The ability to find hidden plumbing leaks is an essential skill for a homeowner or renter. When water appears, the faster the source can be found and eliminated, the better. Turning off that leak could mean a lot less money spent on repairs or an astronomical water bill.
Handling water leaks actually is a three-part process:
- Identifying the signs that water is leaking in your home.
- Finding the source of the leak
- Stopping the leak.
I’ll talk about all three parts of this process.
Identifying the Signs of Water Leaks
Sometimes the signs of water leaks are subtle. You may just find the gradual damage that is being caused by that slow leak. Watch for the following signs.
- Your water bill is higher than usual. Water leaks can cause a sudden spike in your water bill that doesn’t seem to come from any change in household usage. If it’s not a spike but just an increase and nothing changed in your water usage, you may have a slow leak.
- Musty odors or mold. Mustiness or mold growing on a wall or ceiling or in a closet are all signs of water leaks. You could have mold growing under a carpet or flooring, too.
- Water stains. This is a dead giveaway. Stains on ceilings, walls or floors may darken as they age.
- Warped paint or wallpaper. Wet wallpaper and paint can pull away from the sheetrock and may form a blister filled with water. The sheetrock can even sag if it gets too wet.
- Warped or softened flooring. Wood or laminate flooring can warp or buckle. Tiles in the kitchen or bathroom can loosen and grout lines can deteriorate and darken.
- Reduced water pressure. If you’ve got a significant leak or multiple leaks, it could affect your water pressure.
- Sound of water running. If you hear this sound, turn off all faucets and appliances and listen carefully near walls, floors and ceilings to spot the source.
- Foundation cracks or wet spots: If your home is on a slab, look for cracks in visible parts of your foundation. If there’s a basement, look for damp spots on the floor.
Simple Tests You Can Do to Confirm That You Have a Leak
Once you’ve seen the signs of wetness where it shouldn’t be, you need to run a few simple tests before calling a plumber.
- Turn off all water inside and all appliances that use water. Make sure hoses and sprinklers are also turned off. Find your water meter and look for the flow indicator. It could be a small red triangle or a silver or red wheel. When water is running on your property, this wheel will be spinning. You can also note the numerical reading, wait an hour and check again. If the reading changes or if the wheel is spinning when everything is turned off, you very likely have a leak.
- To see if your toilet has a quiet leak, add a few drops of food coloring to your tank. Wait at least 15 minutes without flushing the toilet and then check the bowl. If there’s color in the bowl, you have a leak that is costing you money.
- Make a visual inspection everywhere that has water fixtures. Look for dampness under sinks, behind appliances, in utility rooms, basements and bathrooms. If there is any moisture, rust or corrosion, you have a leak.
Your Next Steps if You Find a Leak
Unless you’re skilled in home repairs, you’ll want to get a plumber on the job at this point, fast. The harder it is to find the source, the faster you need to contact a plumber.
In the meantime, if you know where the leak is, shut off the water in that area. You can shut off the water to a sink, toilet and faucets using the shutoff valves located below the fixtures. Appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and water heaters also have shutoff valves. It’s very good to know where they are before you need them.
If you have a major leak and can’t find it, use your home’s main shutoff valve to turn off the water until the plumber arrives. At the same time, if there has been any damage to your home, you might want to start lining up a company to eliminate the dampness and be ready to repair your home before mold starts damaging walls, floors or furnishings.
Rocketman Plumbing is Available to Help 24 Hours a Day
Leaking water is very often an emergency that requires fast service! That’s why we answer service calls 24 hours a day in the Albuquerque area. When you need to get that leak fixed right now, call us at 505-243-1227.