Regardless of how good the plumbing materials used in your home, a water leak can show up just about anywhere, behind walls, in ceilings, under the ground and in pipes that are visible to the eye.
That includes all the drains, sinks, toilets, bathtubs and showers in your house. What a large majority of homeowners aren’t aware of is that even the smallest amount of water that comes out of pipes before its intended destination is an indication of potential damage in the form of flooding, decay, and rot.
It’s common for property owners to defer fixing these leaks and it doesn’t take long for the problem to get aggravated. But most homeowners aren’t aware of how they should inspect pipes for leakages. Here are some easy ways to detect plumbing leaks on your property:
How to detect plumbing leaks
Kitchen
A plumbing leak in the kitchens are primarily found in two distinct areas; around the sink, and in the supply pipes located at the base of the sink. A faucet leak is also a very common occurrence.
Toilets
Toilets are another common source of plumbing leaks. With their construction on upper storeys and the connection to waste pipes, indoor toilets are highly prone to causing damage through leaks.
Bathroom
Inspect all the bathroom areas for peeling wallpaper & pain, on the inside and outside walls adjacent to the bathrooms. This typically occurs due to the constant passage of water through the caulking between the tiled surface; this is especially the case with bathtubs attached to a wall on either side. It doesn’t take long for the water to transition into the connected wall, loosening the wallpaper, paint and attaching bond and base finish.
Underground & concealed pipes
At times, a leaking pipe might be located behind a wall or underground and this includes areas like ceilings, basements, paved areas, concrete slabs etc.
Exterior pipes
While a majority of leakages are likely to surface within your home, sometimes they may also occur in the exterior pipe installations; especially the main pipeline that directs water to your house.
Testing for water leaks
While there may be a number of different places where water leaks could occur, if they aren’t visible to the naked eye, you would have to carry out a few tests; these are the steps to follow:
- Turn off the tank storage, hot water systems as well as the taps across your property.
- Go to your water meter and make note of the meter reading.
- When you are conducting this check, it’s important that you don’t flush any toilets or utilise any water in your house.
- Check the meter reading at 30-minute intervals for at least three hours. If you notice that the reading has changed, it indicates there is some leak in the plumbing system.
If you have identified that there is a water leak in your home, it’s important that you contact a licensed and experienced plumber to inspect the installations and fix the leak. This is especially important if you are planning on selling your property in the near future. Potential buyers prefer to invest in a home that doesn’t have any major structural or plumbing issues.
If you want to know more about our services Inspect It First, don’t hesitate to call us at 1300 557 047 or contact us through our contact form.
Thanks for reading,
Inspect It First Team
1300 557 047