It’s estimated that 20% to 50% of water is lost in North America due to pipe leaks. This shows how big an issue this is, especially when it happens to individual homeowners.
Having a pipe leak in your home is every homeowner‘s worst nightmare. After all, this can cause significant damage if you don’t catch it in time.
A water leak can be very sneaky until it becomes so severe that it is obvious. That is why it is important to understand how to find a pipe leak before it becomes a problem.
Keep reading to find out how to find a hidden leak in your home.
Check the Water Bill
One of the best ways to check your home plumbing system for leaky pipes is by looking at your utility bill. Your utility bill should reflect all of your home’s water usage.
You most likely have a certain amount that you usually spend on water. This is common because most households use a similar amount of water every month.
If one of your pipes has started to leak, you are going to start losing some of your water. This may start out small at first, but the loss will start to add up on your utility bill.
Because of this, it is a good idea to study your utility bill every month. Check for anything that seems irregular or any increase in the price that doesn’t make sense.
Look for Signs of Leaking
It is also a good idea to check around your home for any signs of leaking. If you have a pipe leak, it is most likely in an area of your home that will start to be impacted.
Whether the pipe is in the floor or the wall, you will start to see signs from the water. Some common signs to look for our staining on the floors, ceilings, and walls.
These stains are usually a brownish-yellow color and spread out like a watermark. You may also feel wet spots on the floor, ceiling, or walls.
If the leak has gone on for a while, you may start to notice a musty smell. This could smell wet or like some kind of mold growth.
The longer a leak is left unfixed, the higher the chances of mold and mildew developing. This will give your home a strange smell and will start to spread into visible areas.
Test the Water Meter
you can quickly locate water leaks by doing a water meter test. To do this, you will need to turn off the faucet in your home and see if the water meter is running low.
Leave the water meter for a few hours with all the faucets turned off. If the readings have gone down from when you last checked, this is a good sign that you have a slow-moving leak.
Test the Water Pressure
You could also conduct a water pressure test instead of a meter test. To do this, you need to turn off the faucets in your home again and measure the water pressure.
If the pressure is lower than it should be, this is a sign that you may have a leak somewhere. Doing this test will help you to know what the problem may be so you can search for the leak.
Listen for Running Water
Many people who have had pipe leaks have also heard running water. You may hear the quiet sound of dripping or running water when none of the faucets are on.
Check all of the faucets to make sure none of them have a drip that is causing the noise. If that isn’t the problem, you are most likely hearing this from a pipe leak somewhere in the floor or walls.
What to Do If You Find a Pipe Leak
If you believe that your home has a water leak, there are a few things you need to do. This is a serious issue, so you do not want to leave it unaddressed.
Leaks only grow worse over time and start to create a great deal of damage. Leaks that aren’t fixed can even start to damage the foundation of your home over time.
Clear the Area
When you find a leak, you need to make sure you clear the area. This may or may not be possible, depending on where the leak is.
If you can access the leak, remove any objects that are nearby. This will help to reduce the spreading of water and keep other things from being damaged.
You should also try to wipe up any moisture that is already in the area. Dry everything and place a bucket or a cup underneath the leak to try to catch the water.
Call Professionals
The very next thing you need to do is hire a plumber in your area. Plumbers have experience with pipe leaks and will be able to address the issue quickly.
They will be able to do an inspection to identify what needs to be done. From there, they will be able to fix the leaking pipe or replace it so that this doesn’t happen again in the future.
Pipe Leak: How to Locate Indoor Leaks
If you believe you have a pipe leak, you need to figure out where it is. This is a problem that should be identified as quickly as possible so that it can be resolved.
Water damage can be very severe, especially if it is left for too long.
Did you enjoy reading this article about plumbing issues? Keep reading for more real estate and home-related content.
