Water Leak Detection
If you have ever stood outside your home and looked at the water meter, you know that it moves when someone uses water in your home. You don’t use water on a continuous basis and your bills stay somewhat steady from month to month. But when you start to see higher bills, you may need to work on water leak detection. Even a small leak can cause big issues, such as higher bills. If you ignore the leak, not only will you pay more money on your bills, but you never know what larger problems could stem from that small issue. The more you do now for water leak detection, the less it will cost you in the long run. Here are a few things to check.
The Pressure Relief Valve On The Hot Water Take
Valves that go directly into the drain could leak without you noticing. If you can’t remove the drainpipe to look, listen for a hissing sound. That can indicate a leak. You should call for a plumber if you find that to be the source.
Toilet Leaks
Many leaks occur around or within the toilets in your home. If you see any water around the floor, that could be where the leak is occurring. You will also want to look at the inside of the tank and see if you hear any water running. If you don’t notice anything, put some food coloring in the tank and see if the color leaks through to the bowl. In that case, you may have a broken flapper in the tank.
Meter Lines
If those interior things seem to be okay, check the line that runs from the meter into the house. Shut the water off to the house and open the meter lid. If the meter is still turning, even though the water is off, the leak is occurring between the meter and the house. There may be soft, muddy areas in the grass or water around the meter. You will want to call a plumber for help with further water leak detection.
Hose Bibs
While you are outside, check the hookups of the pipes to your house. These hose bibs could be leaking and allowing water to escape before it gets into your house. You can listen for sounds coming from the area or watch for water on the exterior of the house. Whether you find the leak or not, you will want to call a plumber for help fixing it.
Shower Heads
When you get out of the shower, you turn off the faucet and it drips a few times as you get out. You may not notice that it continues to drip when you are not in the shower. Take a look at the showerheads to make sure they are holding water without dripping. Even a small drip can lead to gallons of water wasted on an annual basis. Showerheads are easy enough to replace, but you will probably want a plumber for other leak issues.