Most homeowners who choose to wait it out and monitor leaks do this for a few reasons. One of the main reasons is that they did not want to spend the money or spend the time figuring out what the issue was. You may have heard the phrase “a stitch in time saves nine”. This means that being proactive with problems often saves you the least hassle with home ownership, including one of the most complex systems in your home, your plumbing system. Another thing to consider is that leaks sometimes will get worse fast, and often when you are not watching the leak or when you are away from home. Perhaps you are at work, on vacation, or just visiting family, but if a major leak breaks free, you could have gallons of water dumped into your home, causing hundreds or even thousands in damage.  A leak that quickly breaks free in an upstairs room can leak into the insulation and ceiling. You can think of any insulation or drywall in your ceiling as a sponge, and once it absorbs so much water, the drywall can no longer hold the weight and cause a large area to break free. There could be huge consequences depending on what is underneath this area where the ceiling gives way.