It is possible that you have a leak in your home right now and don’t know it. There are hundreds of feet of piping in the average home. Anyone one of these pipes can leak, in turn causing water damage. If left to leak, this water damage can lead to mold. Since it isn’t always possible to detect a leak with the naked eye, you may need some help. Here are some simple common sense tips that you can try first.

Check Your Water Meter

Firstly, turn off all of the water in your home. Make sure there are no faucets running, and all of your appliances are off. Once you have done this, go outside and watch your meter. If the meter continues to move while no water is being used you probably have a fast leak. The leak detector on a water meter is either a triangular shaped dial or a small silver wheel that rotates. However, if there is a slow leak, it may take a bit longer to detect a leak. Wait for two hours and check your meter again. If it has changed in that time, it means that you have a slow leak. A smaller issue may make it more difficult to detect a leak.

The next step is to determine if the leak is inside or outside of the house. To do this, your will first need to find your main shut off valve. This valve is usually located in the garage, basement, or outside near an outdoor faucet. After you have found this valve and shut it off, check your meter. If your leak detector has stopped moving than the leak in inside your home. If the meter is still going up, that means that you have a leak between the meter and your house.

Detect a Leak With Your Water Bill

If you pay close attention to your water usage every month, you may be able to spot an issue quickly. Knowing your average monthly usage can help you detect a leak that may not be visible. A leak in a pipe running through a concrete slab may not have any signs until it’s too late. A family of four that uses more than 12,000 gallons of water per month, probably has a leak. Keep a close eye on your bill and have a plumber come it your find any discrepancies.

Visually Detect a Leak

Some leaks may be easy to spot. A leak in a wall will make the drywall wet and bubble. There will also be discoloration around a leak. If you spot any of these warning signs, you are going to want to get some help immediately.

You can also feel walls for any excess moisture. Sometimes the area around the leak will feel wet. The area could also feel cooler to the touch than the surrounding surfaces.

For leaks in concrete slabs, you will want to look for any warping in your flooring. If you can hear water running, that is a bad sign.

Use Common Sense

A simple common sense approach is the best to take when trying to detect a leak. You should understand that just because water pools in one place doesn’t mean that is where the leak is. Water is a liquid, and therefore it can easily run from one place and pool in another.

Make it a common routine to check under sinks low-lying parts of your home for leaks. You could also consider having someone do a yearly inspection of your home. If your home is older than 25 years, you are going to want to be extra vigilant. The older a pipe is, the more time it has had to corrode.

You Have a Leak But Can’t Find It

If you are certain you have a leak but are unable to find it, you are going to want to hire a professional. A plumber can help you figure out where a leak originates using their experience. Plumbers also have additional tools for leak detection at their disposal. Ultrasonic leak detectors are one such tool. A plumber can use this tool to help determine if there is a leak and where it is.

Hiring a professional that is experienced with leak detection can save you a much larger headache. If left unchecked a leak can cause serious water damage to your home as well as mold. Mold is toxic to you and your family’s health. Don’t let a leak go unchecked for long or you will regret it. Call SunCoast today and schedule an appointment, you will be glad you did.