Did you just discover a dripping pipe under the sink in your home? Other articles on the internet can give you a few ideas to fix it. But none of them explain why it’s important to fix it, and what can happen if you don’t! That’s what we’re covering in our article today.
We’re Cleaner Guys, a professional water damage restoration company with more than 20 years of experience! We’ve dealt with more leaks than we could count — and we’ve noticed some important information missing from other articles on this subject.
Table of Contents
- First 5 Steps to Do Immediately for a Dripping Pipe
- What to Do About a Leaking Pipe Under the Sink in an Apartment
- Is a Slow Leak from a Pipe “Water Damage”?
- Is a Leaking Pipe Under a Sink Dangerous?
- More Resources
First 5 Steps to Do Immediately for a Dripping Pipe Under The Sink
If you find a leak under your sink, the most important thing is to act fast. You likely don’t know exactly how long it has been dripping, and the longer it continues to drip, the more damage it can cause. Do the first 2 steps immediately, and then you can figure out the others! Here’s what to do about a dripping pipe under the sink.
- Dry the excess water first
- Put a vessel under the leak to catch the water
- See if the problem is easily fixed
- If the problem is beyond your expertise, shut off the water and call a plumber right away
- Get the wet area inspected by a water damage restoration company to ensure no severe damage.
Let’s break down each of these steps in more detail.
1: Drying the Water
Before doing anything else, you need to clean up the excess water that’s already in your sink cabinet (if any). Grab a clean, dry towel and absorb all the standing water puddling in your sink cabinet.
2: Catching Drips
The second most important thing to do is catch the water that’s still dripping! Put a bucket or vessel under the drip, to prevent more puddling water, before moving on to solutions.
3: Quick Fixes
Once the water is mopped up and you’re catching the drips, you can figure out the leak source. Follow the dripping water up to its source on the plumbing. If it’s coming from a cracked or broken pipe, you’ll need a plumber to replace it. But if the water is coming from a pipe joint (the part where 2 different sections of pipe connect to each other), then you may just need to replace that joint, or the water seal at that joint.
If the water is coming from a PVC pipe joint, the first thing you can try is tightening the joint. You can do this with some channel-lock pliers or a crescent wrench! Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as a joint that has loosened over time.
Another thing you can try if the water is coming from a joint is to turn off the water supply to the sink, unscrew that joint, and replace the rubber seal or gasket.
However, if you don’t feel knowledgable or confident enough to try these fixes yourself, then we strongly advise you to hire a plumber to do it. An inexperienced layperson trying to fix their plumbing can potentially lead to worse water damage than the initial leak!
4: Big Fixes
Generally, if the water isn’t leaking from a joint that you can unscrew and fix yourself, then it’s a “big fix”, and should be left to a plumber.
5: Preventing Serious Problems
This is the step that most people miss — to their detriment. After you’ve stopped the water and gotten the pipe fixed, you should find a water damage restoration company near you and ask them to do an inspection of the affected area! You can’t know how long the leak has been going on, and one of the top causes of mold that we see is water damage from leaks that don’t get dried out properly.
This is a step you should not skip. Even if you think that you’ve completely dried out the area that was wet, there is often still water inside the wood of the cabinet or inside of the drywall, and only the thermal imaging and moisture-reading equipment that professional water damage restoration technicians have will tell you for sure whether all the water is gone.
What to Do About a Leaking Pipe Under the Sink in an Apartment
The first thing you should do if you find a leaking pipe under a sink in your apartment is call your landlord. If the leak is not your fault, then it is usually your landlord’s responsibility to fix it. If they don’t get it done within 5 days, you may need to call them again. We encourage you to relay to them the fact that if they don’t take care of it quickly, leaks end up causing mold growth and water damage that can cost thousands of dollars to fix.
Next, after you have called your landlord, follow the first 2 steps outlined in this article, and dry the standing water and set something to catch the drips.
Lastly, read our full article on water damage in apartments for more information, and take a few minutes to review our comprehensive guide on dealing with mold in an apartment. The leak may have already started mold growing, and you should know how to recognize it and what to do about it.
Is a Slow Leak from a Pipe “Water Damage”?
Yes, a slow leak from a pipe nearly always leads to water damage of some degree. Unless the leak is caught almost immediately after it starts, it will probably have time to drip for a while, either days or weeks. Whatever material is directly underneath the leak will be soaking up the water, and possibly staining, swelling, cracking, bowing, or getting mold growth. That is water damage.
If you discover a leak and are unsure how long it has been going, we strongly, strongly advise you to get the area inspected by a professional water damage restoration company. There is likely damage that you can’t see or feel, deep inside the affected material. If it is not properly treated following a leak, it will cause more damage down the line.
Is a Leaking Pipe Under a Sink Dangerous?
Yes, an unmitigated leaking pipe under a sink is dangerous, because it will almost certainly cause mold growth! Mold grows anywhere there is excess water and moisture, and its spores cause mold sickness, which can be very serious. Read our full article here on the dangers of mold sickness, to be prepared about what it looks like and how to treat it.
A leaking pipe can also cause water damage, which can compromise the integrity and strength of the structure of your home or business! Water intrusion causes drywall and wood to swell, warp, bow, weaken, and even break. You can see an example in the photos below, from a leak Cleaner Guys just finished repairing last month.
The leak was in the attic, where no one could see it, and it eventually soaked the entire ceiling of this business, causing the very paint of the drywall to peel, bubble, and swell! That’s what a leak can do.
More Resources
The Cleaner Guys blog is a vast collection of exclusive, unique insider knowledge on all things mold, water damage, house fires, and more! Open a new tab for our full blog archive here, or jump to one of our recommended next reads below.
Top signs of hidden mold in a home ➜
Is water damage covered by insurance? Everything you need to know. ➜
What happens if you touch mold? (Nothing good) ➜
If you need a water damage restoration company in Western Washington State, consider Cleaner Guys as a high-quality, well-trusted option! We’re proud to boast award-winning customer service, lower prices than others, and top-notch workmanship. Contact us today through the menu at the top of your screen!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No part of this article is medical or legal advice, and may not be used as such. For all serious medical matters, consult your doctor. For all serious legal matters, consult your legal advisor. This article contains Cleaner Guys’ experience and opinions only.
