The main causes of water pipe leakage include improper installation, aging or poor quality of materials, external pressure or temperature changes, etc.

Specific Water Leakage Causes

1. Installation process defect

The hot melting operation is not standardized: Leakage at the joints of PPR pipes is often caused by excessively high or low heat fusion temperatures, insufficient heating time, inadequate cleaning, or insufficient insertion depth. For instance, failure to use the hot melt machine in accordance with the standard may lead to false welding, and the risk of water leakage increases after long-term use.

Loose connection: The water pipe joint is not fully tightened, or the sealing material is used improperly, which may cause it to loosen due to water pressure shock.

Irregular construction: loose pipe fixation, unreasonable slope setting (such as insufficient slope of the drainage pipe causing water accumulation pressure), etc., may cause water leakage.

2. Material problem

Aging or corrosion: After long-term use, plastic pipes become brittle and metal pipes rust, causing the pipe walls to become thinner or cracked. For example, PVC pipes are prone to cracks after aging, and cast iron pipes are prone to corrosion by sewage after the anti-corrosion layer is damaged.

Poor quality pipes: Using counterfeit or low-quality pipes (such as pipes with a substandard pressure resistance coefficient) is prone to bursting under normal water pressure. It is recommended to choose brand products such as Yatong PPR pipes to reduce risks.

3. External environment and usage factors

Too high water pressure: Exceeding the pressure bearing capacity of the pipe will cause the connection to loosen or the pipe wall to rupture, which can be solved by installing a [pressure reducing valve] Temperature change: In winter, the water pipes will freeze and expand, and then melt, which can easily cause bursting. An insulation layer must be installed on the outdoor pipes. ‌

Human damage: Heavy objects hitting or frequent disassembly of equipment (such as kitchen sink interfaces) may cause physical damage.

4. Inadequate design and maintenance

Waterproofing defects: The waterproofing layer of the bathroom/kitchen is not up to standard or the floor tiles are cracked, and water penetrates and corrodes the pipes for a long time. ‌

Lack of regular inspection: Failure to replace aging valves and joints or repair small cracks in time, causing the problem to expand. ‌

To check whether the household water pipes are leaking, you can gradually check them out using the following methods, and you can make a preliminary judgment without professional tools. If any abnormality is found, it is necessary to repair it in time or contact a professional for treatment.

How to find a leaking water pipe in a house?

Preliminary observations and simple tests

1. Turn off all water-using devices

Turn off all water-using devices such as faucets, toilets, washing machines, etc., in your home to ensure that no one is using water.

2. Observe the water meter

• ● If the water meter pointer is still turning slowly (or the number continues to increase), it means there is a water leak.

• ● If you are not sure, you can record the water meter reading and compare it after 2 hours. If there is a significant change, there is a water leak.

3. Check for abnormal water bills

If the water bill has suddenly increased significantly recently, but the water use habits have not changed, it may be caused by hidden water leaks.

Inspect the leakage points by area

1. Inspection of exposed pipes (visible pipes)

Visual observation:

• Check whether there are water stains, rust or leaks at the faucets, angle valves, water heater interfaces, toilet tanks, and other connections.
• Check whether there are bulges, cracks, or rust on the pipe surface (especially metal pipes)

Toilet paper test:

Wrap the pipe joint or valve with dry toilet paper and observe whether it is soaked (it can identify small leaks).

2. Concealed pipe (buried wall/underground pipeline) inspection

Abnormal wall/floor:

Check if the wall is moldy, peeling, or discolored, or if the floor is warped or damp (especially near the bathroom and kitchen).

Tap the tile gently. If the sound is hollow, there may be water inside.

Close valves in sections:

Close valves in different areas (such as the kitchen and bathroom), observe whether the water meter stops rotating, and lock the leaking area.

3. Toilet Leakage Inspection

Drop coloring method:

Drop a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and leave it for 30 minutes without flushing.

If color appears in the toilet, it means that the tank is leaking into the toilet.

4. Outdoor pipe inspection

Check the garden, exterior wall water pipes or taps to see if there is dripping water, or if the ground is wet for a long time, or the plants are abnormally lush (maybe the underground water pipe is broken)

Professional tools to assist detection a (professional licensed plumber is required)

1. Leak detector: locates the leakage point of the hidden pipe by amplifying the sound of water flow in the pipe.

2. Thermal imager: detects the temperature difference of the wall surface and finds the leakage area.

3. Pressure test: After closing the main valve, pressurize the pipe and observe whether the pressure drops to determine the leakage

Emergency treatment and repair

When water leakage is found:

1. a. Immediately close the main water valve and cut off the water supply.
2. b. Clean up the accumulated water to avoid soaking the floor or circuit (if close to the power supply, turn off the power first)

Repair suggestions:

• If the exposed pipe joint is leaking, you can try to reseal it with raw tape or replace the damaged parts.
• If the concealed pipe is leaking, it needs to be repaired by professionals who can chisel through the wall. Do not handle it yourself to avoid further damage.

Tips for preventing water leaks

2. 1. Check the water pipe joints, valves, and exposed pipes regularly, and replace aging parts in time.
3. 2. Wrap the outdoor pipes with insulation materials in winter to prevent freezing and cracking.
4. 3. Install a water pressure regulating valve to prevent pipe bursts caused by excessive water pressure.
5. 4. Keep a water route map during renovation to facilitate later maintenance and positioning.

5. If you cannot determine the leak or handle it yourself, be sure to contact a professional plumber to avoid blind operation and cause greater losses!

Suggested solutions‌

• ‌Prioritize the inspection of installation problems‌ (such as checking hot-melt joints and fastening joints) and standardize construction.
• ‌Replace aging or inferior pipes‌ and choose high-quality products that are pressure-resistant and corrosion-resistant.
• ‌Control water pressure and temperature‌ , and strengthen pipe insulation and pressure relief measures