Detection And Mitigation Of Plumbing Leaks: Tips From Your Trusted Plumber | Mesa, AZ
Every home depends on water for various uses, but it can become a significant hazard if it goes where it shouldn’t, damaging your property. Even in newer homes, plumbing leaks are pretty standard, and every home will likely suffer from one at some point. To prevent water damage, you should find and repair the leak as soon as possible.
Sometimes, it may be hard to identify where a leak is coming from. Not to worry, though; this blog will assist with tips to find the leak faster.
Monitor the Water Bill
Water bills are pretty predictable. If you receive an unusually high water bill in a particular month, yet you haven’t been using that much water, there is a possibility of a leak in your house.
Even minor leaks from faucets can waste approximately 10,000 gallons of water annually, so if you notice a change in your water bills, it is wise to hire a plumber to check where the leak could be.
Check for Patches of Greener Grass
Not all leaks come from inside the house; sometimes, you can experience outdoor leaks. Everyone wants their lawn to be green, but if there is a patch in your compound that’s greener compared to the rest of the grass, you could be having a leaking water line. You might see water puddles on the surface of the leaks in excess.
Investigate Appliances and Fixtures
If you have monitored your water meter and noted that you could be leaking, you can check the cabinets under your kitchen, bathroom sinks, and laundry to confirm that they are dry.
You may also look for water puddles around the bases of your toilets, tubs, and showers and beneath your dishwashers, water heaters, and clothes washers. If you find any water puddles in those areas, turn off the water supply valve to the appliance and call a plumber in Mesa, AZ.
Watch the Water Meter
Observing your water meter can provide you with a conclusive answer. For instance, you can use water meters to determine if the leak is coming from inside or outside your house by turning off the shut-off valve of your main water supply pipe, then writing the current readings on the water meter and waiting for about an hour.
If the numbers have changed after an hour, the leak will likely come from a buried water line outside your house.
Check for Floor and Wall Abnormalities
Fortunately, some hints may indicate the probable source of leaks in your home. For example, if you notice your wall is turning brown or yellow or you see water stains, this may be a significant sign of a leak from behind the drywall.
Another sign homeowners in Mesa, AZ, can look out for indicating a leak behind their walls is if the paint is flaking or bubbling or if their wallpaper is buckling. Then, in this case, it’s wise to contact a plumber to check the source of the issues.
Dye Test the Toilet
Just in case you find any water puddles around your appliances or fixtures, check if your toilet requires to be checked by a plumber because it’s a primary spot for interior leaking. Your toilet flapper is often the source. With time the flapper can become worn and brittle, allowing water to trickle from the tank to the bowl.
If your toilet is leaking, it can cause a lot of water to waste and, in turn, high water bills for you. Fortunately, there is a toilet leak trick you can try. All you require to carry out this trick is food coloring.
First, you grab a bottle of food coloring, then put a few drops in the tank of every toilet in your home. Give it half an hour before checking the water. If you notice color coming through the tank into the toilet bowl, there is a high chance your toilet is leaking. Next, you can contact a plumber to replace your flapper.
Installing Leak Detectors
Some pipes and fixtures in your home are prone to leak compared to others. For instance, water pipes leading to external faucets can freeze up and rupture during the winter, or old water heaters can develop pin holes at the bottom due to corrosion inside the tanks.
So as a homeowner in Mesa, AZ, you can consider mounting leak detectors. A battery-operated leak detector will produce a sharp alarm when it detects even the slightest leak so that you can turn off the water supply on time and have a plumber fix the leak before water wreaks havoc in your home.
Stay Alert for Leaking Clues
While some leaks tend to be silent, for instance, in the case of water traveling across a wall stud, other leaks can be loud, giving you a clue of where the leak may be located.
Also, leaks may cause a musty smell in your home. With time, a persistent leak provides a perfectly humid environment for mold to grow. Sometimes you may notice black spots on the outside of your home wall, but in most cases, mold grows inside walls where you cannot see it, so a musty smell is a better clue; call a plumber to inspect the source of the smell for you to be sure.
Contact Schroeder Plumbing for Reliable Leak Detection Services.
While many of these plumbing leaks seem like an easy fix, once you have identified the source of the leak, it’s wise you contact a professional plumber. A technician will not only fix the leak but also ensure it doesn’t cause any damage to your property and prevent it from happening again.
If you’ve noticed any leaks in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Schroeder Plumbing. We are a plumbing company with a team of experienced and licensed plumbers offering quality leak detection services. We also provide trenchless sewer replacement, water heater replacement, sewer cleaning, re-piping, video inspection, and re-route. Give us a ring today!
