakPinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Five Subtle Signs of a Water Leak in your Home

/in , /by

When we think about water leaks (and we appreciate these might not be the most exciting thoughts!), we often think about the more obvious signs of a water leak. For example, damp patches on the walls, damp flooring, sagging ceilings, or a visible escape of water.  But many water leaks are ‘sneakier’ and don’t produce such obvious symptoms. In this article we look at five less obvious signs of a water leak to watch out for.

A Recurring Drop in Boiler Pressure

Unless there’s a noticeable problem with our heating or hot water, it’s not often that we think to check our boiler pressure. But it’s worth doing from time to time. Whilst recurring drops in boiler or water pressure could be the result of other problems, they are often associated with a central heating leak.

Locating central heating leaks can be tricky as much of the system is hidden away behind walls and underneath floors. But there are non-invasive water leak detection techniques available, for example gas tracing that can accurately pinpoint the source of a central heating leak.

Unusually High-Water Bills

Even relatively small water leaks can have a noticeable effect on your water bill. A leak that drips every second soon adds up to a substantial amount of water. If your water bills have peaked and you’re not sure why, consider turning off all appliances and seeing if your meter continues to tick over. If it does, there’s a fair chance you have a water leak.

Musty Smells and Odours

Over time water causes mould and mildew to form on surfaces, but these surfaces may be hidden away and go unnoticed. Instead, what you may notice is a damp or musty smell in certain rooms. If this persists then it’s well worth further investigation as mould and mildew can pose a health hazard to those within your home.

Warped Wallpaper

Whilst our finely decorated walls won’t look brand new forever, localised warping of wallpaper or discolouration of paint can indicate damp in the underlying wall. This could be a sign of a substantial water leak as it means that water has been absorbed by the wall to the point of saturation and is now spreading to the layer above. Again, there are non-invasive detection methods, such as thermal imaging that can quickly and accurately locate the source of such water leaks.

Unusual Noises

When our central heating, appliances or bathrooms are in use then we might expect a little noise from our water systems. But strange, unexpected noises, particularly when your system isn’t in use are a cause for concern. This can be a sign of corroded pipes or fittings that aren’t secure. It’s best to investigate these quickly as you might be able to catch them before major damage is done.

Our Best Advice

Act quickly! It’s obviously tempting to postpone investigating a potential water leak, particularly if you can’t see any obvious symptoms. But just because the symptoms aren’t obvious, does not mean the water leak is not there. Water leaks (particularly hidden ones) can cause a lot more damage than you might assume, and this can happen quickly. If you do have a water leak and subsequently make an insurance claim, then you will need to demonstrate that you acted quickly to avoid your claim being queried or refused.

Related reading:

We hope that you have found this article useful. Be sure to take a look at the related articles below, which go into a little more depth around key topics:

   

   

Reduce the chance of a water leakPinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Reduce The Chances of a Water Leak by Keeping Your Home Well-Maintained

/in , /by

Even though water leaks can occur in even the most well-maintained homes, it’s still crucially important to be proactive in maintaining your home.

Not only does this reduce your chances of having a ‘dreaded water leak’, but it can also aid you should you need to make a home insurance claim. Many home insurance policies will expect you to keep your home in good repair and loss-adjusters may query claims where they feel more could be done to maintain a home.

No-one wants a water leak in their home and the associated hassle, only then to have their claim queried by their insurance provider. So, with that said, let’s look at some of the basic things you can do to keep your home in good condition and reduce the chances of a water leak occurring.

Check Your Roof Tiles

Water leaks caused by roof damage can be devastating. As such, you should make sure that you maintain your roof and repair it whenever it gets damaged.

Carry out a basic inspection of your roof on a regular basis, at least every six to twelve months. Start with going into your loft and looking for any light that may be coming through the roof. Inspect your beams for signs of any damp or rotting. Follow this up with a visual inspection of the exterior tiles and note any concerns (with photographs if possible). If you do find cause for concern, contact a roofing specialist who can advise.

Clean Your Gutters

Clogged gutters put pressure on your roof and could lead to water leaks. Therefore, as part of your leak prevention plan, you need to make sure that you keep your gutters clear.

