Plumbing Woes: Do You Have a Water Main Leak?

Plumbing and problems have more than just the first letter in common, as most of us have experienced firsthand! Setting aside faulty plumbing plans and poor installations, most of the plumbing woes we face are largely our own fault though. As homeowners, we should all be aware of certain signs of small issues in the plumbing, which are the ones that often lead to bigger issues down the line. With the main water line in focus, today we are going to discuss a few easy to spot signs of a leak that should be addressed right away to avoid major water damage in a home.

Early Signs of Water Outside

If water is pooling outside, there is a problem, such as a blocked drain. There may also be an issue with pipes leading to the property. However, before a flood can occur, you should be able to notice water on the street in front of your house accumulating in puddles or passing by like a tiny stream. Without a leak or a blocked drain, or both, you should not be able to notice any water on the street, so immediately call in your local plumber and treat it as an emergency situation. If a blocked drain or burst pipe isn’t addressed promptly, it can get much worse.

Water in the Yard

This is a step closer to home than the previous sign because the water in the yard indicates that the main pipe leak has originated very close to your home. If it goes undetected for long enough and water doesn’t show up on the surface in sufficient quantities to warrant attention, sinkholes might be formed. A sinkhole in the yard is an extremely dangerous situation, so call in your local Pittsburg plumbers as soon as you notice water in your yard that has no business being there, as it could be caused by a collapsed drain on your property.

An Unexpectedly High-Water Bill

If the main pipeline is leaking, you will feel the bill! The difference won’t be of a small degree when compared to the previous month’s water bill, so the good news is that you will at least know that something is seriously wrong. The bad news is, if the leak has been there for a few weeks, rather than just a few days, the ensuing bill could put most of us in a real financial crunch. This is why it is necessary to stay aware of any spikes in the water bill, even if they are small.

It’s not that DIY solutions do not always work, but you should most definitely avoid trying to fix a main line leak on your own. It requires skill, manpower, and experience to do so, not to mention, attempting to fix major plumbing leaks without the due training could also be illegal in your state. You can and should take emergency measures to keep your home from flooding though until the plumbers can get there.