Find and Fix Those Leaks

Some household water leaks are easy to find; you can see the water dripping from your faucet, and you may even be able to hear it when the house is quiet. However, other leaks are a little bit sneakier. It’s worth your time and effort to search them out, though, because little leaks can add up to big quantities of water that’s being wasted. If you suspect a leak, follow these tips to help you find and fix it. Even if you haven’t noticed any signs of leaks, it’s a good idea to do a thorough check of your plumbing system a few times a year.

Faucets

As we previously stated, faucet leaks are usually pretty easy to spot. You use the faucet and turn it off, but the water never quite stops dripping completely. You know there’s a problem, so now you just need to know how to fix it. Usually, a leaky faucet is caused by a worn out washer or O-ring. This is a simple repair, and the part that you need to replace only costs a couple of dollars. All you have to do is take the faucet apart, pop out the old washer, and replace it with the new one. If that doesn’t do the trick, the washer seat may need to be replaced, too.

Toilets

Does the toilet keep running after you flush? Do you have to jiggle the handle every time? Your toilet may have a leak, even if you don’t hear water running. You can test it for leaks pretty easily. Put a few drops of food coloring into the water in the toilet tank. Wait about 15 minutes, without flushing the toilet. Then, go back and look at the water in the toilet bowl. If the food coloring that you put in the tank has made its way into the toilet bowl, it means that you have a leak. The flapper is the most common culprit of toilet leaks. You can get a repair kit for around $10, and the parts are easy to switch out.

Slab Leaks

Slab leaks are tricky, because the pipes are hidden. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find them, though. Pay attention to some important clues. Do you feel warm or wet spots on the floor? Are there wet spots on your patio that never seem to go away? These are common indicators of a slab leak. If you suspect a slab leak, you should call a plumber right away. An unrepaired slab leak can lead to major structural problems.

Be a Savvy Consumer

You may have a leak in your home and never realize it until you get your water bill. Don’t just pay the bill and throw it away; take a closer look. If your water bill is suddenly higher than it has been in previous months, ask yourself why. Sometimes, there are logical explanations. If you have been watering your garden in the summer or had visitors staying at your home, it is normal to use more water than usual. However, if you have suddenly had a huge spike in your bill with no reasonable explanation, you may have a water leak somewhere in your home. Check your water meter, while you’re at it. Note the reading, wait an hour without using water, and check the reading again. If the reading changed during that time, you have a leak somewhere.

If you need help finding or fixing a water leak, call Scott English Plumbing. We are available 24/7 to respond to emergencies, so give us a call anytime.