Water leaks can become very costly over time and cause even more damage and expense if not addressed immediately with professional leak detection.
Need Leak Detection and Repair?
Utility bills, such as water and electric just keep going up and up. Things can get even worse when people find that their bills are increasing for a reason other than rate increases.
The typical culprit in this scenario is a water leak, and leaks can occur in various areas of one's home, and they are not always easy to find. In addition, there are several factors that can cause a leak, and many of them are things that occur naturally and cannot be prevented.
Even though some leaks are obvious to spot, like a leak under a sink, some leaks are much harder to pinpoint and you will likely need to call a professional plumber to ensure the true problem has been discovered and that the leak repair is done right.
Slab Leaks and Underground Leaks
If you don't have a water leak issue with toilets, showers or faucets, the next possibility is that the leak is in the water pipes underground. This can be one of the toughest types of leaks to find and may stay undetected for a while.
The reason for this is that it is not easily spotted since it's under a concrete slab or below the soil outside. Sometimes a water leak is visible or audible. If the leak is severe enough people might hear a whining or hissing sound coming from underneath their home.
If you notice a leak in your yard or a saturated area when there has not been any rain or other logical explanation. Most people will call the water company when they see a huge bill, but the water line on your property is usually the homeowners responsibility.
Most homes that are built in high water table areas like Florida, are built on concrete slabs and do not have a basement. When pipes leak below the concrete, this is called a slab leak. A wet floor is another common sign of a underground leak. In addition, this type of leak will also result in reduced water pressure.
If people notice that their toilet is taking longer than normal to flush or their shower stream is not as powerful as normal, they might have a slab leak. Underground leaks may require the assistance of a leak detector, leak detection specialist and a professional plumber.
A plumber that specializes in slab leak repairs, will have the proper equipment to find the leak, and they will also be able to repair the leaking pipes.
Water Line Leaks
Water line leaks can happen in the house, under a house slab or outside the house underground. Detecting leaks in pipes is easier than finding them in swimming pools. A non-expert can typically see pools of water if the leak is located above ground. However, leaks below ground can be more difficult as these can sometimes only be noticed when there is already a severe problem. A small leak can be left unnoticed unless water pressure testing is done. Locating more severe water line leaks underground is also not easy even after noticeable damage to the property around it.
Only an experienced plumber should handle pipe problems. Easily detected leaks with pipes below the sink or on obvious locations, may not need special leak detection equipment, but you still should hire a professional plumber to fix them correctly. Even if it may seem like small leaks are present in the exposed parts of underground lines, a larger problem may remain hidden and unnoticed. Plumbers and leak detection specialists use specific tools and techniques that can effectively detect leaks and allow for leak repairs with less time and effort.
Shower and Faucet Leaks
Leaking showers and faucets are one of the other biggest causes of water leaks. Most people make every effort to ensure that the water stops running when they shutoff their shower or faucet; however, water may start trickling out seconds after the person leaves the room.
A slow leaking faucet or shower head can leak close to 500 gallons of water, and a big leak can leak over 12,000 gallons per month.
Toilet Leaks
Toilets are one of the most common leak sources because of the amount of water that flows through them every day. Most people would be stunned at how much money a leaking toilet could be costing them. A slow leak can waste over 200 gallons per month while a major leak can exceed 50,000 gallons per month.
Regardless of what the water rate is in different cities, wasting just one gallon is too much. Homes that use well systems can find higher electric bills as the pumps have to continuously kick on to fill the tank.
A leaking toilet may produce a hissing or trickling sound that usually lasts for a substantial amount of time after the toilet has been flushed. If people hear this noise or suspect there is a leak, you should not hesitate to call a professional plumber to diagnose the problem and fix it before too much water is wasted.