Water is an essential commodity we humans cannot live without. It is important to
shut taps and faucets tightly and use water judiciously. If you find there is water
leakage in your home or office, make sure you find out its source and use the best
techniques available to do so. The first step to do so is to look for obvious signs of
seepage around the house.
If there is a leakage from external fitments in the house like the wash basin or the
flush tank, it can be replaced or rectified as per the need. However, leakage from the
ceiling or any of the walls will need costly repairs. At such times, it is best
recommended to give this responsibility to one of the reputed waterproofing
contractors in Mumbai for a thorough job.
The following methods can be employed to locate the right spot from where the
leakage has originated:
Check the inner and outer walls of your apartment and look out for damp
patches on them. If you live in an independent home, check if there are wet
patches on the ground near the foundation walls.
It is difficult to locate leakage source from the roof, so trace it from the wall or
ceiling.
Due to continuous use or ageing, tiles and flooring could crack and this could
lead to leakage.
If joints haven’t be waterproofed properly and have been left incomplete, there
is scope for leakage, so make sure you check them properly.
Expansion joints or places where vertical and horizontal joints meet are quite
liable to promote leakage and hence need to be inspected properly.
Sinks, bathtubs, wash basins and toilets have sealants around them which
can harden and crack. This leads to leakage and can prove damaging to the
structure. Make sure the entire portion is waterproofed instead of carrying out
patchwork.
Testing methods used to pinpoint the exact leakage spot:
Leakage mapping: This method is specifically used for locating the exact location of
a leakage at window joints. In this process, 0.2 MPA of dynamic water pressure is
applied using a nozzle. This is done at each joint at specific intervals of short
duration.
Flood Testing: This is a common and effective method used to check for leakages
on roofs with low slopes. The entire area is flooded in order to carry out this test.
ASTM Method: If your home has leakages occurring through outside wall and
through windows, this method can pinpoint it quite accurately. Water seepage
through doors or skylights can be check by using the ASTM method.
Agencies that carry out external waterproofing in Mumbai employ such accurate
methods to check for leakages. If a leakage is found, it should be attended to
immediately to avoid costly repair work in the future.
