The Economical Cost Of A Sink Leak

Plumbing issues aren’t fun to deal with, and since pipes are typically hidden away, it’s easy to think “Out of sight, out of mind.” Avoiding the issue comes at a cost, and if you examine the calculation carefully, it makes more sense to address the issue sooner rather than later.

Sinks are usually set inside a counter top above a cabinet, while the piping follows directly under the sink and through the walls. Leaks that occur in the piping immediately below the sink land on the inside of the cabinet. The wood becomes easily warped, and replacing it may not be as easy as swapping out one the bottom piece. In the worst case scenario, you may end up replacing the entire unit, and sink cabinets range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

If you have a leaky faucet in addition to a leaky sink, the cost of water lost in a year through the drips add up. If you have one leaky faucet that drips water at a rate of 1 drop per minute, that’s 1,440 drips per day, averaging at over 128 litres of water a years.

Nightmare leaks

Excess water can lead to the development of mold inside the home, which spreads easily. The worst part about mold is that it creeps into hard to reach corners around the home, making its removal labour intense and costly. Mold removal ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Water damage

If the water leak spreads beyond the cabinet and into the flooring or wood, then you have a very serious problem at hand. Spilling a cup of water on the floorboards is no issue because it’s a one-time occurrence, which you will probably clean immediately. Repeated exposure to moisture will end up warping your floorboards. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find identical flooring to match it with the rest of the room, otherwise you will have to live with mismatched floor boards.

The cost of calling a professional

A plumber will be able to diagnose the issue, whether there’s a crack in the sink, damage in the piping, or a minor problem that’s easily fixable. Compared to the damages listed above, you’re saving yourself a lot of money by fixing the root of the problem. Don’t leave yourself without options by waiting too long so call a trusted professional!