Plumbing Leaks: 10 Things You Must Know

All You Need to Know About Plumbing Leaks 

Hidden plumbing leaks could be the reasons behind your ever-increasing water bill. To tackle them, it’s important to do a little research on them. To help you out, the pros at Leak Finders have prepared a helpful guide on all you need to know about plumbing leaks.

1. They Can Lead to A lot of Water Wastage

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water lost every year. In addition, 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. These types of leaks can significantly increase your water bill, so make sure you inspect your home for leaks every month. Be sure to look around your toilet, kitchen and bathroom faucets, bathtub, and showerhead.

2. There Are Signs for Hidden Leaks

Some water leaks are easy to spot or hear. Others, specifically hidden ones in the walls, ceilings or under sinks might be harder to notice. That’s why it is important to know some of the tell-tale signs of water leaks:

• Mold and mildew growth
• Water stains on ceilings
• Bubbling or peeling wallpaper
• Sagging or extremely green portions of your yard

3. Insulate Pipes to Prevent Leaks

During colder weather, there is a chance that your pipes might freeze or burst. To prevent this from happening, make sure you insulate your pipes with foam covers. In addition, to make sure you continue to have running hot water during the cold, keep your faucets dripping slightly (don’t worry, you won’t have to do this for long, just for a few nights!).

4. The Food Coloring Test is Effective!

If your toilet keeps making a dripping noise, you might have a toilet leak. To be completely sure, put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If you notice the food coloring make its way into the toilet bowl with five minutes or so, you have a toilet leak. This is most likely caused by a worn-out flapper, which is the seal between the tank and toilet bowl.

5. When in Doubt, Call a Plumber

If you are worried you have a leak, but you can’t seem to detect it or troubleshoot it safely or properly, get in touch with a plumber you trust. Nowadays, plumbers have all sorts of tools that help them detect and fix leaks efficiently!

6. If Ignored, Leaks Can Cause Damage

If you ignore a plumbing leak, it can grow significantly worse and even cause damage to your home in various ways. Leaks can lead to mildew and mold growth, dry wall rot etc.

7. Have an Emergency Plan

Incase of an emergency like a major leak, water damage or a burst pipe, everyone old enough in your home should know how to turn off the water supply or know who to call for help.

8. Check Your Water Meter

If you want to check for leaks, you can try checking your water meter. Simply turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and see if the meter moves. If it moves significantly, you might have a leak.

9. Invest in a Leak Detector

If you are worried about leaks wreaking havoc on your home, you can invest in a leak detector. These handy devices start as low as $20 and can keep an eye out for leaks.

10. Call Leak Finders for Leak Detection!

If you live in Richmond, VA, contact Leak Finders for all your leak detection and repair services! Call us at 804-867-2114 or schedule a service online.