Are hidden plumbing leaks driving up your monthly water bills?
While clogged toilets, burst pipes and many other plumbing problems are rather obvious, leaking frequently goes undetected. According to the EPA, the average household has leaks that waste 10,000 gallons of water every year. Worse, in 10 percent of homes, leaking accounts for 90 gallons of water waste each day!
Hunt down and repair hidden plumbing leaks, and you can stop paying for water you aren’t using. Here are five ways to identify invisible leaking in your home.
No. 1: Review Your Monthly Water Usage
Look at your household water usage in the colder months of the year. As a guideline, a family of four typically uses no more than 12,000 gallons per month – if your usage is greater, your home likely has hidden leaks.
No. 2: Monitor Your Water Meter
Record the number on your water meter, then turn off all of the faucets and every water-using appliance in your home for two hours. Look at the meter again – if the reading has changed at all, you probably have a plumbing leak somewhere.
No. 3: Take a Look at Your Plumbing
Visually inspect your pipe fittings and faucet gaskets, looking for water or moisture on the outside. If you spot any, leaking is occurring at the fixture or within the connected plumbing system.
No. 4: Test Your Toilets
Not all toilet leaks are readily apparent. To detect unseen leaking, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait a half hour (don’t flush!), then check the water in the toilet bowl. If it’s tinted, you have a hidden leak.
No. 5: Watch for Other Warning Signs
A few other clues can point to the existence of plumbing leaks. For instance, you may have leaking if you notice a persistent odor of mold or mildew in your home or if you see water stains on your ceilings, walls or floors. A decrease in water pressure, puddles in your yard and foundation cracks are also warning signs of leaking.
Think your home may have hidden plumbing leaks? If you can’t locate the source of the issue – or even if you can – calling in an experienced licensed plumber is the best course of action. A professional can find and fix every plumbing leak, ensuring that your household plumbing is no longer wasting any water.
If you live in northern Utah, call on American Plumbing Services for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Our expert team can make sure your household is leak-free, and we’ll do so for a price that makes you smile. Contact our Provo, Utah, office and schedule a professional assessment for hidden plumbing leaks today.
