- 833-603-1840
- info@jprplumbingnewton.com
- Mon - Fri: 9:00 - 21:00
Manhasset, NY
A shower arm that drips into the wall, a basement valve that weeps every time it is turned, or a hose behind the dishwasher that has started to seep can all cause more damage than the small amount of water suggests. JPR Plumbing repairs active leaks in Manhasset homes, replacing the part that failed and checking the connections around it.
What to know
Leak repair is for water escaping from a source you can see or clearly locate: a valve, a supply line, a fixture connection, a shower or tub fitting, or a short run of exposed pipe. When you can see moisture but not where it starts, tracing the source comes first.
Most repairs replace a single worn part, such as a washer, cartridge, valve, hose, or fitting. Because parts installed at the same time tend to wear out together, the plumber also looks at the neighboring connections and lets you know if any of them are close to failing.
If the leak has been going on for a while, the plumber also checks for a soft subfloor, swollen cabinet bases, or corroded pipe nearby, since those can turn into the next repair if they are missed.
While you wait: close the valve under or behind the fixture, or the main shut-off if there is none, and catch the drips. Move rugs and stored items out of the way, and stay clear of outlets near any wet floor.
Water staining around a shower or tub can come from a fitting behind the wall rather than the fixture itself.
Older shut-off valves can leak around the stem after being turned.
A slow leak from the supply or drain hose can soak the floor beneath the appliance.
Washers, gaskets, and O-rings harden and stop sealing with age.
Rubber supply hoses can bulge and split after years of constant pressure.
Vibration and corrosion let water escape at threaded and compression joints.
Water to that fixture is turned off and the worn part is identified.
A new valve, hose, cartridge, or fitting is installed where the old one gave out.
With the water back on, the repair is watched to make sure it holds.
When to call
Call right away if water keeps coming after you close the nearest valve, if it is soaking into a ceiling or floor, or if it is close to electrical equipment. A faucet that drips only while it is running can usually wait for a scheduled visit. The repair depends on which part failed, how easy it is to reach, and whether the pipe or finishes around it were damaged. If the pipe around a failed fitting has corroded, a slightly longer piece may need to be replaced as well.
Manhasset homes
Homes that have been updated in stages often have a mix of newer fixtures and older valves and supply lines. The older parts tend to be the ones that leak, especially in basements and utility areas where they are rarely touched. Because water from an upstairs bathroom can travel along joists before it drips through, the stain below is not always directly under the fixture.
The EPA’s WaterSense statistics estimate that leaks in an average family’s home can waste about 9,400 gallons of water a year.
Water that shows up on a ceiling below a bathroom only after someone showers often points to a fitting or drain connection behind the wall.
Stiff or weeping valves can be replaced on a routine visit so they work properly when you need them in a hurry.
If the water is appearing somewhere you cannot see into, start with locating a leak hidden behind a wall or floor. For other plumbing concerns around the home, see the broader plumbing work we take on in Manhasset.
This also covers homes in Munsey Park, Plandome, Flower Hill, Manhasset Hills, and North Hills.
Questions
Close the small valve under the sink or behind the toilet. If it is missing or will not close, use the main shut-off for the house.
That pattern usually points to a leaking shower valve, arm, or drain connection inside the wall or floor, rather than a supply pipe that leaks all the time.
Sometimes the packing or washer can be renewed. Older or corroded valves are usually better replaced.
If they are old, cracked, or bulging, yes. Braided replacement hoses are a common choice.
Not usually, but it should not be ignored. Over weeks it can damage cabinets and floors and adds to your water use.
For more background, see our article on where household leaks usually start, along with a separate piece about how a leak inside a wall gets repaired.
Reach us at (833) 603-1840, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., or request a visit online. Tell us where the water is coming from and whether you have managed to shut it off.
