Have you ever been bothered by a water leak in your house? It can be very irritating. Not only that, it can cause a lot of damage in your home. This is a problem that you cannot ignore. If you have a suspicion that there is a leak somewhere in your house, you need to act on it immediately. You have no idea how destructive a simple leak can be.
The thing is, no property is immune to this problem. As the years go by, your pipes can go through the natural wear and tear. That should be expected. However, the challenge here is figuring out where the leak is.
To help you out, here are some of the things that will help you find that water leak at home.
Inspect your water bill and meter
This is the first thing that you should look into. Sometimes, the first sign that there is a leak is a water bill that is higher than normal. If you notice that it is higher, the next thing to check is the water meter. This is the one that measures the water consumption in your house. If you feel like there is a leak somewhere in your house, turn off all the faucets and take a look at the water meter. In case the meter is still moving, that means there is a leak in one of the pipes in your house.
Look at the outside before you go inside
If you are lucky, the water leak is right outside or any exposed pipe that you have. This is the easiest to fix. But before you make a sweep of your home, go to the main water valve and turn it off. This is usually in the basement or garage. In some houses, this is outside. Once this is turned off, check the water meter if it is still moving. If it is, you should look at all the exposed pipes that you know. If none of them are showing any signs of a leak, that means the leak is somewhere inside.
Inside your house, you should look at the pipes under the sink and other areas that you know there is an exposed pipe. If there is no leak, then you need to go to the next step.
Check for signs of a leak
If none of the exposed pipes are showing signs of a water leak, you may want to check the ceiling and walls. There are tell-tale signs that a water is leaking behind the walls or dripping on the ceiling. Walk from room to room and check every area. From water stains to molds – these will tell you that there is moisture somewhere that might be caused by leaking water. Make sure to check even the cabinets and the hoses that connect your washing machines to the faucet, etc.
Peek into the toilet
Sometimes, the toilet itself is the one causing the leak. What you can do is to put some food coloring into the tank. Wait for a few moments. If the water in the toilet bowl is starting to leak color, that means there is a leak in your toilet. That is what is causing the water leak in your home. Sometimes, the problem is the flush valve. Look at the instruction manual and see how you can replace it.
Call a plumber
In case you have gone through all of these and you still cannot find the water leak, it is already time to call a plumber. They may be able to spot the leak faster than you. The great thing about it is that they can fix it on the spot and rid you of the problem immediately.
