If you uttered the words, “I think I have a leak,” then odds are high that you need a plumber.
In some cases, finding a leak is easy. When you can see where the leak is coming from, for example, a dripping faucet or pipe, the location is easy to spot, and the leak can be resolved quickly. In other cases, a leak can be hard to find. What’s to say it isn’t something else? Maybe it could be that the inexplicable water is a spray from outside. Maybe it’s a leaking appliance that needs mending. Or maybe just a little leftover rainwater.
If you suspect it is something more serious than that, you may have what’s called an invisible leak.
The Dangers of Hard to Find Leaks
The problem with these invisible leaks is that they are hard to detect because the effect of an invisible leak is not necessarily the same as the obviously visible leaks. For example, hairline fractures in the wall piping are small and impossible for you to get to without damaging the wall, which means the leak could be very slow and go unnoticed for an extended period of time.
- These types of leaks must be seen to as soon as possible because they can waste a lot of money and water, as well as be highly dangerous.
- If leaks go undetected for too long without a professional taking a look and fixing it, they can create even more damage and eventually destroy the internal plumbing.
- Not only do you have a big problem to deal with, but you also have expensive repairs to pay for – not to mention the cost for damages too.
We don’t want that for you and we know it’s unnecessary, which is why we’re here to help. West Coast Plumbing Pumps & Filtration has created an easy guide to help you establish whether or not you have a leak, and what you need to do about it.
Signs You May Have a Plumbing Water Leak
If you are finding that:
- Your water bill is more expensive than usual
- Your water meter is higher than usual
- You can hear the sound running water when nothing is on
- There are puddles of water are accumulating where they shouldn’t be
You may just have a leak. But to make absolutely sure, keep reading.
How To Establish You Have a Leak
Before you call a plumber, first establish if there definitely is a leak.
- The way you go about this is to stop using any water for at least 20 minutes and go to your water meter.
- On your water meter, you should find a built-in leak indicator that is designed to help you confirm the leak.
- Look at the indicator, and if it is moving after you have turned the water off, you most likely have a leak.
- To be sure, keep the water off and check again the next hour. If the numbers have gone up on the dial, you can confirm a leak.
- If that is the case, turn off the water supply by shutting off the valve.
Check Your Appliances and Hoses
If the meter confirms you do not have a leak but you find an area that has water that should not be there, check if there is anything in the area that could be causing a leak like water appliances or hoses and see if they are damaged or unattached. It could be that water leak has nothing to do with the plumbing and the leak is coming from a broken appliance.
How To Find A Water Leak
To establish where the leak is, check the common areas where leaks occur. The places to look are the toilets, all sinks (including the bathroom and kitchen), all faucets and any shower heads. If you see or hear dripping in any of these places, you may have found your suspect. It is important to note that toilet leaks are very common and can go unnoticed for a long time, so make sure you double check it. To be sure, you can identify a toilet leak by the sound of the toilet bowl filling up even when it is not being flushed. If you find after your inspection that none of these areas are visibly leaking, you can also assess if there are leaks in other areas of your home.
- Go through each room and check for any water damage on your furnishings, carpets, rugs, check for puddles on the floor and even check for water marks on the ceiling.
- Listen out for whining or dripping as you are checking out each room, as these are both signs of leaking too.
Leak Test
If you think you have found the area but the drip is slow and hard to catch as it is happening, it might be a slow leak.
- A simple trick you can use to confirm that is to put something absorbent like a bit of tissue paper under the area you suspect is leaking.
- Leave it there and check it every few days.
- If the tissue is wet or there are spots on the paper, you can confirm there is a leak and where it is coming from. If it is dry, it might be that the leak has sorted itself out, but make sure you mention it if you call out a plumber service.
Trust Our Top-Quality Water Leak Detection Services
If you identify a leak, or you still don’t find one but you think you have one, the best thing you can do is call out a plumbing service. Just because you can’t see it right now, it does not necessarily mean it is not there. Here at West Coast Plumbing Pumps & Filtration, you can ensure that the problem will be resolved quickly by our friendly, professional and reliable team. Give us a call today!