4 Places to Look for Water Leaks in Your House
Water leaks in your home or office can cause damage to your flooring, molding, cabinets and in extreme cases even your home’s framework. In addition to ruining wood, water can also create mold growth with turns your home into an unhealthy place.
There are specific places throughout your home, on the inside and outside, that you can inspect to determine where the water leak is coming from and how bad the leak is:
Fixture leaks
Leaking is common for faucets, knobs, and all plumbing in the immediate area such as underneath the kitchen or bathroom sinks or in the cabinets beneath the fixtures. Your faucets get everyday use from multiple people in your home. Even the best, well-designed or installed faucets and fixtures may need regular maintenance like tightening or parts replaced regularly. Check around the inside of your cabinet for bubbling wood or wet spots to see if you are experiencing a leak.
Hot Water Tanks
Water heaters are typically located in areas that are not clearly visible, usually a closet, garage, or laundry room. So, when they start leaking you may not notice until the leak is pretty bad. The pressure relief valve can be inspected and will often tell you if there is a leak somewhere inside the tank. Another thing you can do is stand near your tank and listen for a hissing sound. This will indicate that a leak might be present. Lastly, investigate behind and around the tank for leaks present in the pipes and connections.
Water Main
If you have noticed a major downturn in water pressure lately, that is a sign that your water meter line could be leaking. You should also look over the area around your main water line which is usually located out in the yard. If you notice that the ground is soaked with water when there hasn’t been any rain, that may mean you have a leak. In many homes, the main water line is protected by a lid that is barely above ground. Remove the lid. You’ll see the main cutoff valve. If you don’t have any experience with the water main, then it’s best to call a professional plumber right away to help you with leak detection as you could damage the mainline by digging around.
Toilets
The most obvious leak is an overflowing toilet bowl. Pipes can be clogged by items such as thick paper, sanitary products, small toys but the problem could be deeper than the toilet itself. Roots could have grown into and penetrated the pipes causing major blockages. If you notice water leaking from the bottom of the toilet, that is a clear sign that the seal has been damaged or loosened from the bowl. This means that seal needs to be replaced. Leaks can also happen underneath the main tank, through-holes or loose connections. If your toilet is leaking, simply shut off the water line near the toilet, which will immediately cut off the water supply and then give a certified plumber like Air Design a call.
If you suspect you have a leak or have checked any of these places and found one, give us a call 24/7 at 202-COOL. We never charge for emergency after-hours services.