You may not think a little leak is that bad, especially since the sun is often beating down, and you’re more concerned with keeping cool. But that little bit of moisture, however inconsequential it seems, can snowball into something much bigger when the summer heat cranks up. Let’s look at why the small leaks you might be inclined to ignore can blossom into major headaches as the mercury climbs.

The Equation of Evaporation

Consider a puddle on a summer day that is quickly shrinking. This process is known as evaporation, and you likely learned about it in your fourth-grade science class. Water molecules get energy from the heat, become more active and take off into the air as vapor.

Now, think of a minor leak, such as a slow, drippy faucet or a fine crack in a garden hose. In colder weather, that trickle of escaping water might not seem like much. But under the summer sun, that drip evaporates far more quickly. A few drops an hour can easily become a considerable loss of water over a day or a week, and you won’t notice any of it since it’s disappearing so fast. This is especially the case for pool and sprinkler systems.

The Expansion Factor

Not only does heat make water disappear more quickly, but it also causes pipes to expand. When temperatures outside are at their highest, these materials will slightly increase in size. If you have a tiny crack or a loose fitting, this expansion can actually widen that gap and allow more water to seep out.

The Pressure Problem

Once summer is in full swing, households are watering their lawns more often, filling pools and possibly washing cars more frequently. This significant increase in demand can cause more water pressure in your pipes. If you already have a little leak, that extra pressure can push more water out of that opening and escalate the problem at a much faster rate than when water consumption is much lower.

The Ripple Effect

In the summer, leaks cause more than a whole lot of water waste although that’s a big deal. The ripple effects can be felt. A slow leak around the foundation of your home, for instance, could result in too much moisture. This moist area can draw in pests, such as mosquitoes that breed in the standing water. These conditions also provide a breeding ground for mold and mildew that can make the air you breathe unhealthy and actually destroy the structure of your house over time.

So those little drips that you may not think are harmless are definitely trouble if you allow them to go unchecked. Contact Nichols Electric and Plumbing for leak detection, and we will find and fix problems to help you maintain a healthy living environment in your Rochester, NY home.