There can be several reasons for leaks. The truth is, water leaks are one of the worse problems that homeowners face. Year after year, an average home loses about 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water due to leaks. That water loss leads to a significant waste of money. Some water leaks are easier to discover such as dripping faucets and showerheads while others can go undetected for years. Without proper and regular pipe inspection, you may not know that you have leaks in your pipes that’s been going on for months.
The easiest way to detect water leaks is by using your water meter. Your first need to turn off all the water inside and outside your home. Take note of the water usage in the meter before the test. If the meter keeps on turning and adding on water usage, then you’ve got yourself a leak. The difficult part is determining where the leak is coming from. You can call in the help of the professionals. Roto-Rooter has a team of experienced and expert plumbers. They’re locals of the community and they have seen almost, if not all, of the water leaks and issues there are.
However, you can also go down and personal with your own home. Look at these top five reasons for water leaks in houses and check if your home has the same problems.
Check Your Faucets
This may sound trivial to you but most times, the water leak is coming from one of the faucets in your home. A worn rubber washer found underneath the handle is the usual cause for faucet leak. Use the right tool to replace the washer. Do not forget to turn off the water under the sink or at the main cutoff valve. Gain access to the gasket by removing the faucet handles. You can check out your city’s Home Depot or other hardware stores for the tools that you need.
Check for Shower and Tub leaks
Aside from the faucet, shower and tub leaks are other common sources of water leaks. Check you showerheads and toilet faucets. These aren’t major leaks but could still contribute to water and money loss if taken for granted. If you decide to do a do-it-yourself repair, make sure to determine the type of faucet you have first. The kind of repair you do depends on the kind of faucet you have. For bathtubs, drain leaks are the most common and they happen when the drain-trap piping is loose.
Do a Visual Check-up
Leaks coming from the pipes inside your walls and ceilings are difficult to assess. They could go unnoticed for a long time. A visual inspection will help you check if there are leaks in your pipes. Do a closer look at your walls and ceilings in every room. Check the walls for staining and discoloration, this is a common sign for hidden leaks. Check for molds and strange dips on your ceilings or walls too. The water damage often stretches out your material, eventually the pressure causes the caving in of some part of others peoples’ homes.
Check the water pressure
For homes near fire hydrants or homes located in hills and tall buildings usually have high water pressure. The average water pressure is only at 60 per square inch and the home plumbing is typically designed to withstand a maximum pressure of 80 per square inch. Water pressure is out of your control so if you think you do have a high water pressure in your home, you need to talk to your plumber on the ways to regulate your home’s water pressure.
Is it time to call a plumber to fix my leak? That’s a question that many homeowners ask themselves often. Certain leaks can’t be fixed on your own even when you have the tools. Sometimes, it takes experience to know how to fix certain water leak problems. Don’t always take the fixing on your own hand, let the experts have a go at it as well.
With water leaks, call the professionals whom you can trust. Roto-Rooters has a team or experienced and licensed plumbers you can depend on for a prompt and reliable water leak repair.