How To Detect A Plumbing Leak

Suffering from a hidden plumbing leak can be a disaster, especially if you haven’t even realized a leak is occurring. Water leaking from your pipes can cause significant damage throughout your home and even lead to mold spores forming which can ultimately lead to severe health hazards to you and your loved ones. Before it’s too late, we here at Reliant Public Adjusters strongly recommend checking for plumbing leaks periodically. Early detection of a water leak can be the difference between saving money and disaster. By following these steps, you can routinely ensure your home is safe from a plumbing leak.

Check Your Water Meter

One of the best methods for checking for a plumbing leak is to check your water meter. To do so, you’ll first have to turn off all sources of water in your home. This can include any faucets, showers, dishwashers, washing machines, etc. This will ensure that there’s no water being used throughout your home. If you notice the water meter is still changing, you likely have a fast moving leak. If you don’t see anything immediately, wait two to three hours. Check and again and if you see a change, that means you have a slow moving leak. The leak could be anywhere after the water meter or potentially underground, so as soon as you recognize that there is a leak you should immediately get to work hunting where the leak is occurring.

Monitor Your Usage

If you’ve noticed a rising water bill but your water usage hasn’t changed, chances are you’re experiencing a running leak somewhere in your home. Your water bill should be roughly the same month to month, so a major change could be a major indicator.

If your household is using more water monthly, it could also mean that you have a leak waiting to form. The EPA suggests that if a family is using more than 12,000 gallons of water a month, there could be a serious leak forming.

Use Food Coloring

Toilets utilize roughly 30% of your entire home’s water consumption, so if you have a leak, there’s a good chance it’s stemming from your toilet’s plumbing. A trick to spotting a water leak is to use a bit of food coloring in the tank of your toilets. After waiting 10 minutes, check the toilet bowl. If you see food coloring, that means there’s a leak allowing water to flow from the tank to the drain without ever flushing.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to detect a plumbing leak before it ever strikes. If you’ve suffered from a plumbing leak of any size, don’t call your insurance company first – call us. The Reliant Adjusters team will get to work for you to ensure you get the proper claim amount to cover any damages and repairs. We know how difficult of a time this can be, which is why we do everything in our power to help you. For more information, contact us today either online or at (561) 929-9826.