Where to Look for Hidden Plumbing Leaks
Plumbing leaks are harmful to your home and your wallet. Leaks can cause flooding that can ruin your belongings. They can also cause your utility bills to increase when you haven’t even got the benefits of the extra water. The first alert to a hidden leak might be your water bill. If it seems uncharacteristically high, first ask your family about the extra charges, and if they say that they have not been using extra water, go on a hunt to figure out if there is a broken pipe in an undiscovered location in your home’s walls. We can give you some foolproof methods for determining if and where a leak is occurring on your property.
Turning Off Appliances that Use Water
First thing’s first; go through your home and turn off the items that use water, including your dishwasher, any sprinkler or hose systems, your washing machine, and any household faucets. Because people use so much water, the easiest time to do all of this will be at night. Immediately following turning off these objects, you will want to take your water meter’s readings.
Find Your Water Meter
Locate your water meter, which will likely be on the outside of your house. Make sure to take a notebook or your phone to write down the precise number that is on your meter. The amount of water you’ve used will be in gallons. To get accurate results, don’t use water from any of the above-listed appliances or faucets for 3-5 hours at least.
Figure Out If There’s a Leak
If after this allotment of time the meter records that you have used water, the likely scenario is that there is water dripping or gushing from a pipe somewhere in your home. It’s at this point it’s crucial to act, as this water can contribute to mold growth if it’s somewhere in your walls or next to a crawl space.
Looking for the Plumbing Leaks
Now the real hunt is on to figure out where your leak is. Look around all your walls, including in your basement and attic. Make sure you also investigate your foundations, as water in your concrete can expand and do serious damage. Dark spots in your paint are likely due to a leak or mold as a result of excess water. You can also contact a professional for the best chance at finding it more quickly and getting it taken care of in the same day. When a professional comes to your house, they will have advanced tools that will help them locate the source of the leak. They might shut off the water in various points to get a better idea of the area where the leak is. Fixing pipes that are leaking will be a matter of us deciding if the pipe can be patched, or if it is more worth it to replace the existing section entirely so there will be no chance that the section will re-leak in the future. Professional plumbers will have tools to patch or remove section of pipe with them when they come to find and fix your leak.
After identifying a hidden leak, it’s crucial to act swiftly to mitigate water damage and conserve water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers comprehensive guidelines on water conservation and leak prevention. For more in-depth insights on protecting your home and saving water, visit the EPA’s WaterSense page.