Plumbing Leaks: Finding Common and Unusual Sources of Leaks

Plumbing leaks can waste water and cause further damage to your home if they aren’t found and repaired quickly. But if you don’t see or hear running water, how can you detect a plumbing leak? Well, there are several places that are common sources of plumbing leaks; and there are some more unusual sources of leaks, as well. Check out these plumbing leak culprits.

Toilets

One of the most common places where homeowners experience plumbing leaks is the toilet. The pieces inside the toilet tank wear out after a while, and you can get a leak. Fortunately, these types of leaks are usually both inexpensive and easy to repair. You can easily check your toilet for leaks by just using a few drops of food coloring. Drop about ten drops of food coloring into the toilet tank, and wait about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes have elapsed, look in the toilet bowl. If you can see the food coloring in the toilet bowl, it means that you have a leak. This type of leak can usually be repaired easily just by replacing the flapper in the toilet tank. If your toilet is running nonstop, it can waste more than 200 gallons of water every single day. You can replace the flapper yourself for less than $20.

Faucet

A leaky faucet is easier to spot. If you notice that your faucet is dripping, be sure to fix it right away. Leaving it unrepaired can use many gallons of water every day, and can even total up to more than 3,000 gallons of wasted water per year. Fixing it is usually as simple as replacing the washer and seat assembly. This is an inexpensive repair that can save you a bundle on your water bill.

Showerheads

A leaking showerhead can waste over 500 gallons of water every year. That is enough water to run your dishwasher 60 times. The repair is extremely easy. In many cases, you can eliminate leaks from your showerhead just by tightening the connection with a wrench, no parts required. If you haven’t done so already, take this opportunity to install a low-flow showerhead to save even more water.

Unusual Leaks

Spotting a water leak can make homeowners fear the worst, but sometimes a leak proves to be a minor and inexpensive fix. Wet spots on the floor can be signs of a slab leak, which is something that nobody wants to encounter. However, a wet floor doesn’t always mean a slab leak. If the wet floor is in the kitchen, check the water line on your refrigerator’s icemaker. This tube can crack, leaking water all over your kitchen floor. The replacement tubing only costs about $5, and it is a minor repair.

You can check the water line on your icemaker by pulling the refrigerator out from the wall. While it is out, vacuum behind it and remove any clumps of dust and dirt from the refrigerator coils. This will make it easier to inspect and also help your refrigerator to run more efficiently. Take a look at the tubing, and see whether it looks cracked or worn. If it appears to be in less than great condition, you may want to go ahead and replace it. You can take this opportunity to upgrade to flexible stainless steel tubing.

If you need help finding hidden plumbing leaks in your home or repairing a leak that you have found, call Scott English Plumbing. We are the experts on repairing slab leaks, and we have advanced equipment that we use to find hidden leaks. Give us a call today.