Find All of Those Sneaky Leaks!
The best way to prevent hidden leaks from causing extensive water damage is to familiarize yourself with ways to detect them.
Plumbing leaks are a serious issue. An average American household wastes more than 10,000 gallons of water yearly through leaks. While some leaks are evident, like a leaky toilet, faucet, or showerhead, others remain hidden. Homeowners often find it hard to diagnose leaks hidden in the plumbing behind walls and other inaccessible areas, allowing them to wreak havoc silently and pose severe health and structural threats.
The best way to prevent hidden leaks from causing extensive water damage is to familiarize yourself with ways to detect them. Here are a few signs indicating that there are hidden leaks in the home and it is time to schedule an inspection by a professional plumber:
An inexplicable rise in the water bills
The water bill usually remains constant over the months if there is no significant rise in the usage. However, if the water bill is consistently going up without any change in the water usage, there is a high probability of a progressive leak somewhere in the home. Tracking the water usage and comparing the water bills is one of the best ways to determine if there is a hidden leak.
Signs of water damage
Another way to know if hidden leaks are in the house is to perform a visual inspection and look for signs of water damage on the ceilings, walls, and floors. For example, mold, discoloration on the walls and ceilings, peeling or flaking paint, blistering or warping walls, and wet spots and stains indicate the presence of excessive moisture and a potential pipe leak in the wall. Similarly, warping, sagging, and buckling of floors and mold and stains can be signs of a pipe leak underneath.
Musty odors
Musty or foul odors in the house often indicate water infiltration and excessive moisture. Hidden leaks are mostly present behind walls or under the floors. Dark and moist places are perfect breeding grounds for mold. A water leak is the most likely culprit if the home smells of stagnant water, mold, or rotting wood without any other possible cause.
Low water pressure
A sudden drop in the water pressure indicates that the water is escaping the plumbing system somewhere. For example, poor water pressure may point to a leaky pipe as a potential reason. A professional plumber can quickly diagnose and fix the issue to restore water pressure.
Check the water meter
Another way to ensure the home has a hidden leak is to monitor the water meter. Before checking the water meter, turn off all the faucets and shut off the water in the house for a few hours. If the flow indicator moves or there is a change in the reading after shutting off the power supply, there is a leak.
Conserve on the water bill
Call a local plumber immediately if you suspect a hidden leak in the house. Plumbing service professionals use advanced tools and techniques to identify the leak source and fix it before it causes too much damage. To avoid landing in such situations, regularly evaluate the home plumbing with a reliable plumbing service. It helps in the early identification and remediation of plumbing issues.
Trust Adaven Plumbing for an effectively and efficiently functioning plumbing system. We provide drain cleaning, water leak detection and repair, toilet repairs, home repiping, faucet repair and replacement, and slab leak detection and repair services in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Enterprise. Give us a call at 702-766-3320.
