Properly Detecting Leaks In Your Home

Leaks are a common occurrence in many East Dallas households, but they don’t have to be something that you live with day in and day out.

It is important that you act quickly when you notice any type of moisture in the home in order to prevent further water damage from setting in. This is why it is crucial to know how to detect leaks. By being educated on the different ways water can leak into your property you will save both time and money later on down the line.

Not only should you repair the cause of the leak at the source, which will stop the influx of water, but by doing so, you will prevent rot, structural damage and mold growth.

Figuring Out Where Your Leak Has Developed

Not all leaks are easily seen and, in fact, can often go unnoticed for quite sometime with out you knowing until it makes itself known in a big way. To prevent significant water damage, it is important to regularly check your home.

If you are unsure if there is leakage on your property, then the first thing you should check is your water meter. To get an accurate read, make sure that all the water is off, both inside and out.

If the meter is still moving despite the absence of any running water, then you can determine that there is a leak somewhere on the premises. The leak could be occurring either inside or outside of the property, and there are specific ways to determine this.

You can do this by shutting of the property’s main water shut off valve. If the meter does not move after it is turned off, then the leak is inside of the home, and if the meter continues to move, then the leak is somewhere on the exterior of the property.

This will make it easier to pin point exactly where the leak is coming from, which can be a faucet, toilet, flapper valve, flush handle, overflow tube, water tanks or even underground.

Faucet and Toilet Issues Are The Most Common Causes Of A Leak

Faucet leaks are very common and are usually a quick fix. When the rubber washer gets worn down then water can trickle out, and by simply replacing it the issue can be mitigated. Shut off the main water valve, remove the sink handle and then you will locate the washer.

When your toilet is leaking you may not always know it is even happening. During this time hundreds of gallons of water can be wasted, which can amount to hundreds of dollars being wasted as well.

The toilet flapper is the rubber valve is the mechanism located the bottom of the tank that lifts up after you flush. When the flapper is not working properly then it keeps the toilet water flowing into the bowl, as if you were continuously flushing it.  Fortunately, you can replace the flapper for less than $10 at your local hardware store.

When your toilet’s tank fills up after you flush it, some water goes from the fill valve to the refill tube to the overflow tube. When the overflow leaks, it is mostly likely because the water is too high in the tank. By slightly tweaking the adjustment screw or the float arm, you can make it so the water turns off a level below the overflow tube, stopping the leak.

Wastewater leaks are not as easily detected as other faucet and toilet leaks, mostly because they can travel. They can start in one part of the house and flow into a completely different area. If you notice water stains, warping or water damage on your floor, walls, baseboards or ceiling, then you should call professional water damage technicians to inspect the property and begin restoration efforts.