The Importance of Detecting a Leak in the Home

 

The Importance of Detecting a Leak in the Home

A leak within your home is characterized by the escape of fluid from any plumbing facility present. Leaks that are ignored can waste water leading to high water bills, ruin your home and promote undesirable microbial growth.

The inability to readily observe the piping system in your home causes leaks to go unannounced. Thankfully, leaks can be detected by paying attention to the signs of a leak and vigilantly monitoring common conditions that encourage leaks to develop. 

Types of Leak in the Home

Common leaks present within the home include:

Toilet
Showerhead
Faucets 

Common Causes of Household Leaks

Faulty or broken seals/connectors
Corrosion
Clogged or damaged piping system
Climatic temperature changes
Elevated water pressure

 

How to Detect and Prevent a Leak 

As a homeowner, being able to identify a leak in your home is very important. Understanding how to detect leaks will prevent future leaks from going unnoticed. Here are some recommended ways to pinpoint and prevent leaks effectively are:

Pay Attention to Water Bills. A water bill is issued every month and generally falls within a specific monetary range. Water bills that suddenly become higher than usual is a tell-tale sign of a possible leak. 

Monitor Your Water Meter. A leak in your home can be detected by paying keen attention to your water meter. Monitoring your meter is possible by following these steps. First, ensure all plumbing facilities within your home are not in use and turned off properly. Then, check your water meter and write down the numbers you observe. Recheck the water meter within an hour. If there is a change in the numbers initially marked, this reveals that there is a leak. 

Check All Pipes Within Your Home. Water leaks always leave a clue. It is essential to check for moisture or puddles surrounding cabinets in the laundry room (washing machine), bathroom (bathtubs, showers, toilets, faucet), and kitchen (faucets, dishwasher).

Conduct A Toilet Dye Test. Toilet leaks can go unnoticed easily. A toilet dye test can be conducted by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet. If you notice color within the toilet bowl within five minutes, you have detected a toilet leak.

Signs of a Leak

There are many ways you can look for clues in your home that will help you to detect a possible leak. 

Water stains or discoloration on ceilings, walls, and tiles.
The appearance of bubbling and bulging paint or wallpaper.
A constant dripping sound.
A stale or moldy odor

How Detecting A Leak Early Will Save You Money 

The early detection of water leaks is always best. Leaks can quickly and easily increase your water bill. Small leaks from a faucet can accumulate and waste over 8,000 gallons of water. The quick detection of a leak can save you from unnecessary spending. 

Spotting a leak early will ensure that mold and mildew do not develop, energy is not wasted, and structural damage is prevented. The early detection or prevention of these possible circumstances will also save you from spending extensively to correct them. 

What to Do When You Have Detected a Leak?

Once you detect a leak within your home, contact a professional and certified plumber immediately. Though some house leaks can be easily corrected in a DIY manner, contacting a plumber will ensure that leaks are adequately fixed.  

Leaks within the home are common and often go unnoticed. Understanding how to detect them and prevent them will keep your home leak-free. Employing PRIME PLUMBING, LLC will ensure that all your leaks are professionally resolved. 

 

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