Leak Detection

Though finding a leak in your home may seem like a task that should be rather simple and straightforward, there are a number of situations in which finding a leak might not be as easy as you might think. For instance, if you've been noticing that your water utility bill is going up for no apparent reason, and you can't find any noticeable water puddles or water damage in your home, then you should consider scouring your house to find the leak culprit. Not only can leaks that are left unchecked cost you a great deal of money on your monthly bill, but they can lead to mold and mildew build up, as well as structural damage. Here are a few tips on how to find leaks in your home.

Check for leaks in the bathroom. Your leak might just be found in the bathroom, as that area does experience a bulk of your water usage. For example, your toilet and shower or bath plumbing systems are prone to leakage. You can check for a leak in your toilet by listening for a strange hissing noise after lifting the tank lid, and in your shower by verifying that the head is not leaking, nor any of the faucets.

Check for leaks outside. Your swimming pool and the garden hoses are common areas where leaks can be found. Look for any strange puddles or a lack of proper water flow when the hoses are turned on. When it comes to your swimming pool, you can make sure that none of the valves or pipes are leaking and then carry out a water line leak detection test, where you monitor the water level in your pool by marking it and checking it the following day. You're pool shouldn't lose more than about a quarter of an inch of water each day.

Check for leaks in your kitchen area and in your house bibs. Your kitchen sink might also be the source of the leak. Rather than just checking the faucets, it's a good idea to check out the underside of the sink to make certain that the pipes there are in working order and are free of leaks. Also, you'll want to check your house bibs, which are the locations at which hoses are connected to the pipes). This may be beneath your kitchen sink, or it could be located in other areas of your home. If you are unsure of where it is and think that it may be the culprit, then you should hire a plumber to help. Otherwise, you can detect a leak in a house bib by placing a screwdriver around it and listening for a sound, then moving on to another to see if the sound gets louder. If the sound does grow stronger, then the leak is nearer to that particular house bib.

If you find a leak that you can't repair on your own or are having trouble finding the leak, then you should call a plumber to do it for you. Though it may be costly, it will ultimately save you from not jeopardizing your home's structural integrity or the safety of your family, should an unchecked leak cause mold or mildew build up.

Leak Detection

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