Leaks can sneak up on you—causing structural damage to your home, which is not only aggravating due to its inconvenience, but also unnecessary in its costs. Perhaps you can’t find a leak—but you know it’s there because of the sound or smell—contact a plumber right away and have them make a visit as soon as possible to fix the leak. Detecting and fixing leaks will cut down on monthly costs, frustrating issues, and much more. 

Home Inspections for Leak Detection

You may suspect a leak is occurring in your home. If you do, you should schedule a check-up with a plumber. But if you aren’t entirely sure that you have a leak—and don’t want to waste money on a plumber—fear not! There are a couple of different ways to self-check for potential leaks in your home. 

Perform a standard walk-through of your home to check for leaks in your pipes. You’ll know if you have a leak if you see it, smell it, or hear it—it’ll simply sound like water dripping from a faucet. If you find yourself questioning the detection of a leak, don’t assume you’re in the clear. Contact your plumber just in case to avoid high water bills in the near future. 

The Price May Not Always Be Right

Speaking of water bills, this is another important reason you’ll want to look for leaks in your home. If you do have a leak, and it goes undetected for too long, it could cost you up to hundreds—if not thousands—of dollars each month. While it is unlikely that a leak would go months without raising any form of suspicion, it does happen from time to time. To avoid this, check your pipes on a regular basis; the smallest leak could lead to gallons of water wasted each day. 

So, What Exactly Do Inspections Look Like? 

Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. The best way to detect a stoppable leak is to do a quick run-through. Some leaks are easily fixable without help from a plumber—while others are too big to manage all alone. We’ve gathered five helpful tips for you to use when doing an inspection on your own. 

#1: Check your meter 

This is hands down the easiest and most effective way to detect a leak in your home. All you do is turn off all the water in your home and monitor the meter. If you notice that your meter is moving as soon as you turn it off, then you have a fast-moving leak, and you should try and take care of it right away. On the other hand, if there is no movement, then wait a few hours without using any water and go back to the meter. If you see a difference, then you probably have a slow-moving leak that will need to be fixed. 

#2: Check Your Toilets 

Because toilets use such a large amount of water during each use, this is a great place to start looking for leaks. Again, this isn’t too complex. All you have to do is remove the lid from the back of the toilet. Listen closely for any sounds—think hissing or buzzing—and if you hear anything suspicious, you may have a leak. 

#3: Check Your Hot Water Tank 

To check your hot water tank, you’ll want to check the base of the tank (around the pressure relief valve) for any leaks. You can also listen for any hissing or buzzing sounds by the drain; this noise will indicate a leak is present. Call a plumber if this is the case! 

#4: Check All Leak Points

Don’t forget to check outside your home! It’s easy to overlook sprinkler system leaks, but those happen more often than you’d think. Also, be sure to check all showerheads, sink and bathtub faucets, garden hoses, in-home emergency sprinkler systems, and taps. 

#5: Monitor Your Usage 

We've been told since we were young that we should take showers, rather than baths, to save water. While this is the case, there are other ways to save on water bills as well. You can do this by monitoring your family’s water habits. If you notice a rapid decrease or increase in your water bill, then that may be an indication that something is up and you have a leak. It’s important to stay on top of this each month. 

Whew—That Was A Lot… 

That might’ve felt like a lot of information, and it was. There are so many details that are in play when it comes to managing a home. But we know questions still come up regarding home ownership, which is why we have a line of professionals that are always willing to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us today and schedule an appointment!