Leaking pipes in your home can happen at any time and in any part of your home where there are plumbing pipes. However, Jambi Management says, these leaks do not always occur in ways that make them easy to find. Sometimes, a roof or window leak can even present as a water pipe leak.
Furthermore, water pipe leaks can happen inside or outside your home. If you have a water leak in your home or suspect that you have one, how can you find it? Timely action is key when dealing with water leaks because delay only increases the eventual cost of fixing the problem.
How to find a hidden water leak in your home
To look for a water leak in your home, you must know or suspect that you have one. What are the giveaway signs that you may have a hidden water leak in your home?
Outrageous water bills
Because you use a certain amount of water every month, your average water bill should be within a fixed range. If your water usage pattern has not changed, but you see a spike in your water bill, you may have a water leak in your home.
Sounds of flowing water at night
If you constantly hear the sound of dripping, running, or hissing water at night, you may have a water leak in your home.
Damp spots in your home
Pools of water at the base of walls or stairs, watermarks on walls, flooring, and ceiling, and peeling or bubbling paint on walls and ceilings are all signs of water leaks.
Mold, pests, and strange odors
If mold or mildew is growing inside, it is because it has access to a supply of water. Water leaks in your home can also attract pests. You may also have a musty odor hanging around some areas of your home.
Locate your water meter. You should find it at the boundary of your property, directly from the position of your main water shutoff valve.
If you see any of these signs in your home, how do you find the source of the leak?
Do a water meter test
Locate your water meter. You should find it at the boundary of your property, directly from the position of your main water shutoff valve. It is often hidden under what looks like a manhole cover and should have a label that reads “water meter.”
On the water meter, you will find at least one dial and a counter showing the water meter reading. If water is entering your home, you will see movement on the small dial on the face of the water meter. Pay attention to this dial.
Next step: when nobody is at home, turn off faucets and water-utilizing appliances. Take the reading on the water meter counter and note if the small dial is moving. Wait 30 minutes and check if the reading is the same or if the dial is moving.
If the dial is moving and the reading on the counter has changed, it means water is still flowing into your home despite all the faucets and appliances in the home being shut off. This is a sure sign that you do have a water leak in your home.
Find the location of the leak
To find the location of the leak, close the supply valve for different fixtures, one at a time. Each time you close a valve, go and check the water meter to see if the small dial has stopped moving. If it stops moving after you close a valve, you have found the leak.
If this doesn’t work, close the main water shutoff valve to cut off the water supply to your entire home. Go back and see if the small water meter dial has stopped moving. If it has, it means you have an internal leak.
On the other hand, if the dial still moves, you may have a leak in your main water line. Finding leaks in the main water line requires specialized tools and know-how, and a professional plumber is needed for this job.
Inspect fixtures and appliances
If the leak is inside your home, take the following steps. To know if your toilet is leaking, add food coloring to the water inside the tank. Do not flush the toilet. If the coloring shows up inside the toilet bowl after a few minutes, you have a toilet leak.
Inspect your plumbing fixtures and water-utilizing appliances carefully. Potential locations for leaks in your home include water softeners, boilers, water heaters, and appliance hoses. Check them thoroughly to make sure they are not leaking.
Finally, if you are unable to pinpoint the exact location of the water leak, it is time to call a professional plumber. Professional plumbers have a range of high-tech tools for finding hidden leaks in your home. Just make sure to hire an experienced and trustworthy plumber.