Leaky plumbing may not seem like a big deal at first. After all, what are a few drops of water beneath your kitchen sink? The reality, however, is that those small puddles can waste almost a trillion gallons of water a year across the United States, and the issues do not stop there. What starts as a little leak can quickly turn into mold, higher water bills and damage to your home. In short, plumbing leaks are bad news, and you should deal with them as soon as possible.
Before you can fix these leaks, however, you must be able to spot them. In this article, we will walk you through some common signs of these leaks and where and how to find them. Then, you can contact a professional plumbing service to make the necessary repairs.
Signs of a Water Leak
Detecting a water leak can be tricky, but there are some telltale signs you can look for:
- Hissing or dripping sounds: The sound of running or dripping water may indicate a leak. These sounds should only occur when the sink is running or the toilet is flushing. Basically, if the utility is off, you should not hear water moving. If you do, you may have a problem on your hands.
- Mildew, mold or water damage: These symptoms are especially dangerous because they can damage both your home and the health of the people inside. If you notice peeling paint, sagging and stained ceilings, or fungal growth near your plumbing, you need to act fast before things get worse.
- A musty odor: Fungi and water damage go hand in hand with a musty, damp odor. This smell may linger and permeate your home, making it difficult to determine its source. You may even go nose blind to it, so pay attention if your loved ones mention an odd scent.
- Lower water pressure: A sudden change in water pressure, whether in your sink or shower, may point to a leak. Immediate action may be necessary if this issue keeps happening.
- Higher water bills: No one wants to pay more money for water they are not using. If your water bills have spiked but your habits have not changed, your home may be leaking water. Keeping your bills on hand and comparing them across time is vital here. Do what you can to store and organize your water bills rather than throwing them out or deleting them.
If you notice one or all of these issues, you may have a leak. That said, other causes may also be at play, so consider contacting a professional to identify exactly what is going on.
Common Areas to Check for Leaks
Leaks — and their symptoms — can occur anywhere there is plumbing, whether in the walls of your home or the pipes underground. Leaks are more common, however, in the places you interact with most, including:
- Toilets: These all-important utilities are used multiple times every day, so it is only natural for them to wear down over time. If you suspect your toilet is leaking, check the water supply line, the tank flapper, and the seals connecting the pipes and the toilet. Any one of these components can leak water and drive up your bills.
- Showerheads: These mechanisms are especially vulnerable to issues with water pressure. If they struggle to spray water or spray it at an extreme intensity, there may be a leak in the hose or elsewhere.
- Dishwasher and washing machine: Appliance hoses provide water for these machines behind the scenes, but they cannot last forever. Cracks and bulges can form as the hoses age, which can compromise the effectiveness of your dishwasher and washing machine. As such, it is important to check and replace your hoses based on the manufacturer's specifications.
- Sinks (faucets and pipes): When you think of plumbing leaks, you probably think of kitchen and bathroom sinks. More often than not, these leaks occur in the faucet or the pipes below the sink. Some parts — like your faucet's rubber washer — are easy to replace, but others are not.
- Sprinklers: Though they are generally used less than sinks or toilets, indoor and outdoor sprinkler systems can still experience leaks and issues with water pressure. It is easy to spot a dripping sprinkler in your home, but it is much harder to detect a leaky sprinkler or pipe when it is outside or underground. Try to keep an eye on your water bill and water meter.
- Water heaters: While many homeowners overlook their water heaters, these appliances can also be a source of leaks. This problem is especially common with older water heaters. Make sure to check up on your heater every so often, ideally at least once a month.
How to Check for Water Leaks in Your House
There are a few tools and strategies you can use to verify a leak in your home — or at least gain some more information about it. You can start by taking the following measures:
- Visually inspecting the area in question and looking for the signs we talked about above
- Checking to see if your water bills have increased
- Running a water meter test by turning off all the water in your home and seeing if the meter still detects running water
These are not the only tools out there, however. Many professional plumbers have access to the following supplies:
- Moisture detectors
- Ultrasonic listening devices
- Infrared cameras
- Soil probes
This technology, combined with the plumber's expertise, can help the plumber identify precisely where and what the issue is. In doing so, they can save you money and time that you might otherwise spend figuring out what is wrong and finding the right tools and repair parts.
Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Syracuse for Leak Repair Services
Mr. Rooter Plumbing offers plumbing leak repair near Syracuse, whether it is an emergency or just regular maintenance. We know how important water is to your daily life, so we waste no time in assessing and repairing whatever problem you are facing. We even offer our plumbing diagnosis inspections for free as part of our maintenance. All of our staff are certified by Onondaga County for plumbing leak detection or any plumbing-related project, so you can count on us to do things right.
If you are interested in getting an estimate, you can request an appointment online or contact us with any questions. We pride ourselves on our upfront, flat-rate pricing and cannot wait to help out so your home can get back to normal!
