Check your plumbing for leaks
Ceilings, floors, walls, and the structural integrity of your home can be damaged by even a small leak, causing thousands of dollars of damage. The best course of action is to find any leaks as soon as possible and fix them before any further damage can occur.
Follow these steps to determine if you have any leaks and identify their source:
Check your recorded usage
When looking for leaks the first thing you should check is your water usage. A more expensive bill may prompt you to investigate, especially if the cost rises suddenly with no change in your habits. You can check for leaks by turning off the water in your home, or not using any appliances which use water for a few hours. If the meter has changed during this time it’s likely that you have a leak.
Look and smell
The next step is to actually look for the culprit. Begin with the pipes and fixtures you can easily access. Check for any evidence of leaks around your taps, under your sink, and your toilet. Add some food colouring to the tank of your toilet and wait to see if the colour appears in the toilet bowl, indicating a leak. If you find any water or moisture damage in these areas call your plumber to come and take a look.
If you still have not identified the source of the leak continue looking around your property in less obvious places. Look closely for water damage or evidence of dampness around your home, and see if you can smell mildew. Floors and ceilings can be stained and sagging due to moisture. Leaks in these hidden spots can be disastrous for your homes structure if left unattended to.
Find it, fix it
If you still can’t find the leak it could very well still be there, somewhere. There’s plenty of places where small leaks can occur that you can’t visually inspect. The best course of action in this case is to call a plumber in to use special equipment to find the leak. A professional plumber will be able to identify all the areas of plumbing in your home and inspect them.
Remember to keep checking your home regularly for plumbing leaks so that you can stay on top of future problems. Places like under the sink and behind the washing machine are easy to take a quick peek at, and it could save you lots of money in the long run. If your plumbing system is particularly old, or you just want to be sure, it pays to have a plumber inspect your home annually to keep an eye out for problems- before they do more serious damage.
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