How To Detect Hidden Water Leaks

What is worse than finding a leaking pipe in your home? A leak that you don’t find. A leaking pipe can wreak havoc on your home’s structure, and the longer it goes undetected, the worse the damage will be. By detecting leaks early, you can keep these damages minimal and avert a potential disaster. Here are some signs that your home may have a leak.

High Water Bills

One of the best ways to tell that something may be wrong with your plumbing is to keep track of your monthly water bills. Keeping track of your average payments can help you tell when something has changed. Minor fluctuations from month to month are completely normal, but a sharp increase in your bill is something to be aware of and may signal that a leak has sprung somewhere in your pipes.

Look for Water Stains and Pooling

Some simple signs can point to where a leak may be occurring. Leaks occurring behind your walls can lead to patches of discoloration as well as peeling wallpaper. Unfortunately, leaks occurring in pipes running underneath your home can be much more difficult to detect. In some cases, it can seep through, causing wet spots to appear on the carpet and flooring. If you suspect a leak may be occurring below your foundation, a licensed plumber can use professional leak detection equipment to pinpoint its location.

Check Your Toilets

In many homes, toilets can account for up to 30% of total water usage, which makes it crucial to ensure that they are working properly. A slow leak from the tank into the bowl can be difficult to detect, but there is a way to test it.

Pour a few drops of food coloring into the tank of the toilet and then wait for at least 10 minutes and check the bowl. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl, then there is a leak. Often this is caused by a worn-out flapper valve lying in the bottom of the tank. Simply replacing this may solve the leak.

Listen to Your Nose

Even if you can’t see a leak, you may be able to smell it out. A leaking pipe means moisture on which mold and mildew can thrive. Though this mold may be behind your walls or under your foundation, often, you may be able to smell the musty odors it creates. If you can detect a musty smell anywhere near your plumbing, this is a bad sign that you may have a leak. If a thorough cleaning does not solve the problem, then chances are it may be a leak.

Check Your Appliances

In some cases, it may not be your pipes that are creating the leak and instead could be an appliance. Unplug each of your appliances from electrical outlets and look around them carefully for signs of a leak. This could be water pooling somewhere behind or underneath the appliance or rotting or molding floors or walls.

Final Thoughts

Detecting water leaks in a home can be tricky. Many leaks can occur behind walls or underneath foundations making them difficult to spot. However, signs such as mustiness and higher-than-normal water bills may point to a potential leak in your home. If a thorough search cannot reveal the location of the leak, don’t hesitate to call a licensed plumber to find and repair the leak before too much damage can occur.

Contact Us

For professional help detecting and repairing water leaks in your home, contact the experts at J Griffin Heating & Plumbing. Our licensed experts have more than thirty years of experience providing professional heating and plumbing services. Call us at 781-520-1212 and connect with us on Facebook.