Burst pipes and clogged toilets are some of the obvious plumbing issues. However, there are situations where you might notice significant changes without realizing the source of the problem. This explains why most households lose about 10,000 gallons of water from leaks annually.
Keep in mind that 10 percent of households lose about 90 gallons of water daily. Therefore, consider the following proven tricks to help you discover hidden plumbing leaks that be costing you a lot.
Review monthly water bill
One of the best ways to make you consider checking for hidden leaks in your plumbing is to review your monthly water bill. You should consider this, especially during the colder winter months. An average family of four uses less than 12,000 gallons monthly.
Perhaps you have noticed a gradual increase in your water usage. It is an obvious sign that there are hidden leaks in your household. This is the moment to call a professional plumber to discover the source of the issue.
Monitor the meter reading
Perhaps you have started to notice a significant increase in your monthly water bill. It is high time you began monitoring your water meter. Note down the meter reading before turning off all appliances using water and faucets for some hours.
Take a look at the meter reading to see whether it has changed at all. If the meter reading has increased, it is a red flag that you have a plumbing lead somewhere. This is when you have to call a professional plumber to fix the leaks.
Visual inspection of your plumbing
Another trick to check for hidden leaks in your plumbing system is a visual inspection. Take a look at fixtures and fittings including the pipes and faucet gaskets. This is to check for the presence of moisture on the outside.
The presence of moisture is a sure sign that there is a leak on the fixture or within the various connections in your plumbing system. The best solution is to call a licensed and experienced plumber to inspect your plumbing for signs of leaks.
Test the toilets
One of the most difficult places to check for leaks in a household is the toilet. Keep in mind that the leaks in the toiler might not be apparent.
A wonderful trick to detect these leaks is to drop some food color in the tank. After about thirty minutes without flushing, check the water in your toilet bowl. The presence of food color is a sure sign that your toilet has a hidden leak.
Keep in mind that do-it-yourself techniques can’t work for issues like this. Luckily, a professional Sacramento plumber is the right person to call. A reliable plumber is always ready to handle emergency situations like this.
Additionally, the plumber will arrive with all appropriate equipment and expertise to fix the issue. This will ensure that you get back your toilet into working order in a short while. It will also lessen the chances of ending up with a disaster in your toilet.
Other warning signs
Finally, there are other clues that might help you detect hidden plumbing leaks. The presence of persistent odors or mildew and mold is proof of having hidden leaks in your plumbing system.
Additionally, you can tell plumbing leaks with the presence of water stains on the ceilings, flows, and walls. Other warning signs to tell hidden plumbing leaks include decreased water pressure, cracks in the foundation, and puddles in the yard.
Attempting to use DIY methods in these circumstances is a bad idea. The best thing to do is to call a professional and experienced plumber. You will benefit from his wealth of experience and appropriate equipment to get your plumbing leaks fixed.
This will limit the skyrocketing water bill and make your home look nice always.
How professional plumbers detect hidden leaks
Sound sensors: Calling a professional plumber is the best solution when having leaks in your plumbing.
The plumber will have listening devices to search for leaks apart from visual inspection. Sound sensors are ideal for detecting slab leaks under concrete layers. These highly sensitive devices allow hearing water drips to escape through various surfaces.
The plumber will get to the right area where to find the leak and fix it appropriately.
Infrared thermography: The plumber can also use this high-tech solution to detect leaks. This involves the use of an infrared imaging camera to scan areas suspected to have leaks. The device has a display monitor to show images with temperature differences.
This reveals pipes exposed to outdoor air. Determining this requires having special training to accurately detect the source of the leaks. It takes a professional plumber to accurately pinpoint the leaks.
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Always call a professional plumber for an inspection to detect the source of the leaks. The plumber will effectively fix all leaks to lower your monthly water bill. Head over to Inner City Plumbing if you are interested in plumbing services.