3 Signs That You Have A Water Leak!
It’s critical to act fast in order to prevent a leak from causing major structural damage. Unfortunately, not all leaks are as visible as water coming out of your faucet or pipes.
Some are hidden within the walls, ceilings, or floors of your house. We’ve put up a list of signs that might signal a home water leak so you can find one before it becomes worse.
What To Be On The Lookout For:
Mold Growth
Mold is a big indication of a latent leak if you see it in your house. To develop and thrive, mold and mildew require the presence of moisture. If you notice fungus growing in any place, there’s likely to be a leaking pipe nearby.
Discoloration of Walls or Ceiling
If a particular area of your house is exposed to excessive moisture for an extended period of time, the walls and ceilings may be stained and discolored. If you don’t detect a visible water source that’s causing the stains, you probably have a leak inside or above the afflicted region.
Peeling or Blistering Wallpaper or paint
Excess moisture in your wall may manifest as these symptoms if you have a concealed leak. If your paint or wallpaper has begun to peel or blister, you might have a hidden leak.
Blisters can appear on almost any layer of paint. While a leak may not always cause this, it’s critical to keep an eye on it since there must be water for these symptoms to emerge.
How Can I Fix These Leaks?
If you detect any of the preceding symptoms, it’s critical to get the problem addressed as soon as possible. The first step is to find out if your plumbing is at fault. (It usually is.)
Take note of the following steps:
Step 1: Turn off all of your home’s water-using devices.
Step 2: On the scale, record the reading from your water meter.
Where Is My Home’s Water Meter?
The water meter is most frequently placed in front of your house near the curb. If you reside in a cold environment, though, it may be located within your property.
If your meter is outside, it will generally be in a concrete box with a cast iron cover that reads “WATER.” Remove the lid using a screwdriver or some other instrument carefully. Keep an eye on for insects, reptiles, or rats that may have hidden inside as you do so.
How To Read Your Water Meter
Water meters come in two varieties: analog or digital. An analog water meter has a sweep hand and clear numbers on the face. The volume of water consumed is measured in gallons or cubic feet.
The display changes back and forth between the rate of flow (how many gallons per minute are flowing through the meter) and the meter read (how many gallons or cubic feet have been used), which indicates that a digital water meter must be illuminated in order to function. Keep track of the number displayed on the screen.
Step 3: Allow at least 3 hours to pass. During this period, do not use any water.
Step 4: Check the number on your water meter and compare it to the one you noted down in Step 2. If it has moved, there’s a leak in your plumbing somewhere. If it hasn’t, the water could be leaking from your roof or walls.
If that’s the case, make sure your gutters and downspouts aren’t clogged with leaves. If water enters but cannot escape, it will eventually seep into your house.
If you’ve done the water meter test and your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris, get a professional to come out and inspect for leaks in your foundation or foundation walls.
Examine A Wall For The Source of Water Using Several Different Types of Tests
Moisture Meter – You may purchase or rent a moisture meter at a hardware store and use it to locate the source of the leak. Point it at various locations on the wall until you discover one that generates the highest reading. That’s the one farthest from the leak. If you call a professional out to investigate for leaks, they will bring one of these gadgets with them.
Infrared camera – You may also use an infrared camera to discover cold areas in a wall. On the camera, the dampest sections of a wall will be blue or purple. This is another plumbing equipment that is often used by experts to locate water leaks inside walls.
Cut into your drywall – Because this test is invasive, it’s most likely the last resort option. In order to inspect the walls, it necessitates cutting into your drywall. Keep in mind that although the visible water damage region might not be where the leak is, it may still be a good idea to cut there. Water may drip down a pipe for some distance before coming into touch with your drywall.
We recommend consulting a plumber before cutting into your drywall if you need assistance. Only as a last resort would an experienced and competent contractor cut into your drywall.
Make the Right Choice!
Your Local Neighborhood Plumber has top-of-the-line waterproof camera equipment that can be inserted into your plumbing system’s lines to find leaks and also other problems. If we find a leak, we’ll consult with you on how you’d like to proceed. Depending on the severity of the leak, some folks like to have a replacement done without stripping any parts of the home, whereas others would like to have brand new pipes put in. Our team of professionals will take you through the pros and cons of each option. Sometimes a leak is minor and just needs a sealant, in this case, we will fix it within minutes.
We Provide Leak Detection and Repair to the San Fernando Valley and Greater Los Angeles
Our fiber-optic camera that can be placed down into your drain and sewer lines to identify problem areas before
any digging or stripping is necessary, helping save you money and time.
Our camera is long, flexible, and often the most cost-efficient way to detect leaks. The cable is inserted through an access point and provides our service professionals with a high-resolution view of the inside of your pipes.
In many instances, realtors selling homes as well as regulatory officials use this same fiber-optic method to ensure that piping and sewage are up to code. The long wire can provide an image to our technician stretching as far as several hundred feet down your lines.
Your Local Neighborhood Plumber is proud to offer specials that will save you money on not only leak detection, but also repairs if you should need them. Visit our specials and coupons page or quote one of these coupons when calling us.