What are the signs of a leak? Where could it be coming from? Can you fix it on your own? Your thoughts might be racing like water through a pipe right now. Don’t fret — the cause and solution are probably more straightforward than you’d think.
1. High Water Pressure
Ideally, your water pressure should be 30 to 80 pounds per square inch — anything below that can cause a weak flow and anything above that can cause damage. If your plumbing cracks or wears down, it can leak.
2. Damaged or Loose Connections
Connections are metal or plastic fittings used to join two or more segments. You can find them in appliances like your water softener, washing machine, dishwasher, or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. If these components crack or loosen, leaks occur.
3. Temperature Fluctuations
Water expands when it freezes, forming a lattice-like structure with space between the molecules. If whatever’s in your supply line gets too big, it can cause your pipes to burst.
4. Corrosion
Corrosion happens naturally over time as metal interacts with corrosive materials in the environment. Underground pipes are often decades old, which makes them prone to this kind of physical degradation.
Your supply line — the series of pipes carrying water from the main line to your home — can corrode, too. So can the plumbing on your property, but that’s relatively uncommon unless you live in an older home.
5. Clogged Drain Lines
If your drain line clogs but the flow continues, the water will need somewhere to go. Considering even a single inch of standing water can cost up to $25,000 to repair, you don’t want it to be your floor.
6. Tree Roots
Trees need water to live. What could be a better source than the underground line carrying a constant flow? It’s incredibly convenient for them.
The same can’t be said for a homeowner like yourself. If the roots pierce the pipe, it’ll spring a leak.
6 Sure Signs Your Home Has a Water Leak
How do you know you’re experiencing one of these common causes of water leaks? You don’t need to take apart your appliances to examine the connections or wait for a puddle to form on your floor. Check for the following signs:
- Ceiling stains: A brown or yellow ceiling stain is a sign of water damage. The culprit is often the plumbing, but your HVAC system may also be the cause.
- Low water pressure: You likely have a leak if your water comes out as a trickle.
- Discolored water: Your faucet should run clear. If it is red, brown, black or cloudy, you may be dealing with corrosion or tree roots.
- Musty smells: Musty and mildewy smells indicate moisture accumulation, suggesting water is dripping or pooling somewhere.
- Dripping sounds: If you hear a dripping, rushing or gurgling sound when your faucet is off, you should search for the source of the noise.
- High utility bills: An unexplained increase in your monthly water bill suggests you may be paying for water you aren’t using.
Signs like low water pressure or musty smells aren’t exclusive to leaky faucets and burst pipes. However, you can use them to confirm your suspicions. Trace the color, odor or sound to its source to pinpoint the location of your leak.
Why You Want to Fix Leaks Sooner Than Later
Your home’s meter measures how much water enters your supply line from the main line. If you have a leak, you’re paying for the utility when you’re not using it. Addressing the source of the issue can save you money on your bills each month.
Plus, the sooner you act, the less you’ll spend on repairs. Estimates place the cost at anywhere from $150 to $2,500, depending on the severity of the damage. If you factor in indirect expenses like mold remediation, finishing or insulation replacement, you could pay as much as $10,000.
You can avoid unnecessarily costly fixes by finding and fixing household leaks before they wreak any severe havoc. On top of saving money, you can preserve your property value, helping you get as much as possible when you go to sell.
How to Find and Fix Water Leaks in Your Home
Did you know you can monitor your water meter? The odometer tells you how many gallons have been used since installation. Shut off your supply with the main shut-off valve to take your first reading.
First, locate the main shut-off valve. It may be in a crawlspace, basement or outdoors. A good rule of thumb is that it’s almost always on the same side of your home as your water meter.
If you have a gate valve, turn the handle clockwise until you can’t anymore. For a ball valve, turn the lever 90 degrees clockwise. Once you’ve shut the water off, turn the faucets on at the highest level of your home to let the standing water drain.
Repeat this process once a month or every few months to track your usage and establish a baseline. One helpful tip to remember is to write down the date. If your meter continues rising when your water is shut off, your supply line is leaking.
How to Keep Household Leaks From Happening
While placing a drip pan underneath a water softener or laying towels under a leaking toilet can help mitigate some damage, those solutions are temporary. Preventive tools are more practical.
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors can send notifications via an app or sound an alarm to alert you of leaks in real time. They’re effective whether you place them under an appliance or directly in your water supply line.
Countless leak detection sensors exist. One of the best-rated models can detect pools of standing water as shallow as 0.4 millimeters, which triggers an unignorable 110-decibel alarm.
Be mindful that many internet-connected sensors only operate on the 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) band. However, you can technically still use them with a 5 GHz connection. Most modern routers are dual-band, meaning they can broadcast both frequencies.
Call your internet service provider or use its official app to set up a secondary IoT-only network. You may have to turn off your 5 GHz band temporarily since internet-enabled devices will often default to the faster connection, even though they can’t use it.
When Should You Call a Professional for Help?
You can do everything from checking pipe connections to reading your water meter independently. As long as you have time and some know-how, repairing leaks should be relatively easy. But that’s the catch — you need to be able to dedicate time to shutting off your water and addressing the issue.
Water bubbling up from your floorboards, a sagging ceiling or an inch of standing water in your basement all qualify as emergencies. While you should still rush to shut off the water, you may need help fixing the problem. When in doubt, call a professional, especially if you’re dealing with an unfamiliar emergency.
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