Water leaks can be a nightmare and cause a lot of problems, i.e. right from a shortage of water to an increment in your bills. However, as problematic as it may sound, there are plenty of solutions.
In this blog, we’ll go through ways of knowing how to find water leaks well before they onset and the tricky ways to find a leak.
1) Check the dilapidation early on
As harrowing as they are, leaky taps and pipes do not occur spontaneously. Rust, worn-out, chipping or eroding metal or plastic material from the pipe, moisture collected at specific areas of a pipe, chipping away of the rust-protection paint and so on are some of the early signs not to be ignored.
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In any of these cases, your pipe needs patching or replacement. Often, a quick sealant can do the trick. It can also prove to be the first aid for your plumbing solution. A replacement is at times needed as the ultimate fix.
2) Check your water bill periodically
Water leaks often go unnoticed and unobserved. If someone has to resort to visual examination, water jets from cracked pipes are the only obvious signs of leaks. Hence, regular leak inspection may not yield any benefit.
However, there is an indirect way of finding out a possible leak—a water-bill examination. Unusually high-water bills are clear indicators of possible leakages. However, any surge in water utilization, especially ones on an increasing curve can be indicative of it too. It is important to factor in any increase in per-unit water charges.
3) Check for un-securable tap handles/screw
When it’s time to detect water leaks, a screw tap that cannot be tightened enough is a clear sign that it needs to be replaced. It can mean an inability in securing the tap by screwing it firmly. It can also mean that the tap screw loses its tight fastening as soon as you screw it tight.
If the former is the case, it is likely due to damaged gaskets. However, if the latter is the case, then it is due to the damaged threads of the screw mechanism of the tap.
In the case of a damaged gasket, you can replace the gasket or the tap. However, in the case of a tap with damaged screws, replacement of the tap is the only option.
4) Run an air bubble leakage test
One of the surest ways of knowing whether there is a water leak at home or not is by running an air bubble leakage test. Nearing your ear to a possible leak spot is one of the most useful leak detection methods. Any squishing or gushing sounds can be a good tell that something is leaking.
You can further confirm your speculation by placing some water or more consistent material on the spot in question. Any elevation or propulsion of the placed material is indicative of pressure from within the pipe. This method can be useful for someone working on fixing pipes on their own and no other aid is required.
5) Check for colouration in water
If no signs of water leakage are obvious, namely no observable leaks, no spikes in water bills, no taps that cannot be tightened enough etc., that is another useful way of detecting any possible leakage.
Water with brown, red, yellow etc. colours is a sign of underground water leaks. This is especially applicable if any bit of the plumbing is done underground. Nevertheless, a dusty attic through which pipes are conveyed can also be the reason.
In such a situation, undoing the whole plumbing is the only solution. Calling an expert, a plumber, and hefty repair charges can be the only way out.
6) Check the warranty and manuals
This one may not be a test on its own; however, it can come in handy along with any of the above-mentioned tests in detecting a possible leakage.
After all, a gushing noise, rusty or chipping off pipes, leaky taps, increasing or increased water bills or coloured water should not coincide with a tap whose gasket has possibly reached its end of life.
A quick examination of your plumber’s warranty card or a clearly indicated lifespan of any plumbing components can help you rule out that as a possibility.
Conclusion
With the above-mentioned checks, you can be sure to find any pesky leaks anywhere in your home. Some of them are simple to carry out; however, some require extra attention and effort.
Whatever the problem, the solution is typically straight forward. For leaky pipes or ones with gushing noise, a sealant; for dripping taps, a change of gaskets or replacement; timely re-application of rust-resistant colour; and so on. They can prove to be quick fixes or the ultimate solutions to your house or office plumbing needs.
