Water leak detection is essential for safety, heath, and business compliance. Read on for 5 ways you can spot hidden water leaks in your building.
No building owner has ever said, “Oh yes. More hidden water leaks, please!”
Of course, there are also those who know water leaks are a problem, but consider them a minor issue. It’s not until they get their water bill or see how extensive the damage is that they become really concerned.
As we’ve said before, more than 3,000 gallons of water are wasted yearly. This is because one leaky faucet drips at the rate of one drip per second. Add up the costs, and you’ll realise why water leak detection is a must for any property owner.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at the 5 ways you can find hidden water leaks and avoid a disaster.
How to Spot Hidden Water Leaks
1. Check your Water Meter
Your water meter can tell you if you have a fast or a slow leak in some part of your plumbing. This is how you should check for leaks.
First, make sure that all the faucets, dishwashers, and washing machines are turned off. All the water in your home or building must be shut off.
Next, observe the meter and see if it there’s a change. If there is, that means you have a fast-moving leak. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait two hours and check again.
If there’s a change, you’ve got a slow leak.
2. Locate the Leak
Determining whether the leak is happening inside or outside the property is the next water leak detection step. To do this, you have to find your home or building’s main water shutoff valve and shut off the water.
Then, see if the leak indicator moves. If it does, the leak is inside. If it doesn’t, the leak is outside between the meter and the property. Call an expert if you cannot locate the leak.
3. Look for Obvious Signs
Do you see stained ceilings, carpets or walls? These are very obvious signs that you have leaking pipes or roof.
If you have a dripping faucet, the good news is that you may just need to replace its washer.
As for toilets, you can detect obvious leaks by uncovering the tank and checking if there is any water dripping. If it’s dripping out of the fill valve, consider tightening a screw or replacing it.
4. Check Everywhere
DIY water leak detection is doable but you have to be thorough. Don’t just stop at toilets. You must check everything – hoses, sinks, hot water heaters, and so on.
Checking under hot water heaters is especially crucial because an undetected leak can lead to a major water mess. We’re not just talking about damage to your walls and floors. A water heater failure can cause a full-on flood. This will destroy your property — and your wallet.
5. Get Professional Help
For water leaks that aren’t so easy to spot, you’ll need the help of a qualified professional. They can provide non-destructive solutions.
You also want to make sure that you’re getting help from someone who can curtail your water bills. This is especially important if it concerns a commercial property. Be practical. Spend your money on long-term fixes instead of stop-gap measures.
Need Help to Spot your Hidden Water Leak?
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With many years on the tools in all aspects of the engineering industry has given me a second to none skill set which enables me to provide a leading professional service to my customers with a wealth of knowledge and highly skilled engineers to successfully cover all your plumbing, heating, AC and catering equipment requirements.