Tips About Water Leak Detection You Should Know

As a homeowner, you’ve got to keep your head on a swivel to spot problems and find solutions to protect your home. Few things can cause more damage to your home than water.

You don’t have to experience a flood to have serious water damage either. A water leak from a pipe or a fixture can be happening silently behind your walls, costing you money when you don’t even know.

That is why it is crucial to always be on the lookout for the signs of water leaks. Here is what you need to know.

How to Find Those Hidden Leaks

You suspect that you’ve got a leak, but how do you know for sure? And where is it coming from?

Switch off your faucets and see if your meter continues to go. If it does, you’ve got a leak.

If your water bill rises, but your usage habits are the same, you’ve got a leak.

Check your basement and crawl space for water pooling. Look around the walls and ceiling for damp spots or mold growth.

Check out your water heater and A/C unit.

Look at the piping underneath sinks. Is there mold growing or moisture gathering?

Don’t forget that leaks can happen outside. Is there pooling water on your lawn? It could be a sewer line problem, a problem with your foundation or a problem with your irrigation system.

Water Damage is Real

It can be tempting to put off fixing a water leak, but realize that doing so is only going to make matters worse. A small amount of water has the power to create a lot of damage.

To start, you are wasting water. You aren't being kind to the environment, and that water waste will drive up your water bills.

Water on your home’s structure will cause it to bend, break or bow.

Your décor will be destroyed, because water damage peels paint, lifts the carpet and warps wood floors.

There are health implications too.

Water damage will promote mold growth, which can make your family very sick.

Your air quality will be greatly reduced.

It’s wise to deal with a leak ASAP.

Preventing Leaks

You can prevent a lot of the trouble that comes along with leaks with a little preventative maintenance. Clean out faucets regularly. Drain your hot water tank every few months.

Inspect valves on pipes and your hot water tank to make sure that they aren’t leaking. Look at the floors and ceiling for water damage. Maintain your pipes, especially if your home is older.