Water leaks can cause serious structural damage to your property and be hazardous to your health. By detecting plumbing leaks early enough, you can avert potential disaster and save from potential costly repairs. To help you stay safe, the experienced plumbers at Water Guard Plumbing have provided 5 ways on how to identify leaking water in your home.
Keep an Eye on Your Water Bill
If you notice how your use of water hasn’t changed, but your water bill is steadily rising month to month, a leak may be to blame. To know more certainly, gather and compare the details of some of the past few months’ water bills to see if there has been an increase.
It’s important to note, some leaking pipes may be underground and though you will not detect these deficiencies as part of your plumbing system, you unfortunately will bear the burden of having to pay for them. It’s best to contact a local plumber so they can inspect your pipes thoroughly and accurately reveal the leak location.
Monitor the Water Meter
Checking the water meter is one of the best ways to see if your plumbing is leaking. To do this, first turn off all the water in your home. This includes shutting off all faucets and making sure the washing machine and dishwasher are not running. Next, see if the water meter begins to change. If it does, a fast-moving leak is likely the problem.
But how to tell if your water is leaking slowly? If you don’t see a change in the meter immediately, wait about 2 hours and check again. In this case, a slower leak may be the issue at hand.
Exam Your Water Usage
Checking your monthly water usage can be a great indicator of water leakage.
For example, if you’re a family of 4 and you’re using more than 12,000 gallons of water per month, expect a serious leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
Dye Test the Toilet
It’s a cost-saving precaution to ensure your toilets are running properly because toilets can account for up to 30 percent of your home’s water use. To test the toilet for leaks, add 1-3 drops of food colouring to your toilet tank and stand by for about 10 minutes time.
You will know if you have a leak if the colour appears in your toilet bowl. When a toilet leaks, water is being consumed without anybody ever flushing the bowl because the leak allows water to flow from the tank to your drain unbeknownst.
Indicators of Water Leakage
Water leakage can take homeowners by surprise, but there are several indicators that are noticeable by sight, sound, and smell. Discolored walls, a warm spot on the floor, brown or yellowish water stains, large bubbles behind paint or wallpaper, bulging ceilings, and wet baseboards are all signs of water damage that have already occurred.
Distant dripping, hissing noises, or a musty smell may also signal a leak is nearby.
Conclusion
If you have gone through looking at your water usage, checking your water meter, monitoring your water bill, testing your toilet or you notice any of the indicators of water leakage mentioned above, call Water Guard Plumbing’s licensed, insured, and trained plumbers at 647-832-1738. If you experience water leaking or suspect a leak of any sort, do not wait until it worsens because it could get dangerous and expensive very fast. Let the pros at Water Guard track down the water leak and make the necessary repairs to leave you and your home safe and secure once again.
