5 Signs You Have a Plumbing Leak
You’ve heard your plumber say never to ignore any leak in your home. Leakages are some of the most common, damaging, and aggravating plumbing problems for homeowners if not fixed on time. Since leaks aren’t always obvious, it’s not easy to spot them, and they can go undetected for some time. Here are five common ways to detect water leaks.
1. Monitor Your Consumption
One of the best ways to find hidden water leaks is by monitoring your water consumption. You should have a consistent water bill if your water use habits have not changed. This way, you can tell there’s a leak somewhere if you notice a significant difference between last month’s and this month’s bills. Remember, leaks don’t have to happen inside the house. Some of your pipes may be underground, and it may be challenging to know if there’s a leak during winter.
2. Check the Water Meter
Another way to spot hidden leaks is by checking and testing the water meter. To do this, you need to turn off all the faucets in your home. Make sure no one is taking a shower and no appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher are running. If the meter continues running, you have a water leak somewhere. If it doesn’t change, give it two hours and check again. If it has changed, you may have a minor leak.
3. Check Exterior Usage
Leaks are also common outside the home. You can check your outside spigots by attaching a garden hose. If water seeps through the connection while the hose is running, replace the rubber hose gasket and check to confirm all connections are tight. It’s also advisable to get a professional to inspect your irrigation system if you have one.
4. Check for Leaks in the Toilets
Toilets can be notorious for hiding leaks. It’s possible to go for a very long time without knowing that your toilet is leaking. The toilets in your home account for about 30 percent of your water use, so you may actually never tell if they are the culprits. However, a simple dye test can tell if your toilet is leaking. Add a few drops of dye or food coloring to your toilet tank and wait 10 minutes. If the color makes it to your toilet bowl, you have a leak allowing water to flow into the bowl without flushing.
5. Check for Dampness, Bulges in Walls, Mold, and Water Stains
Water stains on walls, ceilings, and floors are usually the first signs that you have a leak. You may notice mold and rust in places like the bathroom and kitchen. If guests and household members notice visible dampness around your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry area, you might have a water leak. If you ignore it, you’ll encourage the growth of mold, which can be hazardous to your health.
If your toilet sink or bathtub leaks, you’ll notice rust forming whenever you place metallic cans or other metallic objects on wet or damp surfaces. The best way to fix this problem is to call a plumber to locate the exact leak source and fix it.
Don’t wait until your wall, floor, ceiling, or any valuable fixture in your home is damaged to get a water leak fixed. Since leaks are common, make it a habit to check and test regularly. If you’re not sure, the team at Orchard Plumbing is ready to help. Contact us today for more leak detection tips, quotes, or any other queries.