There are plenty of instances where bringing a leak detection specialist into your home for an inspection is completely appropriate. Often, however, if you know how, you can find a leak on your own, saving yourself money
But what if you don’t know where to start? Steven Nagel is the owner of American Leak Detection, Tampa. With over 10 years experience in plumbing and leak detection, Nagel offers a list that includes pointers that American Leak Detection often shares with home and building owners who want to do some leak hunting on their own. These tips apply mainly to leak search areas that don’t need specialized leak detection tools or years of training.
- Check all your exterior hose bibs (faucets) to be sure that one hasn’t been left on. Unfortunately, this occasionally is found to be the problem. You don’t want to have to pay a service call from a leak specialist for something so simple.
- To check for toilet leaks, place any plumbing safe liquid of color into your tank. Good examples are food coloring, milk, half and half, or milk of magnesia. Dye tablets also work well. Wait a few minutes to see if any of the colored liquid seeps down into the bowl area without you flushing the toilet. If it does, then you will need to repair or replace the flapper valve.
- If you have a two-piece toilet that has a separate tank and bowl, then take some toilet paper or a paper towel and work it into the open area between the tank and the bowl. Check for water before and after flushing. If the toilet paper or paper towel is dry prior to flushing, recheck again after flushing. If it is wet, then this confirms that the toilet is leaking during the flush cycle.
- Turn on all faucets, one by one. While the water is running, move the faucet handle back and forth. Look for water leakage around the valve stem and faucet spout. Check your outside hose bibs too.
- When checking the faucets, look at the drain piping under the sink as water flows through them, inspecting for leaks.
- If you have lever operated water-stopping devices (plugs) in sinks and tubs, then work them open and closed while the water is running. Look for leaks in these movable parts where they connect to the drain system.
- Be sure to run the dishwasher and garbage disposal and check for visible leaks during usage.
- Look at walls where pipes stick out. Look for discoloration, moisture, and sponginess. These can indicate corrosion of the pipe, mold growth, and water loss.
- Your water heater hopefully should be equipped with a safety relief valve (also known as a temperature/pressure valve). Check the exit end of the valve or valve piping for leaks or drips. If the valve is equipped with a hand operated check lever, flush the valve for a few seconds ONLY if it is piped to a safe area that will not run water onto floors or walls. The valve should not leak. If it does, then replace it.
- Be aware of how your house smells. If you smell a musty odor, this can be symptomatic of mold. Since mold lives best in damp conditions, a strong musty odor indicates a possible leak.
If you go through these tips and still are having symptoms of a leak (high water bills, hearing water running though pipes when faucets are closed), then it might be time to call in the professionals. Even if you end up doing this, using these tips is helpful because it lets you eliminate some possibilities even before the leak detection specialist arrives, which makes the inspection far more efficient and gets you on your way to fixing the leak faster.
