How to Identify a Leak in Your Home

So, you’ve noticed that your water bill seems a little higher than usual. Yet, your water usage hasn’t really changed that much. The very first thing you should do is call a plumber. Neglecting leaks, no matter how big or small they may be can lead to serious damage to your home and other personal belongings. It is best to get a licensed plumber out there right away instead of taking matters into your own hands. Curious about how you can identify a leak in your own home? Stick around as we share some tips in this blog post.

Why should you fix leaks as soon as you spot them?

1. Water Bills

• Leaks can cause your water bill to skyrocket because you are paying for water that is constantly running and being wasted.

2. Flooding

• Leaks can at times lead to flooding if neglected, which can damage your property and the belongings in it. It can lead to more expensive repairs if left untreated for too long.

3. Illness

• Leaks can lead to the growth of dangerous bacteria in your home’s water supply, which can cause illnesses if you don’t get it sorted.

4. Energy Efficiency

• Leaks left unchecked for too long will not only increase your utility bills but also degrade the insulation quality in your home leaving it less energy efficient than before which may lead to higher cooling costs.

5. Structural Damage

• Leaks left unchecked for too long can cause structural damage to your home’s foundation or walls which will require costly repairs down the road. 

All of these could be prevented by having a regular leak check performed by a professional plumber or HVAC technician who specializes in leak detection and repair services.

To spot a leak in your home, keep these points in mind:

• The water pressure in your home could be showing some drastic irregularities. Also, your water meter could be noticeably running unusually faster than its usual pace.
• You hear dripping noises coming from the walls or ceilings, or in other unexpected places. Funny noises can be heard whenever you turn all your water pipes off. Hearing gurgling sounds coming off from fixtures or toilets when they’ve been turned off means that there is likely something going on within your plumbing system.
• You see wet spots on the ceiling or floors of your home, which don’t go away even after they’ve dried up, causing mold and mildew to grow on the walls and ceilings of your home.
• You find that you have a persistent and peculiar smell in your home that won’t seem to go away. Strange odors keep coming from your drains or toilets, or even in areas where there shouldn’t be any plumbing at all (such as the attic).
• Your toilet fills frequently without flushing completely, or your bathtub takes longer than normal to drain. This can be caused by a clogged drain, which is often the result of hair and other items getting flushed down the toilet.

The plumbing in your home is more than just a simple set of pipes that transport water from point A to point B. It’s also an important part of your home’s overall health and safety, which means that you should take care of any problems as soon as possible to avoid further damage. If you are noticing any of these signs, it is best to contact a licensed plumber right away. They will be able to help you determine if the leak is something minor or more serious in nature. The difference between the two could mean either a simple patch job to your leaky pipe or being caught by surprise by a much more costly pipe replacement plumbing job. The longer a leak goes unaddressed, the worse your problem is going to be; not to mention how much more expensive it will turn out to be to fix once the damage has intensified. 

Leaks are usually easy to identify once you know what you’re looking for, yet they are often caused by more complex plumbing problems than you can fathom, and they will be difficult to fix on your own. In thinking about general household maintenance and upkeep, plumbing issues are one of those few jobs that you are better off leaving up to professionals. While it may be tempting to just take matters into your own hands, one little misstep in plumbing work can lead to much bigger problems for you. 

Find yourself an honest and reliable plumber – licensed and local near you

A licensed and experienced local plumber will be able to help you locate your leaks and fix them. When searching for a licensed plumber in your area, remember it’s important that they have all their permits up to date and ready for inspection. This ensures that they are following code requirements and won’t be breaking any laws when working on your property. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or their own website, make sure that your potential plumber has a presence online so you can see what kind of work they’ve done before and get an idea of their style and expertise. You’ll want someone who will be able to communicate clearly with you about what needs to be done and how much it might cost—and having an online presence is one way for them to show off what they’re capable of doing. You can also ask friends and family members if they have any recommendations – or if there’s anyone they’ve used before who is highly recommended by others in your community (especially if they’ve had some great experiences with them).

Call GO Heating, Air & Plumbing

GO Heating, Air & Plumbing can help you locate leaks in your homes and fix them. We can also give you tips and tricks to prevent things like this from happening again. We would be happy to also inspect your plumbing system to prevent leaks (just in case you don’t have them and want to avoid future leaks). We can also perform regular maintenance to keep your pipes and plumbing system in tip-top shape. Call us and schedule an appointment with us.

GO Heating, Air & Plumbing

2901 Technology Dr. Suite 167, Plano, TX 75074, USA

(972) 842-1914