Unfixed water leaks can end up causing serious water damage to your home. Especially if they are hidden behind a wall or go undetected for a long period of time. There are many different issues that can lead to water leaks. It’s crucial to be aware of where and how water leaks happen to help prevent them and just as importantly identify them earlier before you’ll require significant water damage repair in Springfield Missouri.
Common Places for Leaks
The most common places for leaks include bathrooms and under kitchen sinks. When water is noticed in these areas, call a plumber for help right away.
Beyond the bathroom and kitchen, there are other places where a leak can occur. Damaged shingles or flashing on a roof can lead to leaks, as can ice dams that prevent the snow that melts from draining off the roof.
Any plumbing fixtures inside your home can leak. Not just in the kitchen or bathroom. Windows and doors can also let water into the home if they’re not sealed properly.
Common Causes of Leaks
One of the main causes of water leaks in the home is cracked water pipes. Cracks can happen in older water pipes, when there is a significant temperature change, if the plumbing is not installed correctly, or if there is any corrosion on the pipes.
Water leaks can also be caused by gaps in the roofing, damaged gutters or downspouts that are blocked. Condensation from the refrigerator or air conditioner can also cause water damage.
It’s possible to see water damage from overwatering your plants on a consistent, excessively high water pressure that causes a pipe to burst, negligent repairs, or faulty plumbing.
Check Your Water Bill
One way to find out if you have a water leak is to keep a close eye on your water bill. If it’s significantly higher than usual, that could mean there’s a leak somewhere. Know how to read your water bill and check the usage each month. Even a small leak can lead to a much higher water bill.
Test Your Water Meter
Most water meters these days have a leak indicator, which can help point out whether or not there’s a water leak. Check your water meter to see if the leak indicator is moving. If it is, then there’s likely a water leak somewhere in your home.
Track Your Water Usage
In addition to tracking your water bills which can rise and fall depending on peak surcharges over the summer, you should also start keeping a copy of water bills or a chart that shows how much water is used each month.
While this can vary by the month or season, it should be relatively steady and have the same rises and falls from year to year. Track the actual amount of water used, not the amount paid, to see if your water usage is higher than expected compared to that same month last year.
Do a Tint Test in Your Bathroom
Purchase a toilet dye tablet and drop it into your toilet tank. When it dissolves, if the water in the toilet bowl changes color, then there is a leak in the toilet. Call a plumber to have this fixed properly.
There are plenty of places within the home where water leaks can occur, and when they do, you can end up needing significant water damage repair. If you ever experience water damage from water leaks, call the professionals at PuroClean Certified Restoration. They’ll do the water damage restoration job right.