A burst pipe in your home could lead to bigger problems. It could flood your house, destroying your furniture and carpeted floors. It could also damage your walls. And if it happens that it is your gas pipes that have burst, you are in serious danger.
If you want to spot the signs that your pipes have burst or close to bursting, you might need an insertion electromagnetic flow meter. But there are also many low-tech ways to see if you have burst pipes.
Change in water pressure
If you open your faucet and it seems that the flow of water is weaker than, check your pipes immediately and look for holes. The first place you should check is your basement because it is often the pipes in the lowest part of the house that break frequently.
<>If it is wintertime, then chances are your pipes have frozen and some parts may have burst open. If this is the case, not only will you have lower water pressure. You might even have no water flowing through your faucet at all.
Change in color of water
If you notice that the water coming out of the faucet is not clear and sometimes even has a brownish color, you probably have a hole somewhere in your pipeline. The brownish color means that your pipes are corroding and the brown stuff you see in your water is rust particles.
If your pipe is already rusting, it will not be too long until it bursts. So, when you see that your water is murky, brownish, and has a foul odor, start checking your pipes for any holes immediately.
Marks on the walls
If you start seeing marks on your walls, the pipes hidden behind it may have burst and water is seeping through the walls, which accounts for the water marks. You should fix this right away because if water starts to pass through your walls, you have a high risk of developing mold in your home.
Mold can be a lot more dangerous than burst pipes. If you are not aware yet, mold can lead to severe health risks and even death if you get to inhale these fungi. When you spot water marks on your walls, start fixing those broken pipes.
Strange sounds
Whenever you open a faucet and you hear something groaning somewhere in your house, it might mean that you have a burst pipe. A burst pipe often makes sounds that can be strange.
Another sound that you might hear when your pipe is close to bursting is a whistling sound. When you hear your pipes whistling, it is possible that there is a dent somewhere in your pipeline. The dent makes it harder for the water to pass through, thus the whistling sound.
Also, if you hear dripping sounds through the walls, then it might mean that the pipes behind your walls have a leak. You should check them out right away to prevent mold development and to protect your home from further damage.