While your household plumbing system is an absolute necessity for the safety and well-being of your Florida family, it can also be very damaging when it develops a leak. When these leaks aren’t addressed in a timely fashion, you can suffer significant damage to your home and its belongings. We’re going to go over how to detect when you may have a water leak and what you should do to fix it below.
Top Signs You Have a Water Leak
When you think of a water leak in your home, you may immediately picture water squirting out of a pipe. However, not all water leaks are as obvious as that. In fact, there are many different signs you always want to be on the lookout for that will indicate you have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
1. High Water Bill
One of the first indicators that may bring your attention to the fact that you have a water leak in your home is a high water bill. Since your water usage is likely to be roughly the same throughout the entire year, any spike in usage can indicate a real problem.
2. Water Stains
Another sign that you have a water leak in your home is water stains. These can develop all over the place, depending on where your lines get piped. For example, they may show up on the ceiling or on one of your walls. Typically, water stains are accompanied by peeling and flaking paint, as well as by mold and mildew growth.
3. Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is a sign of a water leak that will bring your attention to it. As water seeps out of your pipe, less water is going to make its way to your fixtures down the line. It’s important to note that you should check with your neighbors to ensure that the city’s water supply is not the culprit of your issue.
Detecting Water Leaks in Your Home
Once you determine there is a water leak somewhere in your plumbing system, it’s important to figure out exactly where it is located. Sometimes leaks are going to be easier to locate than others. For example, if you physically see water leaking out of the pipe, it’s going to be fairly obvious where your issue is at. However, if the leak is in a pipe that runs behind your wall, it’s going to be more challenging to discover.
Fortunately, there are a few tips you can use to narrow down where your more difficult plumbing problems may be. Start by looking for any mold, mildew, or peeling paint in the areas around your main plumbing fixtures. This can provide you with obvious signs of where the leak may be hidden behind the wall.
If you’re unable to see any of these symptoms, then you’ll want to do a water pressure test for each one of your fixtures. Simply turn the fixture on and see if there is a decrease in pressure. As water flows from your main water supply line or water heater, it will flow through your floors and walls to each fixture.
Typically, each pipe run will have one or more fixtures on it. If the third fixture on the run has low water pressure but the second fixture doesn’t, it becomes clear that your leak is located in the piping between the second and third fixtures. Be sure to test both the hot and cold sides for water pressure, as that will further allow you to narrow down if the issue is with your cold or hot water supply line.
Fixing Water Leaks
When you finally locate the water leak, you’ll want to assess it further. If the leak is at a threaded connection, you may be able to simply tighten up the connection to fix the leak. However, if the leak is from a hole or crack in the pipe, you will want to contact a licensed plumber to replace that section of piping.
Leak Detection Services
Legacy Plumbing Experts offers expert leak detection services for the entire Port St. Lucie, FL community. Our plumbers can also assist with all your drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line, water heater, water treatment, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, gas line, boiler, and commercial water heater needs. Simply give our office a call today to schedule a consultation.
