A water leak can be devastating to homeowners. Leaks happen both inside and outside, each location coming equipped with its own set of risks. Interior leaks can cause structural damage to your home, ruin your furniture, and help dangerous mold blossom. Leaks outside can damage plants, your home’s foundation, and cost you a fortune in water bills. Knowing how dangerous they are, you may ask yourself: how do I spot a leak? Our plumbing experts are here to weigh in on how to detect a leak both inside and outside the home!
1. Keep an Eye on Your Bill
Water bills tend to fluctuate slightly each season due to the ebb and flow of use. Summer can be an expensive time for Las Vegas homeowners because of the increase in showering and landscaping. Winter is usually a bit cheaper, so it makes it easier to tell if you have a leak. Finding a leak via your water bill is as easy as examining it both month-to-month and year-over-year. If you’ve lived in the home for more than 12 months, you’ll have a good baseline on how much water you use per month. Look at your January water bill. Is it significantly higher than last month’s? Is it noticeably different from the previous January’s bill? If you answer yes to either of these situations, you may have just spotted a leak!
2. Monitor Exterior Fixtures Regularly
Many people take a break from religiously checking their landscaping during the cooler months, which makes it the perfect time for a leak to slip through. Leaks happen just as often outdoors as in. While outdoor plumbing may not see the same regular usage as indoor, it can be damaged by the harsh summer weather. Inspect your hose fittings for any dripping or leaking. Check out the exterior of the home; any dark patches in the stucco are a sure warning of water leaking. Any damp spots on the ground are areas for concern. If you don’t know what caused the wet spot, it’s not supposed to be there. Contact a plumber if you see any of these issues pop up.
3. Use Your Senses to Sniff Out Clues
The human senses can be a huge boost to spotting water leaks. Water doesn’t just passively leak out of your plumbing; it causes damage whenever it breaks free. This damage can be spotted using your senses. Touch walls and underneath cabinets regularly for any damp or humid patches. Use your eyes to hunt for cracked walls, warped flooring, or rust on appliances. Your nose can sniff out odd smells born from standing water or sodden insulation. Anything that seems off likely is off, so don’t hesitate to call a trusted plumber if you spot any of these signs of a leak.
4. Common Sense Goes a Long Way
Is your home older than 15 years? Have you noticed corrosion on your water heater or appliances? Do you find yourself regularly plagued by odd odors? Any of these issues can be an indication of a water leak somewhere in the home. Intuition is a helpful evolutionary trait for humans. Any time you feel something is off, don’t ignore it. If you see mold growing somewhere unusual, don’t just wash it off and hope it doesn’t return. Know your home’s approximate age and keep that in mind when doing DIY plumbing repairs; pipes tend to wear down over time, making it likely a DIY job could push them to their limit. Try to use your common sense any time you can – it may help you spot a leak!
For more common plumbing and other related tips, please contact Sin City Plumbing.
