Here are some essential signs that you may have a leak and should consider contacting a plumber for water leak repair services.
Check Your Water Meter
One of the best ways to tell if you have a leak in some part of your plumbing is to look at the water meter. To do this, you’ll first have to turn off all the water in your home. Close off all faucets, and make sure the dishwasher and washing machine are not running. Next, watch the meter and see if it begins to change. If it does, you likely have a fast-moving leak.
If the meter doesn’t change immediately, wait two hours and check it again. If it has changed despite all the water being off, you may be dealing with a slower leak. The leak may be anywhere after the meter, or even underground. Bear in mind that all piping after the meter is a homeowner’s responsibility.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises you to check your winter water usage to find out if a leak is happening somewhere in your home. If a family of four is using more than 12,000 gallons of water every month, there’s probably have a severe leak problem somewhere in your plumbing system.
Make Sure To Monitor Your Bill
If your bill is rising consistently but your water use habits haven’t changed, a leak may be to blame. Bear in mind that some of your pipes may be underground. You may never detect leaks in this part of your system, however you will always pay for them.
It’s the best care scenario to have a professional plumber make a comprehensive check of all the pipes. A warm spot on the floor ( with under slab piping) or the sound of water running need prompt, professional attention.
Grab Some Food Coloring
Toilets can account for up to 30 percent of your water use, so you should check to ensure they’re running properly. To test for leaks, add a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank and wait 10 minutes. If the color shows up in your bowl, then you have a leak allowing water to flow from the tank to your drain without ever flushing the bowl.
Check Exterior Usage
Leaks don’t just happen within the home — they occur outside as well. Our Long Beach Plumbers recommend you check your external spigots by attaching a garden hose; if water seeps through the connection while the hose is running, replace the rubber hose gasket and check to see all connections are tight. Think about calling a professional once a year to check your irrigation system if you have one. A system with even a small leak could be wasting 6,300 gallons of water per month.
Use Common Sense
Make a practice of regularly checking in the back of cabinets and under basins for any signs of mold or foul smells that might indicate a leak: prompt attention could save you thousands in repairs. Think about having a professional Long Beach Plumber make an annual inspection of your home to check for leaks or potential issues.
Be especially vigilant if your home is over 25 years old; your plumbing system may be on the declining side of its life expectancy. Inspect all accessible connections at the water heater, pumps, washing machine hoses and valves for oxidation or discoloration — clear signs of a slow leak.
If you suspect a leak anywhere in your plumbing system, call in a professional to make a repair as soon as possible. Don’t wait till it gets worse and you end up with a real mess on your hands!