HOME & FAMILY

Water Line Leaks

Leaks on a pressurized water line cause a lot of damage, especially if they are not found quickly. They range from a refrigerator or dishwasher supply to broken or loose pipes in a basement or crawlspace. This page is for leaks you can see.

Grandpa TJ tip

I’ve located videos which deal with many of the types of leaks you may run into at home. If you are handy with some simple tools and can get to a hardware store, these videos will give you enough information to get the job done for far less cost than a plumber.
- Grandpa TJ -

Visible leaks by type

What each leak covers. The how-to videos stay off this hub for now and come back in the punch-up pass.

Refrigerator leaks

Water and icemaker supply lines at the refrigerator: a broken copper ice-maker line, a pinhole in that supply, a faulty valve dripping at the dispenser, or a temporary shutoff when the fridge line has no valve.

Under sink leaks

Under-sink and toilet supply lines in the kitchen or bathroom: a leak at the valve handle stem or packing nut, a leaking sink or toilet supply valve, or a leaking sink supply line.

Dishwasher water leaks

Leaks around the dishwasher: finding the cause, water spilling from the sink air gap, the supply line from under the sink, a leaking supply valve, the drain hose, and reaching hoses by moving the dishwasher.

Clothes washer leaks

Leaks around the clothes washer: simple checks to find where it is leaking, and what to do before repairs begin.

Copper water lines

Leaks in the permanent copper supply, not the appliance. Check local building codes before any permanent repair. This section covers eight copper repairs, temporary and code-level, and changing pipe type, such as PEX to bypass a leaking copper run. If you are in doubt, talk to a plumber.

Plumber

When the repair is on the house supply, or you would rather hire it out, start with the hiring guide: insurance, questions to ask, and a phone ballpark before they see the job.

Plumber

A temporary fix still counts

These repairs range from easy to difficult, but they can save a lot compared with hiring a plumber. A temporary fix, or shutting the water off where the leak is, can also save a day off work waiting for one.

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