Your Quick Guide for Getting a Leak Inspection
Plumbing leaks are a common occurrence. They are among the most damaging problems homeowners can face. When leaks, even the size of a pinhole, go unnoticed, they cause messy, expensive, time-consuming issues. Plumbing leaks are behind billions of dollars in property damage across the USA every year. Leaks anywhere in the house lead to wastage of the valuable resource and cause a spike in the water bills.
Leak detection
However, the biggest problem with a leak is finding it in the first place. While draining, dripping, and flooding can alert you of a possible leak somewhere, leaks in the hidden areas go unnoticed until they cause significant damage. Early leak detection is the key to saving money and preventing potential disasters.
Sinks, toilets, water heaters, tubs and showerheads, and appliances are the possible areas that can develop a leak. Homeowners should perform regular leak inspections to spot signs of leaks and get a professional plumber to fix the issues before they become uncontrollable.
Inspect the home
Both DIY and professional home inspection are essential to detect leaks. A homeowner should inspect the whole house to:
look for signs of mold, discoloration, and stains on the wall and ceiling
listen for dripping or humming sounds from the pipes
check the drains for clogs or lingering odors
look for slab leaks
examine the valves of appliances
Keep an eye on the water meter
Monitor the water meter to detect a leak in your house. Turn off all the appliances like the washing machine, dishwasher, heater, and garbage disposal, along with the faucets. If the dial in the water meter still spins, it indicates a leak somewhere.
Alternatively, take the reading from the meter and do not use any water after that. Take another reading after a couple of hours to examine if it changes.
Monitor the water bill
Leaks can make a difference of hundreds of dollars in the monthly water bills. Compare the previous bills to look for steady growth. If the amount of water bill sees an unexpected rise than usual without any significant change in the water use, it is time to check the plumbing for leaks.
Toilet leak inspection
Toilet leaks are common and can often go unnoticed, leading to a loss of hundreds of gallons of water every month. Check the toilet for a worn-out flapper, damaged or faulty fill valve, and bad wax seal. To test toilet leaks, add a few drops of food color or dye tabs to the toilet tank and wait for 10-20 minutes. If the color reaches the bowl from the tank, there is a leak.
Underground water leaks
Underground water leaks are hard to discover and expensive to repair. Check the exteriors for dark spots, cracked pavement, unusual water flow, sinkholes or potholes, softer or soggy areas, low water pressure, and unpleasant smells.
Hire a professional plumbing service
If you suspect a leak, call a licensed plumber for an inspection. It is a service offered by all plumbing companies, where their technicians use different methods like video pipe inspection, acoustic listening devices, and heat scanners to detect leaks. Plumbing professionals can fix the problem quickly to prevent further damage.
No Worries Rooter of Gilbert offers residential and commercial drain cleaning, leak detection and repair. We recommend Bio-Green drain care for customers who have slow drains caused by buildup in their pipes. Call us at (480) 405-4497.
