What Is Water Leak Detection?

Did you know that even as little as an inch of water can cause significant damage to your property? Water leak detection is essential because an inch of water can ruin your furniture, carpets, and flooring.

Then you will need to spend a fortune getting everything repaired or replaced. It is also worth noting that nearly 15 million homes in the U.S. are at risk of flooding.

No matter how well-prepared you are, anything can go wrong. Your water heater can also cause significant leaks without you realizing it before it is too late.

If you want to prevent plumbing problems from destroying your home, here is all the information you need on how to fix water leaks.

Why Does Water Leak Detection Matter?

Every home relies on water. However, this water must safely be contained in a sink, tub, or pipe. If water gushes out of these areas, it can potentially damage your furnishings and home structure.

Plumbing problems, especially leaks, are, unfortunately, widespread. Even if you have just bought a new house, you should still keep your guard up to detect any plumbing issues that will cost you a lot of money to fix if you do not tend to them immediately.

Most homeowners struggle to catch and fix water leaks because they are insidious. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct water leak repair as soon as possible.

Monitor Bills

The best way to predict a water leak is by monitoring your monthly bills. This is because monthly water bills are typically predictable. You most likely have a leak if you get a higher bill than usual without using excess water.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a family of four should not use more than 12,000 gallons of water per month. You should only expect a higher bill during summer if you want to use more of it to water your lawn.

Remember that even a tiny leak from a faucet with a consistent drip can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water each year. Therefore, keeping a close eye on your water bill might be the most proactive move to catch plumbing problems.

Water Meter

If you are suspicious of a leak, the best thing to do is to check the property’s water meter to get a definitive answer. This is usually found under a cover that looks like a maintenance hole near the street.

It may also be around the back of your house or the side of the street if you live in an area where the temperature does not dip under freezing. It should be close to where the water supply line runs into your house.

Before checking your meter, switch off all the water faucets in your house. You must also turn off your dishwasher and washing machine. Then check your meter and note all the figures you see.

After an hour, you should come back and check again. If you notice that the numbers have changed during the short time you were away, your home has plumbing problems and a leak somewhere.

It is also tricky to determine whether the leak comes from inside or outside. If you have a home with a meter on the street, you need to turn off your home’s shut-off valve for the water supply pipe.

This should be in a utility room or the basement where the water pipe goes through the house. Recheck your water meter and write down the numbers before waiting another hour.

When you look at the meter again after that break, changed numbers would mean that the leak is inside your property. If the numbers stay the same, the leak might be in the buried water line that goes to the property.

Lush Grass

Even though having the most beautiful green lawn is the dream, you should watch for areas where the grass seems to grow faster than the rest.

This would show the spot where your buried water line is leaking. If there is a significant leak, you may also see puddles of water on the ground’s surface.

Fixtures and Appliances

When you have determined that the water meter test shows a leak inside the property, the next step is to examine all the cabinets under your bathroom, laundry, and kitchen sinks.

This is to ensure that they are all dry. You also want to search for puddles of water near your toilets, showers, tub bases, dishwasher, clothes washer, and under the water heater.

If you notice any pools that are not meant to be there, the best thing to do is to switch off your water supply valve so the appliance does not get any more water. Then you must call your local plumber to fix the leak.

Dye Test

If you struggle to find puddles around your appliances and fixtures, checking if the toilet needs fixing is essential. This is because toilets are a prime spot for water leaks.

A flapper for your toilet seat is a rubber stopper that blocks water from entering the bowl until you flush the toilet after use. This flapper can become brittle after a long time.

It will not be strong enough to hold water properly, thus allowing it to trickle down from your tank into the bowl. In this case, it is best to grab some food coloring and drop it into the tank in every toilet.

When a toilet tank leaks, the color should appear inside the bowl within minutes. Once you see that color in the bowl, you must replace the flapper or ring a plumber to do it for all your bathrooms expertly.

Always Stay Alert

Now that you know about water leak detection, it is time to protect your home from structural damage. Dealing with leaks is crucial because you do not want to provide the perfect humid environment for mold growth.

Many leaks are silent, but some can be heard and seen, so you must stay alert to spot them. Otherwise, you may stumble upon a bulge in the wallboard one day that will cost a lot to replace.

What Is Water Leak Detection?