When you check your roof, you should also clean your gutters. Use rubber gloves to remove any dirt and debris, and then wash the inside of the gutters with disinfectant. By keeping your gutters clean, you’ll reduce the chances of dirty rainwater building up on your roof and leaking into your home.

You might need to clean your gutters more often if they are near to trees or other sources of debris. Also, you should check and clean your gutters if you notice that water isn’t running off your roof correctly.

Get Your Boiler Serviced Annually

Water leaks don’t just come from outside; your central heating and internal water supply can also leak, causing problems in your home. One of the easiest things that you can do to reduce your chances of water leaks is to get your boiler serviced every year.

Many plumbing specialists and manufacturers offer boiler servicing, so you can easily book an appointment. Consider setting a calendar reminder so that you always remember and don’t forget.

An experienced boiler engineer can check your boiler for damage and recommend the best solution. They can also advise you on the best time to replace your boiler so that your home’s central heating system is efficient all year round.

Check The Boiler Pressure

Some simple boiler checks, such as pressure checks, you can do yourself. If you notice that your boiler isn’t working efficiently, or you lose your hot water supply, the first thing you should do is check the pressure.

Checking the pressure yourself and adjusting it is easy; if you’re not sure how to do it, then check out this handy guide. If the problem persists, or you can’t adjust the pressure yourself, then contact a boiler engineer to ensure that the problem gets fixed quickly.

Visually Inspect Pipes, Joints, And Seals

You should also inspect the pipes, joints, and seals in your home. Look at all aspects of the system for signs of wear and tear, or water supply issues. If you notice that any of your seals are loose, or that your pipes appear damaged, then contact a plumber to get them to repair or replace the damaged area.

Often, pipes crack because they freeze over during the winter months, so check that your central heating system and pipes have adequate insulation. If you’re concerned that your pipes need more insulation, then consult a plumber to find out if you need to add more.

By being proactive and checking your pipes before you notice a water leak, you’ll reduce the chances of a leak occurring. Prevention is better than the cure, as the saying goes, and this is certainly true of water leaks.

Be Proactive If You Notice A Leak

The most important piece of advice that we can give you is to act swiftly if you notice even the smallest water leak. Leaks will never fix themselves and will only grow and cause more damage over time. Your insurance company will look for evidence that you acted in a timely manner to reduce the damage caused by the leak.

Non-invasive water leak detection methodsPinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Non-Invasive Leak Detection: What Is It And Can Trace And Access Be Non-Invasive?

/in , , /by

Spotting a damp patch or water damage in your home can seem devastating. But using non-invasive water leak detection techniques, we can help you to find the leak and fix it – whilst keeping damage to an absolute minimum.

What does ‘non-invasive’ mean?

Before non-invasive methods became available, when homeowners noticed a water leak in their home, they would contact a tradesperson. This person would break into walls or ceilings, working backwards to find the source of the leak. If the leak was large, or there were a lot of pipes, then a significant amount of additional damage could be caused whilst locating the source of the water leak.

Today, there are better water leak detection techniques. Our non-invasive tactics for water leak detection mean that in the vast majority of cases we can locate the source of a leak without causing additional damage to your home.

What non-invasive technologies are there?

Thanks to our cutting-edge non-invasive water leak detection technology, we can find the source of your leak quickly and efficiently. Some of the non-invasive water leak detection services that we offer include:

Thermal imaging: Water leaks cause discrete temperature variations across surfaces. Our sensitive heat detection equipment can detect these, allowing our experienced team to trace back the leak.  The technology only needs to be in proximity to your pipes; it doesn’t need to touch them directly, so we don’t have to expose them to detect your water leaks.

Moisture meters: Moisture meters check the levels of moisture on the surfaces around your home. Our team take multiple readings to find the areas with higher levels of moisture and pinpoint the source of the water leak. Whilst moisture meters are usually non-invasive, some materials are hard to test. As such, we might need to drill a small hole to take accurate readings from inside the surface. While this approach isn’t completely non-invasive, the damage caused is very minimal.

Gas tracing:  If you suspect a central heating leak, then gas tracing is an ideal, non-invasive way to locate the source. We will drain the water from the suspected pipes, and then introduce a combination of hydrogen and nitrogen gas. This gas will escape through the leak, and our gas detection technology will find the source of the leak.

