One of your worst nightmares is to wake up to a flood in your home. Unfortunately, this nightmare becomes a reality for thousands of people in the United States every day.
Research shows that 14,000 Americans experience water emergencies each day. In addition, 98% of American basements will sustain some level of water damage during their lifetimes.
Given the above, if you suspect you’ve got plumbing leaks hiding out in your home’s piping, it’s paramount that you proactively pinpoint them so that you can address them as soon as possible.
Here’s a rundown on how to locate plumbing leaks and prevent water damage.
Let’s get started!
Watch Your Home’s Water Bill
One of the best ways to pinpoint plumbing leaks is to watch your water bill.
Your water bill is generally predictable, as you can expect it to remain consistent from one month to the next if you don’t drastically increase your water usage. For this reason, if your water bill suddenly skyrockets, this is a sign you probably have a leak.
In this situation, it would behoove you to contact a water damage restoration company right away. They’ll help you to identify the source of your leak and complete the drying/repair process.
Watch Your Home’s Walls
You can also pinpoint a plumbing leak simply by watching the condition of your home’s walls.
If you notice bulging wallpaper or bubbling paint, this is a sign that your wallboard is not dry. In fact, if your wallpaper is bulging extensively, you likely have major water-related damage. In this situation, you’ll need to hire a professional to fix your leak and also replace the wallboard.
Another indicator of a leaking pipe is wall discoloration. In this case, water is likely leaking behind the drywall. Likewise, look for brownish or yellowish stains on your ceilings, which may indicate a water leak above your ceiling drywall.
Watch Your Home’s Water Meter
Finally, keep an eye on your home’s water meter if you suspect your pipes might be leaking.
During this time, make sure that all of your home’s water faucets have been turned off. Likewise, make certain that your dishwasher and washing machine isn’t running. Then, write down what your water meter’s values are.
Next, return to the water meter in 1-2 hours and recheck its numbers. If the numbers have changed, you probably have a water leak somewhere.
Also, you can check the location of your leak by turning off the main water supply’s shut-off valve, which is likely in your utility room or basement. Once the valve is off, check your water meter’s numbers, and then recheck them in an hour. If you notice no change in the numbers, then the water leak is probably inside your house versus outside.
How We Can Help with Plumbing Leaks
We offer top-of-the-line water and flood damage services in California.
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to experience plumbing leaks in their homes from time to time. Some leaks have obvious causes (like frozen pipes that burst), whereas other leaks are hidden.
However, no matter what the causes of your leaks maybe, we can help you to clean up the aftermath with as little damage to your home as possible.
Contact us today to learn more about how to spot plumbing leaks and address them as quickly as possible this summer.