Water leaks are some of the most common plumbing problems in the house. Leaks are caused by many different factors and they can occur in all types of plumbing installations, fixtures, and appliances. The piping network is highly susceptible to leaks. You can suffer water leaks in your water supply pipes. Your drainage and sewer lines can also start leaking. Plumbing fixtures, such as faucets, showers, toilets, and bathtubs, can start leaking at any time. And leaks can also occur in your plumbing appliances, such as your washing machines, water heaters and dishwashers. Water leaks can be caused by old age. All plumbing fixtures and appliances wear out with age and this can cause them to start leaking. Leaks can also be caused by negligence and poor maintenance of your home plumbing system. Whichever the cause of the leak, you should try to locate the source as soon as possible. You can try locating the leak on your own or you can request San Diego leak detection services to quicken the repair process. The following are some effective ways of locating a leak in your house.
Inspect The Piping Network
We have emphasized the importance of plumbing inspections many times on this blog. Regular inspection of your home plumbing system will help you identify existing and potential plumbing problems. One such problem is water leaks. You should make a point of inspecting your home plumbing system on a regular basis to check for any leaking pipes. With regular DIY plumbing inspections, you will be able to identify any leaking water supply pipes in the house and thereby implement timely repairs. You should check all the connecting pipes and even the drainage and sewer pipes for leaks. But you will face one major problem during these DIY inspections. You will not be able to access all pipes. Some of the pipes are concealed inside walls and others, such as the sewer lines, are buried below the ground. That is why you should hire a professional plumber to thoroughly inspect your home plumbing system every few months.
Inspect The Plumbing Fixtures And Appliances
As mentioned above, water leaks can also occur in your plumbing fixtures and appliances. This means that your plumbing inspections should not by limited to the piping system. You should also inspect your faucets, showerheads, bathtubs, water heaters, washing machines, toilets, dishwashers etc, on a regular basis. These routine inspections will reveal any leaks in your plumbing fixtures and appliances thereby enabling you to implement timely repairs.
Use The Water Meter
You can also use your water meter to locate leaks in your house. Start by recording the meter reading. Then leave the plumbing system alone for about three hours without using any water to flush the toilet, wash clothes, or any other purpose. Come back and check the reading and if there is a difference, you have a leak.
Use Food Color
You can use food color to locate and confirm a toilet leak. Pour a little food color in the toilet tank and then leave the toilet alone for some time. If the color trickles to the toilet bowl, then your toilet is leaking.
Use Infrared Cameras
Infrared cameras are used to locate leaks inside walls. These cameras indicate colder areas in your walls, which is a clear indication of a leak in your house.
