Water leaks are a very common problem in every household. They are one of the major reasons for the wastage of water. Water leaks happen from sources such as pipes, plumbing fixtures and fittings. There have been various researches conducted on the wastage of water and according to these reports, a typical home loses 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water every year due to leakage. Some leaks can be detected easily such as leaking water heater and dripping faucets, but many of the leakages go unnoticed as the source is not visible to us. In hidden leaks, the water escapes undetected. For example ,cracked water supply lines and toilet flapper valves are hard to find. Due to these leaks, thousands of gallons of water are wasted every year.

It is quite difficult to detect a water leak. A comprehensive approach should be applied to detect water leak from various sources such as appliances, fixtures and fittings. Here is an overview of 7 different methods that can be employed:

1. Entire House Meter Check for Leaks – It is easier to detect a combination of small leaks and larger leaks through a water meter by following these steps:
• Turn off the water inside and outside your home and make sure that all water equipment such as washing machine and dish washers etc. is off.
• Wait for 15 minutes after you record the reading of the water meter. Also make sure that no one uses water during this period.
• Take the reading once again. If the meter shows the use of water during the test, there is a possible water leak in the house. Verify once that this water use detected by the meter is not because of water equipment.
2. Water Supply Line Leaks – Water supply lines are normally buried at least 3 feet or (.91m) below the ground surface hence it is difficult to detect a water leak from water supply lines. A home owner should never attempt to repair these leaks and should always contact the water utility.
3. Faucet Leaks – Faucet leaks are quite common and are easy to repair. A repair for a faucet which is dripping slowly (one drop every two seconds) will save more than 1000 gallons (3.7m3) of water each year. The most common types of faucets found in home are – compression valve, ball types, cartridge types and ceramic discs. Each of these faucets must be repaired differently. If the home owners have some guidance, they can make minor repair at home.
4. Toilet Leaks – These are the most common source of leaks at home and often go unnoticed as these are out of sight and are silent. Normally 20-35% of homes have a toilet leakage problem. The hissing and gurgling sound from the valves indicate a toilet leak when the toilet is not in use. It would be better to rely on a professional to repair the toilet leaks.
5. Whole House Humidifier Leaks – Whole house humidifiers are most commonly found in homes with forced air central heating systems. It helps prevent leaks to check the operations of the humidifier during summers and turn the humidifier off during the seasons when it is not used.
6. Evaporative Cooler Leaks – People who stay in dry regions may use evaporative coolers for home cooling. These are also known as swamp coolers. This device uses evaporated water to cool the home environment. An evaporative cooler is connected to the home water supply in order to maintain water in cooler’s reservoir. When the refill valve of the reservoir is not closed properly, it causes a constant stream of water to enter reservoir and overflow finally. One can check the leaks by shutting off the evaporative coolers and observing the draining of water. The leaking problem can be fixed by replacing the water lines, re-circulation pump and refill valve.
7. Pool and Fountain Leaks – It is quite easy to check the water leak in your pool or the fountain. Place a bucket at the top step and fill it with water (it applies to the fountains also). Put a piece of tape both inside and outside the bucket to mark the water level of the pool and the water level inside the bucket. Make a new mark on the tape with a new water level on the bucket and in the pool. If the level of water in the pool or fountain drops more than in bucket, then there is a leakage in the pool/fountain.

These methods will help you identify and deal with water leaks in a better way.

Pipeline Restoration Plumbing Inc. based in Santa Ana, California is a leading name in leak detection and repairs. We have decades of experience and are very well-versed with the modern technology. For more information, please call us at (714) 860-4250.

Pipeline Restoration Plumbing Inc.

Pipeline Restoration Plumbing, Inc. has been serving Orange County since 2008. We have helped thousands of customers with repairing their slab leaks and protecting their water systems from future corrosion. You can count on us whenever you need our services. We are here to help!