It would be nice if everything in your home worked properly and there were never any mishaps. Unfortunately, that's not reality. Dealing with issues like clogged drains, broken water heaters, and water leaks come with the territory.
But thankfully, there's a way to be proactive and spot issues in your home, especially leaks. If there is water dripping because of faulty appliances or other problems, that can send your bill through the roof.
Not only that, but it could potentially lead to more serious damages in your home—surely you'd want to avoid that, right? Well, if you suspect that there is water leakage in your home, check out these tips on how to find a leak.
How to Find a Leak
The good news about leakage is that you can check for water leaks yourself without bringing in a professional just yet. Plus, you won't have to sit back and let your water bill skyrocket. If you have water leaking in your home, there are a few keys places that are generally the culprit. Here are a few below:
1. Toilets
Toilets are one of the primary sources of water leaks in a home, both older ones and even a faulty toilet installation. Therefore, it's a smart idea to examine all of the toilets in your house. Put a few drops of food coloring inside of the toilet tank and wait for about 30 minutes before you flush it. Once that time has passed, check to see if the coloring has seeped into the toilet bowl.
If it has, there's probably an issue with the flapper valve. On the other hand, if the flush handle is faulty, that could also be the source. Once you identify which one is causing the problem, you can proceed to get it fixed.
2. Hose Bibbs
Sometimes you have to go on the outside of your residence to trace a leak. Hose bibbs are those faucet-like gadgets on the side of your house that attach to the water hose. They could have a constant flow of dripping because someone didn't turn it off completely, and that's a pretty easy fix; just make sure the nob is turned all the way.
Furthermore, the packing nut may need to be tightened or replaced. Turn on the water and if you hear hissing, feel a vibration, or the water sprays out of the sides, it needs to be fixed. After you've secured everything and water is still leaking, you may need to call in a professional for help.
3. Swimming Pool
When you need to find a leak, checking out your pool is one of the first things you need to do if you have one. Some pool leaks are easy to detect, while others are a bit more complicated. With that said, you should call the company that installed your pool and have them help you. That way, you won't run up your water bill trying to figure it out by yourself.
However, if you notice that the water levels in the swimming pool keep going down, that's a strong indicator that there's a leak. Unfortunately, it won't be something you can fix on your own.
4. Faucets
When it comes to finding a water leak, it takes a bit of detective work. You may have to examine multiple sources before you discover the root of the problem; check out over faucet in your home.
Take the time to look under the sinks to make sure everything is tight and secured, check behind the washing machine, and also examine all the faucets—from the bathrooms to the kitchen. During your thorough search of everything, you should be able to spot the leak.
5. Shower Heads
The showerhead or drain could also be the cause of water leaking. If you notice spotted pooling, it may be the result of a dripping shower head, loose drain connection, or broken tile. If you see this, replace or reseal the area as soon as possible.
You can test the shower drain by putting a test plug over it and running about two inches of water into the basin. If the water levels run down, then there may be some area that needs to be sealed around the perimeter of the drain.
Also, there may be damage to the walls and floor of the shower. If caulking the area doesn't fix the issues, you'll need an expert to assist you.
Other Ways to Detect a Leak
Sometimes you have to check for water leaks in ways that aren't very obvious. Try walking around barefoot to feel for warms spots, and if you do, mark those areas. Warm spots on your floor could be an indicator of leaking pipes.
Furthermore, if things are starting to smell bad, it may be due to a sewer leak. Not only do they smell foul, but they could cause warping or cracking in your flooring. If this is the case, contact a leak detection specialist as soon as possible.
No More Pesky Water Leaks
When there are problems going on in your home that prevent it from functioning smoothly, it can be a bit of a headache. But hopefully, these tips on how to find a leak helps you spot the issue and get it fixed. Who wants to pay money for water that they're not actually using?
If you've tried to correct the water leakage in your house by yourself with no success, we're here to help. Our team of experts can get the issue resolved, which saves you time and a headache.
Also, if you need leak detection or pipe repair in Austin, TX or the surrounding areas, feel free to contact us for a job estimate.
We look forward to assisting you soon!