For many people, their top priorities when buying an apartment are location, apartment design, and cost. However, what should also be an important consideration is the apartment’s plumbing system. Every day, around 14,000 people in the US find themselves dealing with a water leak emergency. Water leaks are very common in apartment blocks, and can cause considerable damage and be expensive to repair. While you may have a leak in your apartment, it could just as likely happen in the apartment above you. Water leaks can damage your belongings, leave unsightly stains on your ceiling, or warp your hardwood floors. They can also cause mold and mildew if not properly dealt with, or cause extensive damage to your neighbors’ apartments. Therefore, it’s important to get the source of the leak identified and rectified as soon as possible. Keep reading and find out how to deal with a water leak in an apartment.

The first thing you must do is stop the leak in order to prevent or limit further damage. However, this may not be as easy as it sounds. You may have to speak to your neighbors to establish the source of the problem, while also alerting the property manager or landlord. Accessing apartments to find the start of a leak can be difficult if a unit is unoccupied or the people living there aren’t cooperative. However, your landlord or building manager should have the authority to access the property to trace the leak and require the tenant to fix it.

You will next need to determine the cause of the leak. There are several potential possibilities for water damage in your apartment. It can happen due to an overflowing bathtub, a flooded toilet, a leaking washing machine, or showers, radiators and broken pipes. Identifying the cause will help you stop the leak, while also establishing who should be responsible for putting things right. To prevent potential water leaks in the future and help you monitor your apartment’s water usage and detect leaks in real-time, consider installing a smart water monitoring system like Bluebot to detect unusual water usage and alert you before any damage occurs.

However, there are occasions when the cause of a leak is not clear or is disputed. Therefore, Indianapolis plumbers Carter’s My Plumber recommend finding a reputable plumbing company to help you find the source of the leak and stop it as soon as possible.

Once you’ve determined the source of the problem and how to fix it, you will need to ascertain who is responsible for the damage and subsequent repairs. Whether it is your landlord’s, property manager’s, neighbor’s, or even your own fault, the damage needs fixing. If the cause is a faulty appliance or busted pipe, your property manager will likely be liable to pay for the repairs. However, if your neighbor is responsible, that person and the property manager will have to determine who will pay for the repairs. If the responsibility lies with you, you will have to pay out of pocket to get the repairs done. You can enlist professionals like Moisture Master Pros to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Water damage can cause structural damage to your home, as well as mold and mildew growth, which can be dangerous to your health, especially if the leak isn’t spotted and stopped in good time. Hiring a plumber as soon as possible ensures that the leak is located and tackled before it gets worse or affects neighboring properties, leaving an even bigger bill on your hands.