Pipe bursts can cause serious damage to your home and lead to expensive repairs. Knowing how to tell if a pipe burst allows you to act fast and minimize damage.
In this guide, we’ll discuss some of the signs of a burst pipe, such as rising water bills, visible leaks, and dropping water pressure. You can protect your home from costly water damage by recognizing these signs early.
Unexplained Increase in Water Bills
If you’ve seen a big increase in your water bill for no clear reason, it could be due to a water leak in your home. A burst pipe is a common cause because it keeps leaking water, which leads to a large rise in water usage.
Visible Water Damage or Stains
If you notice water damage or stains in your home, it might be due to a burst pipe. Water leaking from a burst pipe can soak into nearby materials. Check for wet spots, color changes, peeling paint on walls or ceilings, or signs of flooding.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure can be another sign of a burst pipe. Check if faucets, showers, or appliances have a weaker water flow. A burst pipe can block the normal flow of water in your plumbing system.
Discolored or Smelly Water
Have you noticed your water looking cloudy, rusty, or smelling unusual? These changes could be signs of a burst pipe. When a pipe breaks, it can allow contaminants to enter your plumbing system which will affect your water quality.
If your water is discolored or smells bad, have a plumber come out and diagnose the issue. You may have a hidden burst pipe.
Unusual Sounds
Water leaking from a pressurized pipe can cause strange noises as it moves through pipes behind walls or under floors. Listen for running water, bubbling, hissing, or other unusual sounds. These sounds might come from water escaping, air in the pipes, or changes in water flow.
Frosted or Frozen Pipes
From our experience, frozen pipes are one of the most common causes of burst pipes. Freezing temperatures make water freeze inside the pipes and then expand. The ice pushes against the pipe walls, causing them to break.
Frozen water also blocks the flow, preventing water behind the ice from moving. This blockage increases pressure on the pipes, leading to bursts.
Proper insulation can help prevent these issues and protect your plumbing system during cold weather.
Read more: How to Prevent Burst Pipes This Winter
Mold or Mildew Growth
Mold spores thrive in humid environments, and when a pipe burst, it creates a damp area that allows mold to grow and spread quickly. Unfortunately, the excess moisture from the leak provides the perfect conditions for mold to develop on walls, ceilings, or other materials nearby.
This is why early water leak detection, especially when the cause is from a burst pipe, is an important step to minimize damage to your home.
Sink or Toilet Issues
If you notice your sinks or toilets are draining slowly or not at all, a burst pipe can potentially be a cause. It’s important to point out toilet or sink issues are not always caused by burst pipes.
Read more: Water Backing Up Into Shower
Unexplained Wet Spots
If you notice damp areas or puddles on your floor, it could be a sign of a burst pipe. Especially if there is no obvious cause for the water such as an accidental spill.
If you suspect your home has a burst pipe, we can perform a water leak detection to pinpoint any sources of water leaks. Our plumbers will
Whether you’re located in the Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston area, then contact Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric for reliable burst pipe repair service.
Call us today at 469-213-6505 to have one of our plumbers perform a water leak detection test or repair a burst pipe.
