If you own a home in Glendale, AZ, you’d be wise to remain vigilant against plumbing leaks. Undetected leaks can do tremendous damage to your home in a short time. Unfortunately, most of the average home’s plumbing isn’t in places that make visual inspections possible. So, you should learn some of the ways you can identify hidden leaks. That way, you can call a plumber to solve the problem before the damage worsens. Here are seven of the best ways to identify hidden plumbing leaks in your home.
1. Monitor Your Water Bills
The simplest way to identify a hidden plumbing leak is to monitor your home’s water bills. Generally, most homes use roughly the same amount of water each month, barring extraordinary circumstances. So, if you suddenly get a higher water bill than usual, the odds are that a leak is the reason. You should also pay attention to the water meter readings listed on your bill.
Here in Glendale, water bills increase according to tiered usage categories. So, a tiny leak may not push you quite far enough to change your cost category. However, you’ll still see a noticeable increase in usage if you check the meter reading.
If your meter reading seems higher than it should be, you can use the meter itself to check for a leak. To do it, turn off all your water-using appliances and fixtures. Then, look at the readout on your water meter if you can see it. If the meter keeps running with everything off, even very slowly, there’s a leak somewhere.
2. Test Your Toilets
One of the most common places hidden plumbing leaks develop is in toilets. A toilet may let water flow down the drain, with few outward signs of a problem. The good news is that there’s a simple test you can use to see if any of your toilets leak. To perform it, flush your toilet and wait for it to finish refilling. When it does, put a few drops of dark-colored food coloring into the toilet tank. Then, wait for a little while and examine the toilet’s bowl. If you see any food coloring in the bowl, you’ve identified a leak.
A toilet letting water out of its tank surely has a problem with its flapper. It means the flapper doesn’t seal the tank drain properly after a flush. Sometimes, the problem is as simple as dirt or mineral buildup on the flapper. Cleaning it off may halt the leak. Or, the flapper itself may need replacement. The good news is it’s an inexpensive and easy fix to stop your leak.
3. Look for Wall or Ceiling Stains
Another way to spot hidden leaks in your home is to look for the tell-tale damage they leave behind. If a pipe inside a wall or ceiling springs a leak, it will damage the surrounding drywall. The first visible sign of that damage is unusual staining. Typically, it will look like a yellow patch that grows with time.
You may also notice line or ring-shaped stains depending on how the water flows behind the surface. If you ignore those stains long enough, the damage will inevitably progress. It may lead to cracking, bubbling, flaking paint, or even disintegrating drywall. You should feel the spot immediately if you notice unusual stains on a wall or ceiling. If you feel wetness, it indicates an active leak.
4. Check for Hot or Cold Spots on Floors
Plenty of homes in Glendale feature slab construction, with plumbing running underneath the slab. Unfortunately, that makes slab leaks a prevalent issue here. The worst part about slab leaks is that they’re among the hardest hidden leaks to detect. One way to do it is to watch for unusual hot or cold spots on your home’s floors.
Often, a slab leak lets water pool inside or beneath your slab, which gradually alters the concrete temperature. You should immediately check your water meter for unexpected usage if you find an unusual hot or cold spot. Call for a slab leak repair immediately if you discover evidence of a leak. A slab leak can damage your home’s foundation if left unaddressed.
5. Inspect Your Outdoor Plumbing
It’s also important to realize that leaks can occur outside your home. It might surprise you to find out how many homeowners struggle to locate suspected leaks, only to find them outdoors. For example, a faulty hose bib could release a constant stream of water you might not notice immediately. If you get into the habit of leaving garden hoses connected to your hose bibs, it can complicate matters even more. In that case, the evidence of a leak could be a significant distance from your home, wherever the hose ends.
6. Look for Suspiciously Lush Grass or Landscaping
Your home’s water supply lines may also develop leaks over time. When that happens, the signs of a leak may also appear outside of your home. One of the most common tell-tale leak signs is a sudden growth spurt in your lawn or landscaping. It happens because your grass or landscaping roots suddenly have access to a water source.
Since we live in a desert climate, you should immediately be suspicious of unusual outdoor plant growth. You may also notice wet spots around your property, most prominently in the early morning. Once the hot sun appears, it may evaporate the water, causing the spots to disappear until dusk.
7. Have Your Plumbing Pressure Tested
Finally, a pressure test is the surest way to detect hidden leaks in your home’s plumbing. The test involves pumping air into your plumbing and using a gauge to measure standing pressure. If your plumbing leaks somewhere, the pressure will drop as air escapes. You cannot perform a pressure test yourself, as it requires specialized equipment and skills.
Our plumbers can handle the job for you as part of your regular plumbing maintenance. Or, you can have us perform the test whenever you suspect a leak. If our pressure test indicates a leak, our plumber will use other equipment to isolate its location. Then, they can make appropriate repairs to solve the problem.
Your Local Plumbing Experts
A plumbing leak is not something you can afford to ignore. Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical is the place to turn if you suspect a leak in your Glendale home. We’ve served local homeowners since 1976. Our plumbers excel at leak detection, slab leak repair, and all other facets of plumbing repair. Plus, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all our work. We also provide transparent, flat-rate, upfront pricing.
You can also count on us to safeguard your property while we work. That’s earned us an excellent reputation and countless five-star customer reviews. We’re also Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating. So, if you need help finding and fixing a leak in your Glendale home’s plumbing, call Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical immediately!
