8 Signs You Have A Water Leak

Water leaks go unnoticed in nearly 10% of households and costs them about 90 gallons of water every day. Nobody wants to lose money due to leaks in their water pipes, let alone the thousands of dollars worth of property damage that could result.

Read how to identify a water leak and warning signs to watch out for if you think something might be wrong in your house.

How do You Know if You Have a Slow leak in Your Home?

You can save money and avoid potential calamity with early water leak detection. There are some symptoms that every homeowner should know to find leaks as quickly as possible and fix them.

Higher than Usual Water Bills

There is a good chance of a water leak in your home if your water bill suddenly increases. Even minor leaks can quickly add up to thousands of gallons of water wasted and increase your water bill. The US Environmental Protection Agency advises householders to assess their winter water use in January or February.

There are probably severe leaks in the home if a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons per month. It can be hard to tell month to month though, but examining your water usage when the house is empty is one approach to determine if there is a leak.

Before you leave, note the readings on your water meter, and check them when you return. If the meter has even slightly moved, you have a leakage in the water system. High water bills are frequently the result of leaking toilets. A single leaking toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water annually. Changing the flapper inside the tank or flush ball will frequently stop these costly leaks.

All DROP products monitor the flow for your entire house, and can alert you to issues like this automatically on your phone.

Wet Spots

Sometimes it’s hard to see wet spots, especially if your leak isn’t big. They are visible on the ceiling, walls, and floor. If your ceiling is leaking, that likely means they are frequent. This could be a sign of leakage in the main water line.

If it is a minor leak, they can stop before you see them, or you might mistakenly believe there has been only a spill. Additionally, you might need to look outside your property.

You might have an irrigation system leak if you observe an area of grass growing much better than the rest of the lawn around it. You will need a plumber to conduct additional research.

You Hear Running Water Sounds

Water is always flowing through your main water lines. You can’t hear it in most cases since the pipe’s closed system cancels out the sound. However, if that system develops a flaw, you could begin to hear water flowing down the pipe.

Start by keeping an ear out in the lowest, most quiet areas of your house for these leakage sounds. If you hear something, try listening behind closed cabinets and cupboards. If you hear flowing water, a leak could occur outside or inside your walls.

Reduced Water Pressure

Sediment accumulation in pipes, water leaks, and broken valves are a few common reasons water pressure is low. Less water can flow through your pipes when you have leaks.

A sudden drop in water pressure when no other fixtures are in use could be a sign of leakage in the system.

Stains Near the Water Line

You’ll notice the area darken and becomes stained after a wet patch continually returns after drying up. Frequently, the water causes the area to turn yellow if it is on a white surface.

Mold or mildew growth is frequently seen along with this. If the reoccurring wet spot has not caught your attention, the staining is more likely to do so in the future.

You might be able to smell something musty or moldy by the time discoloration starts. It likely means a deep-seated leak that requires a plumber to assess the damage.

Mold and Mildew

Wet surroundings are ideal for mildew and mold. Some mold forms have a short growth cycle of just 24 hours. Mold and Mildew are prone to grow in an always damp location, and these conditions could indicate a water leak. Mold can cause respiratory issues, making the surroundings unhealthy.

Mold spores disperse into the atmosphere, where they can seriously harm your lungs if you breathe them in. Mold frequently has an unpleasant musty smell. You might initially detect the smell if it forms in an area that is invisible to the naked eye.

To prevent mold, ensure rooms have enough ventilation, but first, you must address the water leak. Call a plumber to fix the leak and remove mildew and mold.

Sagging Ceiling

A sagging ceiling is one of the more concerning indicators of a significant leak between levels. You will immediately notice the sagging if the water leak is large and sudden, like an overflowing bath. However, check out for any sagging in your ceiling sections over time.

These may point to a pipe leak that is merely dripping a trace amount of water. The water could eventually build up to the point where it will collapse and seriously harm your ceilings.

Rusty Pipes

Drains or galvanized steel pipes are more likely to be present in older properties. Rust and corrosion will eventually form on galvanized steel, which can cause leaks.

Corrosion is evident on exposed pipes if there are any indications of discoloration, staining, flaking, or obvious rust. Long-term financial savings can come from replacing corroded or rusted pipes before they completely break.

How long can a Water Leak go Undetected?

This type of underground water leak, if it’s slow enough, can frequently go undetected for months or years. Homeowners need to inspect the plumbing in and around their houses regularly. They should routinely look for moisture in the areas surrounding their plumbing. If something doesn’t seem right, there may be an underground water leak to blame. Failure to maintain your pipes adequately could spell disaster when it comes to insurance claims.

Pinholes in pipes can be caused by erosion, friction or corrosion, expansive soil displacement, poor pipe quality or installation, bad water quality or chemistry, and aging. A home’s vulnerability to subsurface leaks increases after 15 years.

The Bottom Line

Plumbing systems decay and age, just like everything else in a house. If your home is older than 20 years, you need to be cautious. It’s an excellent practice to form to routinely check for leaks in pipes, valves, drains, and washing machine hoses. It’s crucial to check for minute changes that could be signs of corrosion, including oxidation or discoloration, to identify issues before costly damage occurs.

Finding a hidden water leak and fixing the issue yourself could be difficult if you don’t know about plumbing and construction. Call an expert immediately if you think your home may have a concealed water leak or notice any warning indications.

Furthermore, consider installing leak protection products from DROP that will notify you when there is a leakage. Therefore, you do not have to worry as much about constantly inspecting pipes and drains. Also, the products offered by DROP can detect slow leaks or sudden leaks in the system that will help you to replace the faulty system before it causes expensive damage.

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