How to Spot a Plumbing Leak

Plumbing leaks are a fairly common occurrence in this area in the wintertime, and sooner or later, every homeowner is going to have to deal with one. In and of themselves, plumbing leaks are fairly innocuous, created by corrosion or damage when the sides of the pipe start to let water through. The damage comes mainly in the effects water has on surrounding materials (such as drywall and electrical cable), which can be far more expensive to address than simply dealing with the leaking pipe.

Worst of all, because so many of your pipes are hidden behind the walls and in similar locations, it can be weeks or even months before you sp[ot the leak. That can cause a huge amount of damage to your home: corroding drywall, shorting our electrical systems and the like — and by the time you realize what’s going on, it could end up costing you a great deal of money to repair the damage. The sooner you spot the signs of a plumbing leak, the faster you can halt the damage and get the system repaired.

Generally speaking, anything out of the ordinary with your plumbing is cause for concern. More specifically, check for the following signs of a leak.

• Wet Spots. The surest sign of a leak is the presence of water or wet spots where no water has any right to be, particularly wet spots without an obvious underlying cause. In some cases, it can be a soft spot instead of a wet spot, or be noted by mold growth instead of obvious moisture.
• Low Water Pressure.  Depending on the location and severity of the leak, it may affect the water pressure in one or more of your outlets, causing the flow of water to go down. If only one outlet is affected, the leak is probably located close to it, while multiple affected outlets mean a leak closer to the main water line. (This is particularly the case with frozen pipes or burst pipes, which are quite common during the cold months of winter.)
• Higher Bills. You get to pay for the water leaking out of the pipes in most cases, even if you don’t use it and it damages other parts of your home. If your water bills receive an unexpected spike — especially if you haven’t used your water any more than usual — it’s probably time to call in a plumber to give it a look.
• Sounds of Drips. Leaking water may drip or even flow depending on how bad the leak is.  If you listen, you might be able to detect the sounds of water dripping where no water should be dripping. (Professional plumbers sometimes use sonic detectors to pinpoint the exact location of the leak.

If you spot these signs, shut off the water to the affected pipe (every family member should know where the main shut-off valve for the water in your home is) and call in a plumber.

For quality plumbing throughout Denver, CO, call on Bell Plumbing and Heating today!