Pressure testing: An alternative to gas tracing, pressure meters are installed to measure the water pressure at different points around your central heating system. If they detect a drop in pressure in a specific section of your system, then they can narrow down the source of the leak. Pressure testing takes time, as many factors can affect the pressure of your heating system, but it’s a non-invasive and reliable way to trace leaks.

Acoustic microphones: Using digital receivers, we can check for the sound of the water leaks in your home and find them without exposing your pipes. This is more suited for locating leaks deep beneath floors, underneath concrete and other difficult to reach places.

Can trace and access be completely non-invasive?

Trace and access is made up on two parts. The first part is locating the source of the water leak, which can be completely (or very close to) non-invasive. The second part of the process is exposing the water leak so that it can be repaired – this will obviously involve some damage to the area surrounding the leak.

So whilst water leak detection can be completely non-invasive, it is likely that trace and access will involve a small amount of damage to expose the water leak. However, non-invasive leak detection techniques keep the damage to your home to an absolute minimum.

There may be more damage behind a ceiling leak than you realisePinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Ceiling Leaks – More Damage Than You Can See?

/in , , /by

When you think of ceiling leaks, you probably picture a huge patch of water spreading across the ceiling with a bucket underneath it.

However, even a small leak can cause significant damage to your home, as it could be a sign of a more severe problem. If you overlook water damage and damp patches, then you could find that they become major issues that cause structural damage to your property. 

To help homeowners who are unsure of what to do when they find a ceiling leak and why they shouldn’t ignore them, we’ve put together this guide to understanding the importance of fixing ceiling leaks as soon as you find them.

Never Ignore A Ceiling Leak

Even a small leak could be a sign of more severe problems. Water will always travel to the lowest point, meaning that ceiling leaks often start in a different place to where the visible damage is. For example, water may run down a loft beam and across a ceiling before finally settling and forming a damp patch. This means the damage could be far more extensive than is immediately obvious.

As such, you should be proactive and always investigate any ceiling leaks you find, however small. That includes damp patches on the ceiling, minor water damage, and small drips. These seemingly small inconveniences could be a sign that there is a leak somewhere in your home, and that leak will only get worse if left alone.

Investigate The Cause

If you can, then you should try to investigate the cause of the problem. A range of different issues can cause ceiling leaks, so the first step is to access the space above the leak. If the ceiling leak is below the roof, then this could be a sign that your roof is damaged, particularly if the leak occurs after it rains and the water is brown and dirty. Check your roof and work with a roofing contractor to repair the leak.

However, if the water is clear and the leak occurs beneath your roof, then the issue is probably your home’s plumbing. If you can, check the pipes around the affected area to see which is damaged. If you can’t get to your home’s plumbing, or you don’t know what you’re looking for, then contact us, and our experts can trace the source of the leak and fix it for you, saving you time and hassle.

Using Thermal Imaging

In many cases ‘thermal imaging‘ is an ideal way to quickly locate the source of a water leak, without causing excessive damage. A thermal imaging unit will be able to detect tiny changes in surface temperature caused by water. This is far more preferable to manually excavating an area to try and find the source of a leak. 

Check If Your Home Insurance Policy Covers The Cost

Many homeowners ignore small ceiling leaks and signs of water damage because they’re afraid of the cost of fixing the problem. However, if you leave a small issue, then it could become more serious. As a result, you could be paying even more to fix the fault in the future and your insurance company may contest any related claim (because you have not acted quickly enough).

In many cases, you may be able to claim back the cost of locating the leak through your home insurance policy. Trace and access cover means that your home insurer will cover the cost of locating the source of a water leak and exposing it. Be sure to check if your policy includes this.

Contact Us If You’re Unsure

If you notice a leak in your ceiling, then book an appointment with Pinpoint today. Our team can quickly detect the source of the water leak and can also repair the leak and any damage it has caused,

Pinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Maintaining Your Central Heating Over The Summer Months

/in , /by

In the heat of the summer, when its warm outside and you’re spending more time in the garden, it’s easy to forget about your central heating system.

However, with winter fast approaching, you need to make sure that your central heating is working effectively before you need it. In the winter, many plumbers have longer waiting lists, meaning you may have to wait longer in a cold and damp house.

Often, leaks and other issues in central heating systems start small, but if they go unnoticed, then they quickly become significant problems, which can be expensive to fix.

