A water leak is never good. It will cause you stress as you try to locate it, raise your water bill and cost you even more money in repairs. But there is one more thing that it can cause: pests.
Like most living things, pests need water to survive, so finding a water leak is great for a bug or rodent. Often water leaks are hidden, so we could be inviting pests into our homes without even realising it.
Investigate a water leak
If you start seeing insects or rodents appearing in certain places, inspect nearby areas that have access to running water to see if you can find a leak.
Another place to check is for pooling water under your fridge or freezer, as insects can enjoy the water under there for months without you noticing. It’s a good idea to check your washing machine, dishwasher and any other appliances connected to the plumbing.
Check your sinks
Another place that commonly springs leaks is your kitchen or bathroom sink. Look under your cupboards and cabinets to see if there is any moisture forming there. Not only will you attract pests with a leak under your sink, but you’re also likely to damage your cupboards, especially if you have wooden ones.
Seal up your pipes
Pests can get into your home through seals around pipes that aren’t fitted properly, so it’s important that you check them to ensure no nasty bugs are getting through.
Inspect your pipes, fixtures and appliances for leaks and make sure you check the spots where pipes enter the wall. They should be sealed with metal plates, rubber gaskets or foam insulation to provide a barrier to stop insects from coming in.
If you’re a handy DIY-er, you might be able to seal up gaps and fix a water leak yourself. But if you’d rather let the experts do the work, fill in our form below and we’ll put you in touch with up to 4 plumbers who can give you a quote for the work.
Source:
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing