Of all the plumbing tips we give out on a regular basis, none of them are as frequent—or as important!–as how to find a leak. How to find a leak is a relatively simple science. Repairing it on the other hand, can be a little more complicated (although still not brain surgery or rocket science).
Top Plumbing Tips: How to Find a Leak in your Home
There are a number of ways to find a leak in your home. Selecting which one will work for you depends on where your leak has occurred. Here are the multiple ways of how to find a leak, each based on where the leak is coming from:
1. Your Hot Water Tank
Hot water tanks can rust and leak, as can their parts. If you’ve noticed water around your hot water heater check the tank’s pressure release valve. It may or may not be installed into a drain—if it is try removing the drain cap to look for leaks. Failing that, simply listen for hissing sounds.
2. Your Toilet
A toilet is a terrible place to spring a leak…but it happens. There are a couple of ways to test this. First, try removing the lid of the tank and listening for any ‘hissing’ sounds. If there is a leak in the tank you may or may not be able to fix it on your own. The second method is to test if there is a leak in the bowl. This is easily accomplished by adding some food colouring to the water. You will then find any leaks by looking for colour around the bowl and on the floor.
3. From Your Meter Line
If you discovered a leak due to a major increase in your water bill, but can’t find a leak in your water heater, your toilets or faucets then it may be with the water line. Unfortunately, finding a leak in the line is a difficult process. To detect a water line leak, just give us a call here at Hayes Plumbing.
4. From your Outdoor Water Faucets
Checking for leaks in your outdoor water hookups is hard in winter, for obvious reasons. When the season is right you can detect this by checking the hose bib (these are what connects the outdoor faucet to your home’s water source). To do this put a metal screwdriver into the hose bib. Put your ear to the end of the screwdriver (which allows sound to carry, like a stethoscope). If you do this to your home’s multiple outdoor water hookups you’ll hear what they should sound like. If there is one making more noise than the other then there may be a leak.
If you do find a leak and require professional help to fix the plumbing fixture that is causing it, and are in Oshawa and Durham Region,—then call Hayes Plumbing today.
