How to detect a water leak in your home
Water leaks are sneaky. They don’t come right out and announce themselves, preferring to send you mysterious hints instead.
Has your water bill jumped dramatically? Does your toilet sound like it’s running, even though it appears to be working fine?
What about your floor? Is it wet and spongy for no reason? Is there a foul odor emanating from an untraceable place?
All of these circumstances could be a sign that you have a leaky pipe.
The good news is that help isn’t far off. Your house and wallet don’t have to suffer. For the best residential plumber Los Angeles has to offer, just call Fiskit Plumbing. From downtown to Santa Monica, Fiskit is known for their honest, dependable service.
Whether you need installation services, emergency repairs, or just want to find that leaky pipe, we’re always happy to assist you.
However, if you feel confident that you can detect it on your own, let us give you a few tips to guide you. Keep in mind, though, that even if you look carefully, you still may need a professional to help identify it.
Check the obvious places
The areas to look first are perhaps the most obvious. Start by inspecting your shower head and swimming pool. See a leak? Also check your yard and garden. Are the hoses, taps, and irrigation systems accidentally spewing water?
Next move on to a common, though slightly harder-to-detect culprit: the toilet. Lift the top off the tank and listen for a hissing sound. If you see where it’s coming from, assess whether or not you can fix it yourself.
If you hear the noise but can’t trace it, add a couple drops of food coloring in the tank. If after a few minutes you have coloring the bowl, then you probably have a leak in the flapper inside the tank.
The hot water tank
If you haven’t found it yet, scrutinize the hot water tank. How does the pressure relief valve look and sound? Is it hissing?
Occasionally this valve will be connected directly into a drain, and could leak without you knowing it. If you’re unsure how to check, call a plumber.
Inspect the meter line
If you can identify the general area of the leak, it may save you time and money in the long run. First, shut off the valve temporarily at the meter line.
Remove the lid and look at the meter’s dial. If it’s still turning even though the valve is off, then the leak is located somewhere between the meter and the house.
Check the area between the valve and the meter. If a certain section of the ground is soaked or muddy or shows other signs of irregularity, this may be the site of the leak.
But don’t go digging in your yard. At this point, you should contact a professional who can safely and minimally find the trouble spot, and fix it.