How can you tell if you have a water leak?
Water leaks in your plumbing system can prove a serious problem for homeowners. But leaks aren’t always obvious. You might not see puddles on your floors or even water stains on your ceilings, walls or floors. There might not be any visible drips.
One of the best ways to find out if you have a water leak is to check your water meter. If you don’t know how to find your water meter, call your city’s water department and check with billing.
Once you’ve found your water meter, you’ll want to make sure the water is off inside and outside before you check your leak indicator on the meter. The leak indicator will be either a small triangular dial or a small rotating wheel that tracks flowing water.
If your water is off and this dial or wheel is still turning, you probably have a leak.
You can also take a meter reading. Make a reading with the water off and leave it off for 30 minutes to an hour taking a second reading. If the reading changes during that time, then you have a leak.
Should you discover you have a leak, make sure to get the leak repaired as soon as possible before other problems occur. For water leak repair in Fort Worth, TX, check with the professionals at Westside Plumbing. If you have a leak, call us today at (817) 560-4144.
Water leak issues
Never let a water leak go without repair. Here is a list of just a few water leak issues you might have without repairs:
- Water stains: Over time leaks will leave unsightly stains on ceilings, walls or floors.
- Mold and mildew: Where water and moisture build up, you’re sure to have mold and mildew grow. Besides being unsightly, mold and mildew can damage the structure and cause health problems for your family.
- Flooding: Water damage from flooding can cost thousands of dollars in repairs and loss of personal property.
- Damage to floors, ceilings and foundations: From rotting and deterioration to cracks, mold and stains, leaks can damage your floors, ceilings and foundation.
- Further damage to plumbing: Leaks can cause more damage to pipes such as rusting or corrosion that could create havoc for your whole plumbing system.
Can a plumber find a water leak?
Yes, a plumber can find a water leak. Plumbers are trained to look for leaks in your home. While homeowners can discover if they have leaks and where the leaks are by checking the water meter and shutting off the water valve, they may want to call a plumber to help, especially if you are unsure how to read a meter.
Remember not all leaks are easy to detect. With a secluded pipe or pipes in the walls, you may not see signs of leaks like standing water or stains for weeks or months after the leak has developed. Plumbers can help find those leaks before serious damage occurs.
How do plumbers find leaks in walls?
When plumbers look for leaks in the walls, they’ll look for specific signs of leaks. One of the obvious signs of a leak in the wall is wet spots on the wall. Sometimes your walls will look as if they are sweating. Wet spots may be especially easy to see if the walls are stone or concrete because water doesn’t soak in well.
Another sign of wall leaks is mold formation. Mold growth and moisture build up go hand in hand. If there is mold on the walls, water is probably leaking somewhere behind it.
If paint is peeling from the walls, the piping behind the wall is probably leaking. You may also want to check your water bills. If you see a steady increase in a short period of time, you may have a leak somewhere in the house.
Will a water leak cause mold?
The simple answer is, “Yes.” Water leaks can cause mold to grow. If you see mold, especially on wall, it’s a good sign a leak is present.
How do I fix a leaky wall pipe?
Fixing a wall leak takes a lot of work. Once you’ve detected the leak, the first thing you’ll have to do to make the repair is cut away the drywall over the leak. Following that, if break’s location isn’t immediately obvious, you’ll need to wrap the pipe with cloth to see where the seep is coming from.
Then the pipe will need to be dried before any work can be done on it. Once the pipe is dry, you’ll cut it below and above the leak with pipe cutters to remove the broken section. You’ll then need to clean the remaining pipe inside and out before mounting the copper repair sleeve with a blowtorch.
Once the pipe is fixed, you’ll patch the drywall.
Water leak and damage
From mold to cracks in the foundation, water leaks can cause serious damage to your home, whether the leak goes unchecked over time or a main water line suddenly bursts, flooding your home.
If you have a sudden break in a water line that causes damage to your home and property, your insurance will likely cover it. But, your insurance may not cover water damage if leaks are caused by neglect or disrepair.
Water leak ceiling
If you have a water leak coming from your ceiling, you might want to get a roof inspection to find out if the leak is in your attic or on your roof. Water from a roof leak may be dirty or there may be stains on the ceiling. If the water is fresh, on the other hand, the source may be your plumbing system. Ceiling leaks caused by faulty plumbing will also be consistent no matter the weather. Roof leaks may occur only when it rains.
Water leak test
Probably the most common way to test for water leaks in the home is checking the water meter. But other fixtures like faucets and toilets need to be checked as well. Toilets are a common source of leaks and can be tested easily by checking the water level in the tank. If it is over the overflow tube, there is probably a leak.
Need leak repairs?
If you suspect you have water leak in Fort Worth, TX, get in touch with the water leak repair specialists at Westside Plumbing. Call (817) 560-4144to schedule your repairs today.
