4 Ways to Find Water Leaks
Plumbing leaks are one of the most common household plumbing problems. They can also occur inside the ceilings, behind the walls, underground, and visible pipes.
Leaks also include those that could be present in toilets, bathtubs, drains, sinks, and showers. Many plumbing problems arise in or around such appliances like sinks, tubs, and toilets.
With unaddressed leaks, the worst thing that might happen is, of course, flooding. All it takes is one pipe to break, and your home will carry a deluge of water.
Fixing water damage from floods can be expensive and timely. Holding it from being an issue in the first place is far more affordable!
What are Plumbing leaks?
Plumbing leaks are actually water leaking past a shower curtain or a shower lock. Plumbers tell us it’s the most popular form of bathroom leak. While it can sound small, this leak creates significant harm as water seeps through the subfloor where flooring reaches the pool or shower.
Plumbing leaks are not simple as it is seen. A study found that the average household loses about 17 gallons of water per day to indoor leaks. There are various reasons for plumbing leaks among them most Common causes of leaky plumbing include water pressure issues, pipe damage, and climate harm.
Below we have mentioned how to find your indoor and outdoor leaks, steps to prevent plumbing leaks, and their preventions
How to Find Plumbing Leaks?
Check your water meter
Checking your water meter is one of the best ways to find plumbing leaks.to determine whether water leakage is inside or outside the house you need to observe the following steps,
Turn off all the water supplies inside your home
You will find your meter box generally, placed under a drain grate roof near the street or in places where temperatures do not fall below freezing on the side or back of the building near where the water supply line reaches the house.
Check and note the number from the meter and leave for a few hours and come back if the number has changed in the meter box then, there is a leakage somewhere.
Confirm leakage in the water system
Now you can confirm if there is leakage in the water system, to find your leakage is either inside or outside the house. Switch off the shut-off valve on the main water supply line of your house. It is either situated in the basement or in the utility room where the water pipe enters the building.
Please check the water meter, write down the numbers, and wait one more hour. When you look again if the numbers haven’t changed, there’s a water leak inside your house. If the numbers have changed, the leak would be in the buried water line that runs to the building.
Monitor your bill
Compared to previous bills, if your bill rises in an unexpected manner, then there could be a leakage in your pipe system as you know that there may be some underground pipes. You can not find external leakage, but there may be leakage from underground pipes, for which you have to pay extra bills. It is safe to call a skilled plumber on time in this case and save your water and money on time.
Grab some food coloring
This is an easy way to find leakage at your house especially from the toilet, to ensure your toilet is running properly. Take some food coloring and add some into your toilet tank and wait for some minutes if the color water appears in your bowl then, You have a leak that causes water to flow into your drain from the tank without ever flushing the bowl.
Check exterior uses
You can change exterior pipes and hoses, flowing towards the garden and exterior area of your house. You can replace the rubber hose gasket and check to see if all connections are tight.
Regular checking and maintenance.
Make a daily search for any signs of mold or foul smells that may suggest a leak in the back of supplies and under basins.
How to prevent plumbing Leaks?
Decrease the Water Pressure
If the water pressure is below 40psi and above 85psi it may affect your pipes system so it is good to maintain your water pressure.
Use water softener
Hard water resists water pressure but also corrodes in joints. Hard water contains magnesium and sodium which build up sediments in your pipes and cause clogging. You can install a water softener to get rid of this.
Insulate pipe to prevent them from freezing
The expanding ice within will cause them to burst when pipes freeze. Burst pipe results in a plumbing leak when the pipe freezes. Insulate your pipes with foam, rubber, or fiberglass sleeves.
Regular maintenance and upgrade plumbing supply lines
Regularly check the supply lines located behind your sinks, toilets, washing machine, dishwasher, and freezer
In case you ever encounter a plumbing leak, it is best to get in touch with a professional plumber. A professional plumber in North Sydney will make sure that these kinds of problems don’t bother you in the upcoming days.
