Squish, squash, splash! That’s not what you want to hear in your kitchen when you come home after a long day at work. Your kitchen floor should not sound like a swimming pool!
Water leaks can range from tiny leaks that slowly drive up your water bill to major disasters that cause several thousand dollars worth of damage.
One thing’s for sure, if you suspect a water leak, it’s important to confirm it and address the problem promptly before it gets worse.
Find out how to detect a water leak here.
Start with the Meter
The first place to go when you suspect a leak is the water meter. You can find it in an underground box out in front of your home or in the laundry room or kitchen of an apartment.
Your meter may have numbers, dials, or a spinning wheel to keep track of your water usage. Regardless of which type you have, you can still run this test.
Shut off every faucet and appliance that uses water in your home. Make sure nobody else is around or advise everyone to not use any water for the duration of the test.
Check your meter and make a note of where everything is positioned or what numbers are showing. Wait 10-15 minutes and check your meter again. If everything water-related is turned off in your home, nothing should move or change. If it does, you can be fairly certain you’ve got a leak.
Find the Source
Once you confirm the presence of a leak, it’s time to figure out where it is. This can be quite the task, depending on where the leak is located.
Symptoms of an Exterior Leak
The most obvious symptom of an exterior leak is wet earth. You might notice unexplained puddles, soft spots, muddy areas, or extra-green spots in the grass that indicate water-logged earth. Cracked or broken pavement can also be an indication the ground is wet underneath.
Symptoms of an Interior Leak
The symptoms of interior leaks are far more varied. Sometimes, the leak can be obvious, such as the flooding we mentioned earlier. Drippy faucets, toilets that don’t stop running, and puddles of water under appliances that use water are also fairly obvious symptoms.
Other times, the leaks are more subtle. You might notice a wet patch of carpeting or water stains on the wall or ceiling. Perhaps there is a musty smell in your home that can indicate the presence of mould (which likes to grow in moist places).
Call a Plumber
Unless the problem is really obvious and easy to fix, you’ll need to call a professional.A good plumber can help find and fix water leaks in your home.
Plumbers have several methods for detecting leak locations that are far more precise than wandering around your home looking for leak symptoms. From using special microphones to hear escaping water to thermal imaging to look for hot water leaks, a plumber can quickly pinpoint the issue.
Say Goodbye to Water Leaks
Water leaks can be frustrating to fix, especially huge leaks that cause emergencies. However, by catching small leaks early, you can often avoid big disasters.