Your outdoor faucet may not seem mission critical to your home’s plumbing system, but that doesn’t mean it’s not facing problems of its own. You use it to wash your car, fill up your pool, and maybe run the sprinkler system, which is why it’s important that you know this.
When your outdoor faucet starts to leak, there’s a big problem at hand with a few issues you should be aware of. These often require you to call in a plumber in Springfield–let’s explain why.
Ideal for Mold Growth
The leak is slow to start, so it’s no big deal, right? Wrong. Water can sit in the end of the spigot and create the perfect environment for mold growth. If your faucet is connected to a wooden post or near your siding, it can cause mold growth there which can eat plastic siding and weaken wood.
Lower Water Pressure
If the leak is bad enough, it can even impact your home’s water pressure (to an extent). That’s still connected to your plumbing system, so if there’s lost pressure there, it can impact the rest of your home’s plumbing. It’s ridiculous to think that a little outdoor spigot can do that, isn’t it?
Possible Foundation Damage
Your foundation is one of the last things in your home that you want to damage. When water pools near your home’s foundation, it can cause erosion and lead to costly repairs or even slab leaks. Not to mention that the water can leak into your siding and cause additional problems there before you even realize that the foundation is an issue.
Unnecessary Water Waste
You spend money on your water bill–so why pay extra? If it’s leaking, you don’t need to spend more money. According to the EPA, a leaking faucet can waste around 3,000 gallons of water in a single year (and that doesn’t specify the speed of the leak; it could be more). This usually refers to indoor faucets, but if your outdoor faucet has a constant puddle underneath it, the same could be true.
Potential Pest Nesting
Wet spaces can attract bugs to nest, such as mosquitoes (if there’s enough still water as a result of the leak) and even cockroaches. While it’s not as common, rats can even find favor in these wet spots. If you don’t fix this problem, you’re essentially inviting pests to nest near your home.
Fix That Leaky Faucet Today
That leaking outdoor faucet is a bigger deal than you think. It’s time to get it taken care of as soon as possible to prevent water waste, unnecessary damage to your home, and eliminate unwanted pests all at the same time.
Your faucet may need something simple replaced, like an O-ring, but there’s a chance that it’s endured enough outdoor weather and now it’s time to replace it. Let your plumber decide once they show up and inspect the faucet, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
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