The most common causes of water leaks at home include worn parts in toilets and taps, loose or damaged appliance hoses, failed seals around baths and showers, and leaking joints on pipework. Many leaks start small, which is why they can go unnoticed for some time.
Knowing where leaks often start can help you spot one early and describe it clearly when you ask for help. A quick look under sinks, behind the toilet and around appliances now and then can catch a problem before it spreads.
Toilets and Taps
Toilets can leak when parts inside the cistern wear, causing water to trickle into the pan. A leak may also come from the connection between the cistern and pan, or from the supply to the cistern. Taps can drip when internal parts wear, or leak around the base or from the connections underneath.
If the problem is clearly a dripping tap, our tap repair page explains how this is usually dealt with.
Appliances, Baths and Showers
Washing machines and dishwashers are connected by hoses and waste pipes. These can work loose, split or perish, sometimes leaving water under the appliance or kitchen units. A leak may only appear while the appliance is filling or emptying, which can make it harder to spot.
Around baths and showers, worn sealant, grout or a failed seal on a shower tray can let water escape into the floor or wall each time they are used. This type of leak may only show when the bath or shower is in use, and can look like a pipe leak from below.
Pipes, Tanks and Valves
Pipe joints and fittings can weep or leak, especially if they have been disturbed or the pipe moves. Waste pipes under sinks and baths can also leak at their joints, usually only when water is running away. Some homes also have water tanks in the loft or cupboard, and these can leak or overflow if a valve fails. Isolating valves and stopcocks can leak around the spindle as they age.
Not Every Damp Patch Is a Plumbing Leak
Water inside a home does not always come from the plumbing. Condensation, rain getting in through a roof or wall, or a blocked gutter can cause similar damp patches. A leak can also travel before it shows, so where the water appears is not always where it starts.
Checking when the water appears can help. A leak that only shows when a shower is used points in a different direction from one that is there all the time.
Because there are so many possible sources, the cause usually needs to be checked before a repair is planned. Our page on professional water leak repairs explains how leaks are assessed and repaired once the problem has been found.
If you have noticed water where it should not be in your Poole home, a plumber can look at the likely source and explain the next step.