Tips for Detecting Leaks in Your Home

September 21, 2018

Drip, drip, drip…that’s the sound of money going down the drain! When you have a plumbing leak you’re paying for water you are not using. In rare cases you may get an unusually high water bill that clues you into a problem, but you may have a slow leak and won’t have any signs. Here are some tips on how to investigate a possible water leak in your home.

First, turn off all of your appliances that use water, including ice makers, showers, sinks and irrigation systems. Next, locate your meter box, which measures your water usage. If the flow indicator is moving, chances are you have a water leak. You can also take a meter reading and wait an hour or two to see if it has changed. 

You can check to see if it’s an outside or inside leak by turning off the main valve in your home. If the leak indicator on your meter is still moving, it’s an outside leak. If it’s an irrigation system leak, you can turn on the system and walk your property looking for broken heads or leaks along the line.

If you’ve determined you have an indoor leak, check your toilets. This is a common place for leaks. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the water tank and wait 15-20 minutes. If you start to see color in the bowl, then your rubber flapper is causing the leak and needs to be replaced.

Leaking faucets are also common in your home. A faucet leak is usually the result of a worn rubber washer and is usually located under the handle. With the right tools this can be easy to fix, but it does require shutting off the water under the sink or at your main shut-off. 

Water leaks can lead to mold issues and other damage to your home, and you definitely don’t want to be paying for water you’re not using. If you think you have a leak, give us a call.

Expert Leak Detection in Phoenix & Tucson

At Parker & Sons we can detect water leaks in your home and fix all of your plumbing problems. We have offices and Phoenix and Tucson and are ready to provide you with fast plumbing service. Schedule your next appointment online today!