Watch Out For Leaks

One of the easiest ways to spot heating leaks is to check for water coming out of the boiler, or any of the radiators. If you find that any water is leaking out of your system, but you can’t find the cause of the leak, then contact us, and we’ll help you to get it fixed in time for the colder weather. Be vigilant and don’t overlook even a small puddle of water or slight water damage; it could be a sign of a leak. Even a small leak can cause expensive damage to your central heating system, so be proactive and act quickly. We can use pressure testing, thermal imaging, gas tracing and other techniques to find the source of the leak.

Turn Your Boiler On Intermittently

When you’re struggling in the heat, you might not want to turn your boiler on, but if you leave it switched off for months, then you might find that it won’t work correctly when you eventually turn it back on. Try turning on the hot water every week, or switching a radiator on, so that your boiler gets warmed up and ready for the winter. You should also inspect the boiler and central heating system visually every so often, to check for leaks or any other damage that could cause problems when you start using the system later in the year. Check the valves, pipes and connectors, and if you notice anything that doesn’t seem right, then contact a professional.

Bleed Your Radiators

It might sound gruesome, but bleeding your radiators is actually a great way to ensure that your central heating system works properly. It’s also a task that you can do yourself, without any professional training, making it ideal for cost-conscious homeowners. To find out more about how to bleed your radiators, check out this guide. While you’re bleeding your radiators, you might want to consider checking your boiler pressure.

Check Your Boiler And Pipe Insulation

Boiler and pipe insulation stops your equipment from getting too cold in the winter and freezing. If the water in your system freezes, then thaws, it could cause the pipes to crack and leak. As such, you must check your insulation now to ensure that your pipes are warm enough for the coming cold weather. If the insulation is insufficient, then you should contact your plumber to find out more about adding additional insulation to ensure that your pipes won’t freeze when the temperature drops.

Get Your Central Heating System Serviced

Your boiler and central heating system need servicing at least once a year, and summer is the best time to do it. After all, you’re not using your system as much, so you’ll have plenty of time to get any repairs made or spare parts ordered. If you leave your annual central heating check until winter, then you could encounter problems and be left with a cold house. Call a Gas Safe engineer who can check your boiler pressure, pipes and more, and reassure you that your system is running effectively. If they do notice any problems, they can advise you on how to fix them.   

Call The Professionals

If you notice any problems with your home’s pipes, plumbing and central heating system during the summer and you’re not sure what to do, call a professional. Our team can help with everything from water leak detection through to leak repair, water extraction, and drying, and much more.

Is plumbing covered by home insurance?Pinpoint Trace and Access Ltd.

Is plumbing covered by home insurance?

/0 Comments/in , /by

One of the most common questions (and sources of confusion) our clients have is whether the cost of plumbing is covered in their home insurance policy. In this article we answer this common question and several related questions.

If you’ve suffered a water leak, then it’s likely you have a damaged water pipe. As part of the process to repair your home, your leak will have to be repaired. Many customers assume that the cost to repair a leaking water pipe is included in their home insurance policies. However, in many cases this is not true.

Many home insurance policies include the cost of repairing the damage caused by the leaking pipe. For example repairing damage to floorboards, plastering, decorations and electrical circuits. They do not cover the cost to repair the leaking pipe itself. In short, in many cases you are liable for plumbing costs.

Why is this?

Many insurers consider burst or damaged water pipes a result of negligence in maintaining your home, or the result of general ‘wear and tear’. Some advise that you should regularly check your water pipes for signs of degradation and pro-actively maintain them.

What if the pipe was frozen or damaged by frost?

Your chances may be better if your water pipe started to leak due to freezing or frost. Some home insurance providers will cover the cost to repair water pipes under these circumstances.

Can I get plumbing cover on my home insurance policy?

Some policies may cover plumbing costs, although this is far from guaranteed – many do not. Some insurers also offer ‘home emergency cover’. This may or may not cover the cost of an emergency plumbing service. Speak to your insurer or check your policy for more information.

What about accidental damage?

The cost of plumbing may be covered (in some circumstances) if you have accidental damage cover. For example if you are doing home improvement works and accidentally damage a water pipe, then your insurer may cover the cost of repair. Again, you need to check your policy or speak with your insurer.