Leaks are trouble. They drive up water bills, damage ceilings, and, over time, even compromise wooden structures. Sometimes they’re obvious, which makes addressing them easy… but sometimes they’re sneaky. That’s where our expertise comes in. We’re leak sleuths. Puddle investigators. Private eyes of aqueous anxiety.
Here’s where to find hidden leaks in your home and what to do if you have one.
Check your water meter
The simplest way to figure out if you have a leak hiding somewhere in your home is by taking a look at your water meter. Looking at your water meter takes a bit of effort, however. First, turn off your water supply, close all your faucets, and turn off all home appliances. Once you know all your water is off, it’s time to watch the meter. Is it changing at all? If your water meter moves when you know no one’s using any water, then there’s an undeniable leak.
How fast the meter moves determines how fast the leak is: if it moves as soon as you turn the water off, the leak is severe. If it takes few hours after shutting the water off to notice, then it’s slow-moving. Either way, you have a leak and it’s time to call a professional plumber to help you find it and fix it.
Take a closer look at your water bill
Has your water bill been rising while your home’s water use stays the same? Hidden leaks frequently cause gradually increasing water bills. If your water bill keeps getting more expensive, ask why that would be.
Have you been using any more water? Are your appliances getting old or worn down? Could you have clogs or other plumbing issues that could account for the difference? If there isn’t an obvious explanation, chances are you have a hidden leak. This happens more than you’d think, so trust your gut and look into it.
Look outside as well
It’s easy to assume that the only place you’re going to find a leak is inside your home, but that’s frequently untrue. Leaks can occur outdoors at points like outdoor faucets or sprinkler systems. An outdoor leak left unnoticed can still lead to thousands of wasted gallons of water per month.
Become a leak sleuth yourself
Everything we’ve mentioned so far has been very subtle. In most cases, you wouldn’t be able to see these leaks with your eyes. There are other problems you can look for that are more visible, however. Regularly check places like the toilet base, shower door, ceilings, cabinets, and basement corners for mold or pooling water. Being proactive is always going to be your best bet for avoiding potentially costly problems and repairs.
Knowing where to look, what to look for, and what to do are the best ways to avoid the potential damage and danger of a hidden leak. If you’re concerned about a leak impacting your home, there’s no need to panic. The smell good plumbers at Mike Diamond are always around to find ‘em and fix ‘em.