Helpful Info About Water Leak Detection

A small leak can add up to major damage, which is why you should never ignore a water leak.

Generally speaking, if you address a leak as soon as you find it, you can mitigate any damage that may be occurring.

Do you know how to detect leaks? We’ve put together some helpful info on water leak detection to get you started.

The Effects on Your Home of Water Leaks

To start, leaks make you waste water, which isn’t environmentally friendly. Wasting water is also expensive because you are jacking up your water bills unnecessarily.

If a small leak turns into a major one, your belongings could be damaged or even destroyed.

In addition to monitoring leaks, as a preventative measure never keep storage directly on the floor. Use shelving instead.

A water leak can also threaten your home’s structure.

Water seeping into wood (joists, beams or drywall) will cause warping, bowing or even breakage.

And then there are the health effects that water leaks can bring about.

Are you aware of the dangers of household mold? It can be very serious.

Pooling water is the perfect place in your home for mold to grow. Mold is dangerous for you and your family to inhale and should be taken lightly.

Detecting Leaks

Now that you know about the many dangers of leaks get busy sourcing them out and addressing them.

Some very common areas for leaks are in aging pipes that have corroded, a punctured pipe from a tree root intrusion, or issues with pipes within your home’s foundation.

If you notice that your water bills are rising when they shouldn’t, damp spots on the walls or ceiling, or pooling water in your home, don’t wait for it to get worse.

Check faucet gaskets and piping for leaks. Toilets are common spots for leaks as well.

To check if your toilet is leaking, drop food coloring in the tank.

If the color seeps through into the bowl, you’ve got a leak- most likely in with the seal around the flapper.

Your appliances and hot water tank are other common sources of leaks.

Preventative Maintenance to Avoid Leaks

It’s important to tend to leaks as they happen, but you can also avoid them altogether by undergoing some preventative maintenance.

Is your home older? What kind of piping do you have? You may want to consider repiping with PVC pipe that is more durable and less likely to leak.

Get in the habit of doing routine inspections for leaks.

Check the piping under your sinks. Check shower doors and tiles around your tub. Check the hoses on your washing machine and ice maker on your fridge.

Replace them at the first sign of damage. As an extra preventative step, place a drip tray under your washing machine.